Christian Pastor Rob Warren, who leads the congregation of Doxa Church, recently shared a powerful story and a few other members of a teacher he knew that was killed during the tragic shooting that took place at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin just a week ago. Warren said that the teacher, Erin West, 42, was a “woman who loved Jesus and loved people.” During the incident, 15-year-old Natalie Rupnow used a 9 mm handgun to kill two individuals and seriously wound 6 others. The shooter did not survive. One student and one teacher died as a result of this horrific act.
According to The Christian Tribune, West was a well liked member of her church and the school where she taught. She had served the students and parents of Abundant Life Christian School for four years. Pastor Warren recounted how kind and compassionate West was, going on to add, “That’s kind of like the fruit of her life, but I think at the core was she was a woman who loved Jesus and loved people, and that was honestly why she was in that classroom on Monday.”
Warren also recalled comforting West’s family following her passing. “We just kind of sat there with him and we cried. It’s your friend and it’s your friend’s kids that you’re looking at. It just becomes more and more real.”
He also explained that He knows that it’s not just the sentiment of, ‘I’m going to see her again one day and she’s at peace,‘ but because of her faith, we know that she’s actually at peace right now.”
The school released a statement honoring West. “ALCS is a better school for the work of Erin West. She served our teachers and students with grace, humor, wisdom, and — most importantly — with the love of Jesus. Her loss is a painful and deep one and she will be greatly missed not just among our staff, but our entire ALCS family.” The school also released a statement on the other victim. The school described her as “an avid reader, loved art, singing and playing keyboard in the family worship band.” Abundant life said “[She] was a blessing to her class and our school. She was not only a good friend, but a great big sister. Often seen with a book in hand, she had a gift for art and music.” The school said she was gentle and loving.
After the shooter started firing inside a study hall “full of students from multiple grade levels,” at a small Wisconsin Christian school dozens of officers descended on the scene. Law enforcement was alerted by a 911 call from a second grader. The murderer. Identified by police as 15-year-old Natalie Rupnow, was found with a self-inflicted gunshot wound by police and died en route to the hospital.
What’s also tragic about this is not just the passing of West, but of Rupnow. I know that might sound strange, but this was just a kid who got steered down a wrong road and who bought the lies of the devil and has now paid for that choice with her soul. It should agonize us as believers to realize that she likely did not know the Lord and will be separated from Him for eternity, suffering, paying for what she did with no hope of it ever ending.
Mourn. Pray. Love your families.
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