"Even though it is difficult, but God alone is the judge and it is in our place to forgive," remarked a devastated Peter Warren, the director of Youth with a Mission Denver, as the Christian movement is coming to grips with the lost of two precious lives.
On early Sunday morning (US time), a lone gunman entered a Youth With A Mission (YWAM) training centre in Arvada, a suburb in the city of Denver, and shot four members of the staff who were then taken to the hospital where two later died from their injuries.
The deceased have been identified as Tiffany Johnson, 26, from Minnesota, and Philip Crouse, 24, from Alaska. Both served as staff members at the Youth With A Mission Arvada campus. The third victim, Dan Griebenow, 24, has a bullet in his neck and is listed in critical but stable condition. The fourth victim Charlie Blanch, 22, suffered gunshot wounds to his legs.
Mr. Warren recounted the incident, in a press statement, saying the gunman had approached a woman to ask if he could spend the night in the centre and when told he cannot, since no more room were available, that was when he used his automatic handgun. Police had not confirmed the motive for the shooting.
"There's no blueprint for this," said Warren. "You know, we're just going to be honest, we're going to pray with one another and cry with one another. These kids were like our kids, you know. It's just such a tragedy, but who knows what's going on in this young man's life."
A statement was released by the YWAM International Chairman, Lynn Green, who expressed the organisation's sorrow over the lost of these lives and said they could take comfort in knowing those who serve Christ could inherit everlasting life.
"Those who lost their lives had dedicated themselves to serve and we feel the sorrow of their absence. Yet we take comfort from the assurance of everlasting life for those who follow Christ in loving service to others.
There are about 80 people living on the Arvada campus and they have been transported to the group's mountain campus near Golden, Colorado where they will stay while the murder investigation is processed at their residence. Warren says they are trying to deal with this situation as best as they can.
Youth With A Mission (YWAM) is an international and interdenominational Christian movement with operating locations in 171 nations. Launched in 1960 as a means for young people to get involved in short-term missionary service, it now has over 16 000 staff working in 1180 centers and trains over 25 000 people each year to be involved in the organization's primary goal - to know God and make Him known.