On October 2, 2006, in Nickel Mines, a small Amish community in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, a gunman entered a one-room schoolhouse, held students hostage, and shot ten young girls, killing five of them before taking his own life. At the time, school shootings were far less common than they are today, which made the tragedy all the more shocking. It drew worldwide attention not only for the horror of the event but also for the extraordinary way the Amish community responded—with public forgiveness, compassion toward the gunman’s family, and deep expressions of faith.
Authors Donald B. Kraybill, Steven M. Nolt, and David L. Weaver-Zercher, in their book Amish Grace: How Forgiveness Transcended Tragedy, recount the event from a perspective that feels unfamiliar today. They highlight the community’s remarkable response of forgiveness, grace, and reconciliation. Several Amish families reached out to the killer’s widow and children with compassion. On the evening of the shooting, Amish community members visited the home of the gunman’s widow, Marie Roberts, to extend forgiveness and comfort. Later, some families of the victims even invited her into their homes and attended the gunman’s funeral.
While listening to a podcast from a megachurch outside Denver, Colorado, the lead pastor shared openly about his experience following the previous week’s sermon. On the same weekend as the funerals for Charlie Kirk, he chose not to mention him in his message. As a result, some people walked out, and he received numerous calls, texts, and emails criticizing him and attacking his character. He was even called “a woke coward.” Having listened to many of his sermons, I can say he is neither woke nor cowardly. He has consistently upheld Scripture in his teaching—he simply chose not to talk about Charlie Kirk.
So what does it say when people place social or political ideology above faith, worship, and love? Charlie Kirk was a devoted Christian husband, father, and friend, but he was not a perfect man—only Jesus was. I grow weary of seeing believers give him the same allegiance they owe to Christ. I don’t care what Jimmy Kimmel said about him; I didn’t watch Kimmel before, and I won’t now. What truly matters is how the world sees Christians respond. When believers lash out reactively to tragic events, it raises questions about the presence of the Holy Spirit within the church. We live in a fallen, sinful world, so unbelievers acting like unbelievers should not surprise us. What is shameful is when those who claim to follow Christ act in the same way. Jesus gave us the Holy Spirit to be our advocate, teacher, advisor, and encourager.
Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.
Colossians 4:4-5
In my prayers, I praise God and His Son, thanking them for creation and for all they have done for us. I exalt them as sovereign and seek guidance in lifting others. While this passage in Colossians doesn’t directly mention the Holy Spirit, it points to our need for Him in order to live and speak wisely before those outside the faith. Wise, gracious behavior can open doors for others to ask about Christ and become more receptive to the gospel. Paul urges believers to use their time well for sharing the good news, and this is made possible through the Spirit’s power and guidance.
The Apostle Paul wrote Colossians while in prison. He asked the church to pray, not for his release, but for clarity in sharing the gospel. His aim was not simply to speak, but to proclaim Christ with such transparency and precision that no one could misunderstand. Effective evangelism is not only about opportunity but also about being clear. Paul expanded the focus from his own mission to the daily conduct of every believer in Colossae.
When I interviewed my neighbor’s 94-year-old mom last year, she told me, “Unless you’re a trained professional, offering helpful advice to someone in need is not easy. But sharing the gospel is something we are encouraged to do. It might not solve immediate problems, but it’s the best news anyone will ever hear.” Her words weren’t earth-shattering—we’ve all heard them before—but they carried weight. She concluded simply, “He wants us to be humble and kind and come to Him and each other.”
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds…
Hebrews 10:24
People sometimes miss the root intent of this passage. It isn’t strictly about meeting in a church building, though it’s often quoted that way. The early believers gathered in homes, courtyards, or wherever they could, so the writer of Hebrews was emphasizing fellowship and encouragement rather than a specific location. The call to “meet together” is about strengthening one another in love, faith, and perseverance as they awaited Christ’s return.
In Hebrews, the word “encouragement” comes from the same Greek root used in John’s Gospel to describe the Holy Spirit as our Helper who walks alongside us. When we encourage others, we reflect the Spirit’s work within us. Some translations use “provoke” instead of “spur one another,” which can sound harsh today, but the intent was positive. It means to stir, motivate, or even shake one another out of spiritual lethargy and complacency. This urging is not for its own sake but directed toward two goals: deepening our love for God and strengthening our commitment to one another.
My wife and I were out of town the weekend of the funerals around the country, and we had heard that our church didn’t mention Charlie Kirk either. So what? A Christ-centered church should not be defined by political opinions but by the love of Christ. The church is not about numbers or popularity, but about living out God’s grace. Experiencing the Spirit’s love is powerful, but receiving it—and even more, giving it—is what we are commanded to do.
And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
2 Corinthians 9:8
Keep in mind the Greek phrase for “God is able” (δυνατός δὲ ὁ Θεός – dynatos de ho Theos). This underscores the power the Holy Spirit possesses. At first glance, the abundant grace mentioned might seem tied to financial provision, but it is much broader. The word charis refers to every kind of divine favor, blessing, and spiritual resource needed for life and ministry. It is “all”—every kind without exception. God pours out grace so that we may overflow in service and generosity to others, and the Holy Spirit is the one who carries out these promises.
This passage teaches us that generosity is secure in God’s hands. The fear of lacking is removed by His promise of “all sufficiency in all things at all times.” God blesses us not only to meet our needs but to equip us for service. When we receive grace, our response is to let it overflow into good works for others. The verse attributes the power to God the Father, but it is the Holy Spirit who pours that power and grace into the believer’s life, fulfilling the promise of sufficiency and producing good works.
There are an estimated 15,000–18,000 Christian-based K–12 schools in the U.S., along with about 166,000 Christian organizations. Roughly 14% of community hospitals are Christian-affiliated, and the U.S. sends some 135,000 missionaries worldwide. Nearly 20 years ago, the tragedy at West Nickel Mines School revealed the Holy Spirit at work. Despite their grief, the Amish established a charitable fund to help support the shooter’s family, recognizing that they too were suffering. Followers of Christ aren’t better than anyone else, but the Holy Spirit is greater.
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.
Romans 8:26
Life Application:
- As followers of Christ, we need clarity in our words and wisdom in our actions. How we speak and how we live both matter, since every interaction is an opportunity to point people toward Christ.