Researchers looking into how mass shooting survivors cope have discovered that, in one way or another, faith helps in their recovery.
"Finding comfort in one's faith and faith community is particularly important to helping mass shooting survivors hold onto hope amidst such horrible tragedies," Jamie Aten, executive director of the Humanitarian Disaster Institute (HDI) at Wheaton College, told Christianity Today.
Researchers examined survivors' recovery efforts from mass shootings over the past two years, and found that a faith community helps in the survivor's recovery.
"These findings suggest," Aten said, "that people in communities affected by mass shootings who identify as a person of faith or are open to faith would benefit from being encouraged to utilize their religious community as a source of social and religious support."
Community-based recovery
Researchers say survivors normally experience fear, heightened levels of stress, and grief. The support that a faith group gives helps them cope with the loss and other negative experiences they went through.
"Recovery takes place in community," Aten told Deseret News. "It's by coming together that we really express the love of God to those who are hurting in times of tragedy."
The same goes for the survivors and families of victims of the recent mass shooting in Texas. Churches, ministries, and religious leaders from different groups have started reaching out to families and people affected, in an attempt to empathize and provide comfort to them.
Mike Gonzales, a man who does not attend but lives near First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, told the Associated Press that the congregation was full of "wonderful people," adding that they're "coming together to pray."
Church leaders need to prepare
With so many mass shootings in recent years, Aten says the need outnumbers the help that is available. As such, there's a need to develop Christian leaders so they "can lead with faith and humility, and who are grounded in evidence-based practices as they serve the Church and the most vulnerable around the world."
