Church Violence

The surge in church shootings is real.

Steve Jeter / World Vision

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Copyright © 2009 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Related Elsewhere:

The Washington Postrecently covered a string of church shootings.

Previous Christianity Today articles on church shootings and church life include:

Securing the Faithful | What New Life Church did right when a gunman showed up in its parking lot. (February 1, 2008)

Arming in the Aftermath | Shooting spree at two churches prompts pastors to rethink security plans. (January 21, 2008)

YWAM Director Describes Shooting, Forgiveness | Peter Warren discusses response of families and future impact on the program. (December 19, 2007)

Church Shooting Creates New Martyrs (October 25, 1999)

Also in this issue

The CT archives are a rich treasure of biblical wisdom and insight from our past. Some things we would say differently today, and some stances we've changed. But overall, we're amazed at how relevant so much of this content is. We trust that you'll find it a helpful resource.

October

Christianity Today October, 2009

Cover Story

In the Beginning, Grace

On the Border of Misery and Hope

News

China's 'Conscience' Missing in Action

Elissa Cooper

When Atheists Believe

Chuck Colson with Catherine Larson

Quick Media Takes

Editorial

Lord of the Wedding Dance

A Christianity Today Editorial

Crazy Passion

John Brandon

The Clothed Public Square

Interview by Sarah Pulliam

Speak Out Publicly

Clenard H. Childress Jr., founder of BlackGenocide.org.

Pro-Life's Next Movement

Melinda Delahoyde, Clenard H. Childress Jr., and Charmaine Yoest

Excerpt

'Scouting the Divine'

An excerpt by Margaret Feinberg

Watching Her Tone

Tim Stafford

Wilson's Bookmarks

Come, Lord Jesus

Lost in Transition

Interview by Katelyn Beaty

My Top 5 Books on the Emerging Movement

Scot McKnight, Professor of Religious Studies, North Park University

Review

An Evangelical Lament

Review

Pistol City Holiness

Andy Whitman

New Look, Fresh Topics

A Vertical Discipline

Craig Brian Larson

Readers Write

News

A Lost Generation

Susan Wunderink

News

Go Figure

Compiled by Ted Olsen

The Coen Brothers' World

Josh Hurst

News

Should Multisite Campuses Be Church Plants Instead?

Review

Be. Do. Write.

Brett McCracken

News

Quotation Marks

Compiled by Ted Olsen

Holding Their Tongues

Cary McMullen in Orlando

News

Passages

News

Loss Is Gain

Sarah Eekhoff Zylstra

News

No Laughing Matter

Charles Honey

News

No Straight Shot

Bobby Ross Jr.

Our Latest

A member of the Prosecutor's Office stands guard near a burning bus after it was set on fire by organized crime groups in response to an operation to arrest a high-priority security target in Mexico.

News

How Mexican Cartel Violence Disrupted a Guadalajara Church

Franco Iacomini

Christians call for peace and prayer after the killing of drug kingpin El Mencho led to violence across the country.

An image of ICE agents and an image of an empty church.

ICE Is Devastating Some Latino Churches

Samuel Rodriguez

One of America’s leading Hispanic Christians witnesses the devastating effect of immigration politics on church life.

A collage of the United States, sheet music, and a hymn.

‘Lift Every Voice and Sing’ Should Be for All Americans

Commonly referred to as the Black national anthem, the Christian hymn is part of our shared inheritance.

Three books on a yellow background.

Review

Parenting Takes Courage. These Books Offer Hope.

Gretchen Ronnevik

Three books on parenting and family to read this month.

An image of Richard Nixon and a CT magazine cover from 1974.

Confronting Evils

Daniel Silliman

In 1974, CT saw trouble in the White House, Chile, and Cyprus, and in the American fascination with exorcists.

Image from the State of the Union address on a television.

The Bulletin

Tariff Takedown, War with Iran, and State of the Union

Mike Cosper, Clarissa Moll, Russell Moore

Supreme Court says Trump’s tariffs are unconstitutional, US considers war with Iran, and a very long State of the Union address.

A photo of Benjamin Watson at mic with the title of the podcast The Just Life overlaid on the image

The Just Life with Benjamin Watson

Preston Perry: If God Is Good, How Can He Allow Such Horrific Things to Happen?

How the Gospel provides the framework for both righteousness and justice.

Homeless people and tents on a sidewalk in Los Angeles, California on July 24, 2025.

Analysis

Housing Doesn’t Solve Homelessness

At California’s Orange County Rescue Mission, a two-year program provides far more than a roof over residents’ heads.