Coach Koenig

Pure evil. How else do you describe it? In Minneapolis, the shooter scrawled “6 million wasn’t enough” on a magazine of bullets, mocking the Holocaust. On another: “Kill Trump.” He fired at a target with the face of Christ and even wrote, “Where is your God?” This was not random — it was hate. Hatred of God. Hatred of the Jewish people. Hatred of Christians and Christ Himself. And the victims? Children and adults gathered in a church for prayer. Just as there is a God in Heaven who loves us, there is also a devil destined for hell who hates us—and he hates everything God loves. And we know God loves His people. He loves the Jewish people. He loves His church. And He especially loves children. Remember how little ones were drawn to Jesus? He said, “Let the little children come to me and do not forbid them, for of such is the kingdom of Heaven”. I believe those precious 8- and 10-year-old that were killed are now safely in the arms of Jesus in Heaven. But here on earth, we still face the reality of evil. Some pundits—and even the mayor—struggled with what to call it. But the truth is simple: it was an act of evil. The mayor remarked, “Don’t just say this is about thoughts and prayers right now—these kids were literally praying.” Another pundit posted on X, “Praying is the problem, not the solution.” Yet the truth is, prayer is exactly what we need. Prayer for the two families who lost loved ones. Prayer for the nineteen still in the hospital. Prayer that “the Father of mercies and God of all comfort” will surround the grieving in this critical hour. And in response to the shooter’s twisted question, “Where is your God?”—the answer is clear: God is with the suffering. As Scripture declares: “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18). Evil struck in a place of worship. But even in the darkest hour, God is near to the brokenhearted.