We Remember and Pray

Franklin Graham Statement During 2007 VA Tech Shootings

April 15, 2012 - Franklin Graham, president and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, issued the following statement during the 2007 mass shooting at Virginia Tech.

"My heart is heavy with the tragic news of the deadliest school shooting incident in American history and our prayers are with the dozens of victims and their families during this horrible time.

The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) has offered the resources of our Rapid Response Team, which sends chaplains trained in crisis counseling, to assist the Blacksburg community in the days ahead as we have done in many situations since 9/11 in New York City.

Sadly, we have once again been reminded of the evil that people can perpetrate on others; and while many theories will surface in the coming days and weeks about how such a terrible act occurs, I believe what we’ve seen here is ultimately a reflection of the condition of the human heart.

Having traveled to disaster and war areas around the world, I am often asked why God would allow such acts of destruction or violence upon innocent people; and while I can’t know the whole mind of God I do know two things. First, God created us. Second, God loves us and desires that all would come to Him.

My prayer in this time of tragedy is that it will pull us together as a nation and focus our attention on those families who have suffered great loss and turn our eyes to the Prince of all peace, Jesus Christ.”