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Governor Greg Abbott is in Santa Fe today trying to help bring healing to so many who are hurting after Friday’s deadly school shooting at Santa Fe High School.
The service is to help bring comfort to the community. There was also a baccalaureate gathering for the Class of 2018 at Arcadia First Baptist Church, which was originally supposed to be held at Santa Fe High School. However, instead of a celebration ceremony these Santa Fe seniors attended the event searching for strength and understanding, just two days after their high school was terrorized in a deadly school shooting.
"We support you with our prayers and everything else we can do for you. God bless you,” Governor Abbott told the pastor of Arcadia.
With words of support, handshakes and hugs the Governor greeted residents of Santa Fe as they arrived for morning worship at Arcadia First Baptist Church. It’s the first Sunday service since student Dimitrios Pagourtzis is said to have shot and killed eight students and two teachers on Friday at Santa Fe High School.
"Chris Stone, I played football with him, and that was the hardest loss,” says Santa Fe Senior Todd Penick.
”There is no way I can even imagine what it would be like for my child to go off to school and not come back,” Arcadia Pastor Jerl Watkins told the congregation from the pulpit.
Thirteen others were injured on Friday in the school shooting but the tragedy has left a countless number in pain.
“Two of our guys had gotten hit and we all rushed to the hospital to make sure they were ok and luckily they both survived,” Santa Fe High School baseball player Tyler Martin said with tears in his eyes.
”The day before, on Thursday, I had a powder puff game. I was a cheerleader having the time of my life and then the next day people are dying. It’s just the worst,” added Santa Fe Senior Hunter Bloomfield.
"This is a societal issue. We have a lot of troubled young men that seem to be acting out on some of the worst behaviors you can imagine,” says Texas District 11 Senator Larry Taylor who also attended the ceremony.
”Innocent people who died in this senseless, horrific attack died as a result of the evil that is in this world,” Pastor Watkins said from the pulpit. Watkins also asked the congregation, when you take God out of schools, when social media takes togetherness away from families and violent video games makes those who play less sensitive to death and destruction, what are you left with? "I think it’s time that we as a nation turn back to God,” says Pastor Watkins.
After the ceremony, Governor Abbott went to Santa Fe High and left flowers in memory of those who lost their lives. The pastor also told those attending to pray and turn to God over the next few months and years as they seek the peace and comfort they desperately need.