«…it is not just us that are suffering.»
Only a week after a deadly shooting claimed the lives of 26 of its members, the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs, Texas, is opening its doors again.
A statement on the church’s website credited “generous volunteer efforts” and offers from people to help for enabling it to take “the scene of this unspeakable event,” and turn it into “a beautiful memorial that celebrates and pays tribute to the lives that were lost.”
While the congregation suffered a massive loss, its leadership has repeatedly recognized that the devastation is far from confined to one Texas town.
“This is our church, but it is not just us that are suffering,” Associate Pastor Mark Collins said on the website. “This tragedy has rocked our nation and has had an impact on all Americans and our country as a whole. It is our hope that this will be healing for everyone.”
On Sunday, the memorial will open for a media tour from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. and then will be open to the public at 5 p.m. In the future, it will be open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
The church asked that all visitors “respect the sanctity of the church, the memory of those who perished there, and the families and community members continuing their own ways and processes toward healing.”
It’s unclear if the memorial will be a permanent installment.
