At least 26 people have been killed and many more injured after a man walked into a Baptist church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, on Sunday and opened fire on worshippers.
The number of dead at the First Baptist church in the small town 30 miles south-east of San Antonio made the killing the worst mass shooting in modern Texas history. The youngest victim was just 5 years old.
The lone shooter was found dead after he was chased by locals and police across county lines.
Mario Brito, President of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church in the Inter-European Region, released the following statement:
"We are dismayed and shocked. We are close to the families of the Baptist Church in Sutherland Spring, Texas, and especially to the families of the victims.
We will never be able to console those who suffer the death of their loved ones, especially in such cruel way.
In this terrible moment, we join our prayers to those of our Baptist brothers and sisters, asking our Lord to reinforce their hope of seeing them one day again, at Christ's soon return.
We also pray for the killer's family, a 26-year-old young man who has decided to enter into history as a cruel criminal, with no respect for human life - property of God.
We live in difficult times, where crime and terrorism seem to take the lead. Nevertheless we firmly believe that God is in control of world's history. Thus, we rely on him and ask for His lead and protection. We humbly ask God to strengthen our faith in His power."
