Today's Events at the University of South Carolina
   
Thank you for your prayers and thoughts as University of South Carolina deals with a tragic on-campus shooting. You will hear of details about the event from news sources and others so let me reflect upon the event itself and its after-effects.
  
Thanks be to God that we have the means of distribution, the technology to alert our community so that people around the world immediately saw the news of a threat to our students, faculty, and staff. Within moments of the shootings, USC Police, Columbia Police, and other law enforcement were on the scene, and the community was alerted to shelter themselves until told all was clear. Sadly, if what's being said around campus is true it turned out to be a very specific incident with targeted victims.
  
Even more sadly, however, is that this now places the University of South Carolina in Columbia amongst a handful of campuses that have felt this horror, and will never be the same. Your Lutheran Campus Ministry is at work today, with University Counseling Service and other Student Life offices, to make sure each and every student, staff and faculty member gets the care they need in this time of uncertainty and fear.
  
"May those who loved the ones lost be comforted, and may the community at USC be lifted up and cared for as we pray for peace in this time of uncertainty. Amen"
  
Blessings!
Pastor Frank W. Anderson
Lutheran Campus Ministry at USC