A church in Dallas held a service Tuesday to show support for the school and church in Nashville where three children and three adults were killed Monday. The shooting occurred at Covenant School, which is attached to a church and is "sister churches" with Park Cities Presbyterian Church.
Pastor Chad Scruggs had worked at Park Cities Presbyterian until moving to Nashville with his family in 2018. His daughter, Hallie Scruggs, was among three nine-year-olds who were killed.
"Chad came here and served on this staff beginning in 2013," Park Cities Presbyterian Senior Pastor Mark Davis said during the service. "The same year Chad came on staff here, Hallie was born."
Davis said he was meeting with some staff and youth ministers were meeting in the chapel when they heard news about a shooting at Scruggs' current church.
"We all just gathered immediately not knowing very much, praying earnestly for Hallie and not knowing if she was dead or alive," he said.
Davis said they later learned another victim, Cynthia Peak, 61, had family from the area, and her sister is a current member of Park Cities Presbyterian.
"She loved that school, and she loved being a substitute," said Senior Director of Women's Ministries Kari Stainback. "Lord, You knew in Your sovereignty and Your care, that was the day she would be called home to be with You."
Davis said he wanted to open the church's doors to people who know the families of those victims or anyone who was affected by this shooting.
"We come today to do what the word of God calls us to do: to grieve, to lament, to say nothing when there are no words," he said.
Davis said he spoke with Scruggs Monday afternoon.
"He was very conversive, admitting he's in shock, this is surreal, but also admitting the Lord is in control, that He is good," Davis said.
Davis said he wanted to open the doors of the church to urge people struggling with recent shootings to turn to scripture.
"The questions that you have are honest and many of them will not have answers, so cling to what the word of God says is true," he said. "What happened [Monday] and what will happen in our lives this side of heaven, evil, disaster, death, it's true. But so is the promise of what God has done in those who trust in Him."
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