Metropolitan Akron, Ohio, was rocked this weekend with the news of a shooting rampage Sunday in one of its suburbs. Seven were dead in the small town of Copley, and the shooter was killed by police. Within hours, a prayer vigil was announced. More than 300 people gathered in Copley Community Park, not far from the scene of the shootings.
Among those participating in the event was Jeff Bogue, senior pastor at Grace Church, a Grace Brethren church in Akron, Ohio. The Akron Beacon Journal reported on the event:
“Father God, we turn to you in our time of trouble, and this is troubling,” said the Rev. Jeff Bogue, senior pastor of Grace Church of Greater Akron.
The pastor asked the crowd that gathered at Copley Community Park, west of the shooting scene on Good- enough Avenue and Schocalog Road, to reflect on several questions:
“Why such evil would come to our little township, Lord? Why we have to endure through that and why these families are affected in such a way?”
Those questions, he said, “are some of the great mysteries of life and faith,.
“I know we will never fully understand, but I also know that we can trust you in that you are not threatened or angered by our questions,” he said. …
Pastor Bogue asked the 300 at the vigil to pray not only for the victims, but also for the community and police and all safety forces “who have been through so much” on Sunday.
“We feel this together,” he said. “Help us and heal us and give us strength.”