Statement from the desk of Jeff Evans, CEO of Minnesota Family Council

It is with grief that on behalf of Minnesota Family Council I pen these words. We continue to pray for the families, children, and staff of Annunciation Catholic School in the wake of yesterday’s horrific shooting. And we pray for every other Minnesotan who has been deeply affected by this. 

Just this June, I wrote to you of the tragic murder of former Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband and attempted murder of Senator John Hoffman and his wife. Again, the nation turns its gaze to Minnesota in shock and grief, struggling to make sense of this heinous shooting.

Many questions are being posed – such as the motive of the alleged shooter, who identified as “transgender” and, later, stated regret for doing so. Among other things, this tragedy raises deeply uncomfortable questions about trans ideology, violence against children, and hatred against people of faith. Public discourse will have to overcome being distracted by lesser questions that ignore the important probing ones. But our children and houses of worship deserve public courage and honesty to ask and answer the truly hard questions.

We must have these hard conversations about what really troubles us, and yet not forget the most fundamental ones. These are few and far between. Have we learned how much we are in need of a Savior yet? Do we understand, truly, what it means that he offers himself freely to all? The only place that we can turn to in such a horrific instance like this is Jesus. 

Following the shooting, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey scolded those turning to prayer as the immediate response. It’s true that across the nation, people write in to “send thoughts and prayers,” but what is actually meant by that? What authority are we praying to? Now is not the time for platitudes or cheap words. People are in deep grief. There is irrecoverable loss of precious life.

But now is the time for prayer. Prayer to the only one who has the power to bring the balm of peace to a grieving state and nation. Prayer is the most powerful form of action we can take. But let your prayers not “heap up empty phrases” (Matthew 6:7), rather, cry out to God in faith that the “prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working” (James 5:16).

And join us in praising God for the first responders and the courage of many on the scene of the shooting, such as a boy named Victor who was willing to lay down his life for his friend, protecting him from bullets with his own small body, garnering a wound in his back in the process.

Yours in Christ,

Jeff Evans