A tribute to the faithful: Remembering those who stood for Christ
Carlee Colvard, Managing Editor
Photo courtesy of The New York Times.
It was a day when college students climbed out of bed, got dressed and headed to what they thought would be a normal day of classes. It was a day when some of them would be asked about their religious views and be killed for for their response: I’m a Christian.
On Thursday, Oct. 1, a gunman, 26-year-old Chris Harper Mercer, took the life of nine students and injuring seven in a shooting that was concentrated in a public speaking class at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Oregon. Mercer himself died in the event after exchanging gunfire with police.
According to one of the injured students, Anna Boylan, the professor was shot upon Mercer entering the classroom as the students took cover and remained close to the ground. The gunman proceeded to load his gun and told those who were Christians to stand up.
Repeating information from his daughter, Stacy Boylan told CNN, “And they would stand up and he said, ‘Good because you’re a Christian, you’re going to see God in just about one second.'”
Matthew 5:10 says, “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
This verse speaks to the ones who stood for Christ in the midst of terror, the ones who gave their lives to their Savior and refused to deny Him to the point of death.
Listed below are the nine who stood for Christ and lost their lives because of their profession.
Photo courtesy of the New York Daily News.
Treven Anspach
Anspach, 20, was from Sutherlin, Ore. He was involved in the firefighter and EMS family and was known to be a talented athlete.
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Photo courtesy of the New York Daily News.
Quinn Cooper
Cooper, 18, was from Roseburg, Ore. and had just graduated from Roseburg High School in June. The shooting took place on his fourth day of college.
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Photo courtesy of the New York Daily News.
Lucas Eibel
Eibel, 18, was a quadruplet with two brothers and a sister. He graduated from Roseburg High School with high marks and was a selected UCC Scholar. He was studying chemistry.
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Photo courtesy of the New York Daily News.
Lawrence Levine
Levine, 67, was from Glide, Ore. He was the assistant professor of English who was killed when his classroom was under attack. Originally from Beverly Hills, Calif., he moved to Oregon where he lived in a cabin on the North Umpqua River and enjoyed fly fishing. He wrote many novels none of which have been published.
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Photo courtesy of the New York Daily News.
Lucero Alcaraz
Alcaraz, 19, was a recent graduate of Roseburg High School. She qualified to become a UCC Scholar and wanted to become a pediatric nurse
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Photo courtesy of the New York Daily News.
Rebecka Carnes
Carnes, 18, was from Myrtle Creek, Ore. and had just graduated from South Umpqua High School in June.
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Photo courtesy of the New York Daily News.
Kim Saltmarsh Dietz
Dietz, 59, was from Roseburg, Ore. She and her husband, Eric, were caretakers at Pyrenees Vineyard in Myrtle Creek, Ore., where her husband works as a manager. Her daughter also attends Umpqua Community College, but was unharmed in the shooting.
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Photo courtesy of the New York Daily News.
Jason Johnson
Johnson, 34, was from Winston, Ore. Johnson had recently enrolled in college with his family’s support.
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Photo courtesy of the New York Daily News.
Sarena Dawn Moore
Moore, 44, was from Myrtle Creek, Ore. She was in her third semester studying business. She was the mother of two sons and was a member of Grants Pass Seventh-day Adventist Church in Grant Pass, Ore.
“It was a test we could all hope to pass
But none of us would want to take
Faced with the choice to deny God and live
For her there was one choice to make
This was her time
This was her dance
She lived every moment
Left nothing to chance
She swam in the sea
Drank of the deep
Embraced the mystery
Of all she could be
This was her time”
“This is Your Time” by Michael W. Smith
