Pastors, Christian leaders react to attempted shooting of Trump

Churches across the United States gathered for weekly service Sunday morning, less than 24 hours after officials say a 20-year-old man tried to kill former President Donald Trump. The shooting came at a Trump rally Saturday evening in Butler, Pa., as WORLD reported earlier.

Meanwhile, many churches held congregational prayers for the nation, while Christian leaders posted their reflections online.

Here are some of the responses:

At Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, Ky., Campus Pastor Lucas Devries opened the service by leading the congregation in a responsive reading of Psalm 46:1-3. After a moment of silent prayer, Devries then led the congregation in a prayer for the nation’s leaders: “God, to obey 1 Timothy 2:2, we pray for President Trump—that he’ll be healthy and make a full recovery. But we also pray for President Biden—that he will be healthy and lead our country well. God, this is another reminder that we live in a broken world, and that what this world truly needs is you.”

Former Southern Baptist Convention President and Pastor Bart Barber sent an email to his congregation at First Baptist Church of Farmersville, in Texas, shortly after the news of the shooting broke. In it, he referenced how President Abraham Lincoln used his second inaugural address to help unify the nation in the wake of the Civil War. “Let us not contribute to making things worse, but let us be the ones summoning what Lincoln called ‘the better angels of our nature’ in all of those around us. Let us do all of those things around our family tables, in our Sunday School classrooms, and in our presence online. And as we watch the deterioration of our country, let us remember that our home still stands waiting for us in Heaven, secure in peace and truth.”

Southern Baptist Theological Seminary President Albert Mohler wrote on social media: “May God protect all who serve us. Thankful former President Trump is safe. We need to know what happened here. This kind of attack is an attack upon our entire political system and our commitment to ordered liberty. Let’s pray for our nation. What a stunning reminder of how history can turn in an instant. Very humbling. Again, [I’m] thankful that President Trump is not seriously wounded. Praying for [the] families of others involved. [The] nation needs facts as soon as possible.”

Pastor David Lindow of First Baptist Church in Universal City, Texas, led his church in a prayer that said, in part: “We’ve all been awakened to the corruption that has occurred. We’ve all been awakened to the hostility that we saw happening and yet, Lord, we didn’t really do anything about it. And Lord, we ask that you would forgive us if any of us have participated or accelerated the polarization of our nation by what we have said or thought or written. … Lord, we pray for our president and we pray for our former president Trump, Lord, that you would bring healing physically to him, and then Lord, that you would bring change in both those men’s hearts and lives concerning the modality of their campaigns, and that Lord, we might get back to the issues that are different and not the personalities.”

Franklin Graham, son of the late evangelist Billy Graham, wrote on social media: “ I thank God that former President [Donald Trump] is alive."

Joel Osteen, pastor of Lakewood Church in Houston, wrote on social media that “We are praying for former President [Donald Trump] and his family, as well as those who were injured and for the family who lost a loved one in this terrible incident. Please pray for peace and unity as we stand together as one nation under God."

Craig Groeschel, pastor of Life.Church in Edmond, Okla., quoted Psalm 46:1 on social media: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” He added: “Please join us in praying for our country. Pray for the protection of our candidates and leaders. Pray for those injured and for the families of the victims. Pray for all people to come to know the saving power of Jesus. Pray for unity in our nation. Pray for God’s will to be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.”

Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, and president of the U.S. Conference of Bishops wrote in an online statement: “Together with my brother bishops, we condemn political violence, and we offer our prayers for President Trump, and those who were killed or injured. We also pray for our country and for an end to political violence, which is never a solution to political disagreements. We ask all people of goodwill to join us in praying for peace in our country.”