Abingdon Youth

When the Shooting Stops

By Mike Ratliff

How do you address the recent sad events at the University of Northern Illinois?

What do you do when one of the young people you work with asks, “How could a loving God let something like this happen?” How do you respond to a college student or parent who fears that his or her school could be next?

There is no easy answer, but here are some ideas:

Acknowledge feelings. Young people, parents, and others in our churches and communities will experience an array of feelings and acknowledging those feelings as valid—whatever they are—gives you a place to begin a conversation.

Enlist help. People in your congregation with counseling skills, Stephen Ministers, your pastor, school counselors, and others have skills for coping with situations where people are experiencing an array of feelings. You might ask one or more of these persons to be present in Sunday School or youth group this week for discussion, to be available for prayer, or just to talk to people who need extra support.

Offer Help. Following the shootings at Columbine, our church in Littleton, Colorado offered to have adults present on the campus of another local school that had received threats. It made a huge difference to high school students to see familiar faces during their school day, in addition to the extra security that had been put in place.

Provide a space. All of us need a safe space to process our thoughts and feelings during difficult times. A special time of prayer, a service of remembrance, or another way of opening ourselves to where people are right now will help people feel accepted and cared for as they process their reactions to this tragedy.

Refer. If you have someone who is having trouble dealing with his or her feelings about this situation (or another tragedy), find a professional counselor that you can refer this person to. Sometimes the best way to help someone is to find a trained professional who can give that person the help that he or she needs.

Think theologically. In the wake of any horrible act of violence, some will suggest that God had a role in the violence. Suggesting that the incident at Northern Illinois was God's will is theologically irresponsible. We need to assure young people that God cares for every single person—even those who are hurting enough to strike out in violence. While God is not to blame for these senseless killings or other violent acts, God is present with us in the midst of these tragedies.

Pray. Prayer does change lives, situations, and relationships. No matter who we are, where we are, or what situation confronts us, prayer is an avenue through which God works in us and in others. God will sustain us during this time of crisis and trauma as God has sustained us in the past.