Columbine High School—April 1999

Feb 9

Cassie Bernall

Cassie Bernall, a 17 yr old student at Columbine high school in Littleton, Colorado, was known for carrying her Bible to school every day and wearing a "What Would Jesus Do?" bracelet. Cassie was in the library, reading her bible at the Littleton, Colo., school April 20, 1999 when a gunman burst in. He went up to Bernall and stood face-to-face with her, witnesses said...."Do you believe in God?" the gunman asked. Bernall said she believed in Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior, and was shot in the temple, witnesses said. Bernall, who became a Christian two years ago, was studious and a member of her youth group at West Bowles Community Church in Littleton. Previously, she had dabbled in the occult, including witchcraft.............

Littleton's Martyrs

By Charles W. Colson - April 26, 1999

It was a test all of us would hope to pass, but none of us really wants to take. A masked gunman points his weapon at a Christian and asks "Do you believe in God?" She knows that if she says "yes," she'll pay with her life. But unfaithfulness to her Lord is unthinkable. So, with what would be her last words, she calmly answers "yes, I believe in God."

What makes this story remarkable is that the gunman was no communist thug, nor was the martyr a Chinese pastor. As you may have guessed, the event I'm describing took place last Tuesday in Littleton, Colorado. As the Washington Post reported, the two students who shot 13 people, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, did not choose their victims at random--they were acting out of a kaleidoscope of ugly prejudices. Media coverage has centered on the killers' hostility toward racial minorities and athletes, but there was another group the pair hated every bit as much, if not more: Christians.

And, there were plenty of them to hate at Columbine High School. According to some accounts eight Christians--four Evangelicals and four Catholics--were killed. Among them was Cassie Bernall. And it was Cassie who made the dramatic decision I've just described-- fitting for a person whose favorite movie was "Braveheart," in which the hero dies a martyr's death. Cassie was a 17-year-old junior with long blond hair, hair she wanted to cut off and have made into wigs for cancer patients who had lost their hair through chemotherapy. She was active in her youth group at Westpool's Community Church and was known for carrying a Bible to school.

Cassie was in the school library reading her Bible when the two young killers burst in. According to witnesses, one of the killers pointed his gun at Cassie and asked, do you believe in God?" Cassie paused and then answered, "Yes, I believe in God." "Why?" the gunman asked. Cassie did not have a chance to respond; the gunman had already shot her dead.

As her classmate Mickie Cain told Larry King on CNN, "She completely stood up for God. When the killers asked her if there was anyone who had faith in Christ, she spoke up and they shot her for it." Cassie's martyrdom was even more remarkable when you consider that just a few years ago she had dabbled in the occult, including witchcraft. She had embraced the same darkness and nihilism that drove her killers to such despicable acts.

But two years ago, Cassie dedicated her life to Christ, and turned her life around. Her friend, Craig Moon, called her a "light for Christ." Well, this "light for Christ" became a rare American martyr of the 20th Century. According to the Boston Globe, on the night of her death, Cassie's brother Chris found a poem Cassie had written just two days prior to her death. It read:
"Now I have given up on everything else I have found it to be the only way To really know Christ and to experience The mighty power that brought Him back to life again, and to find Out what it means to suffer and to Die with him.
So, whatever it takes I will be one who lives in the fresh Newness of life of those who are Alive from the dead."

The best way all of us can honor Cassie's memory is To embrace that same courageous commitment to our faith. For example, we should stand up to our kids when they want to play violent video games. We should be willing to stand up to community ridicule when we oppose access to Internet pornography at the local library. For the families of these young martyrs, I can only offer deep personal sympathy and the hope that they might take strength from the words Jesus spoke to the woman who honored Him by pouring ointment on His head. "Wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her" (Matthew 26:13). "Well done, good and faithful servant. Now enter into the joy of your Lord" (Matthew 25:23).

Copyright (c) 1999 Prison Fellowship Ministries "BreakPoint with Chuck Colson" ("BreakPoint") is a daily commentary on news and trends from a Christian perspective.

Rachel Scott

Eyewitness accounts of other surviving students said that when Rachel Scott was confronted by one of the gunmen, she gave a bold testimony of her faith. The killer asked her, "Do you believe in God?!!" She boldly answered, "Yes I do!" She was instantly gunned down.

"For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." - Philippians 1:21

Darrell Scott - Father of Rachael Scott
Who is to blame for Columbine????? Scott gives a wonderful and touching Christian response to the tragedy at Littleton, CO. Calling his daughters murderers by their first names, with no hatred or malice, he speaks the truth boldly. The issue is not an outside issue - - guns, or the NRA -- The issue lies within us ; it is spiritual and we, as a nation, and as individuals accountable to God, are starving..........

TESTIMONY OF DARRELL SCOTT FATHER OF TWO VICTIMS OF COLUMBINE HIGH SCHOOL SHOOTING LITTLETON, COLORADO

BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON CRIME HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE

UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

THURSDAY, MAY 27,1999

2:00 P.M.

2141 RAYBURN HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING

Since the dawn of creation there has been both good and evil in the heart of men and of women. We all contain the seeds of kindness or the seeds of violence. The death of my wonderful daughter Rachel Joy Scott, and the deaths of that heroic teacher and the other children who died must not be in vain.

Their blood cries out for answers.

The first recorded act of violence was when Cain slew his brother Abel out in the field. The villain was not the club he used. Neither was it the NCA, the National Club Association. The true killer was Cain and the reason for the murder could only be found in Cain's heart.

In the days that followed the Columbine tragedy, I was amazed at how quickly fingers began to be pointed at groups such as the NRA. I am not a member of the NRA. I am not a hunter. I do not even own a gun. I am not here to represent or defend the NRA - because I don't believe that they are responsible for my daughters death. Therefore I do not believe that they need to be defended. If I believed they had anything to do with Rachel's murder I would be their strongest opponent.

I am here today to declare that Columbine was not just a tragedy - it was a spiritual event that should be forcing us to look at where the real blame lies! Much of that blame lies here in this room. Much of that blame lies behind the pointing fingers of the accusers themselves..

I wrote a poem just four nights ago that express my feelings best. This was written way before I knew l would be speaking here today.

Your laws ignore our deepest needs

Your words are empty air.

You've stripped away our heritage. You've outlawed simple prayer.

Now gunshots fill our classrooms. And precious children die. You seek for answers everywhere. And ask the question "WHY"?

You regulate restrictive laws. Through legislative creed. Add yet you fail to understand.

That God is what we need!

Men and women are three part beings. We all consist of body, soul, and spirit. When we refuse to acknowledge a third part of our makeup, we create a void that allows evil, prejudice, and hatred to rush in and wreak havoc.

Spiritual influences were present within our educational Systems for most of our nation's history. Many of our major colleges began as theological seminaries. This is a historic fact.

What has happened to us as a nation? We have refused to honor God and in doing so, we open the doors to hatred and violence. And when something as terrible as Columbine's tragedy occurs - - politicians immediately look for a scapegoat such as the NRA. They immediately seek to pass more restrictive laws that continue to erode away our personal and private liberties.

We do not need more restrictive laws. Eric and Dylan would not have been stopped by metal detectors. No amount of gun laws can stop someone who spends months planning this type of massacre.

The real villain lies within our OWN hearts. Political posturing and restrictive legislation is not the answers. The young people of our nation hold the key. There is a spiritual awakening taking place that will not be squelched!

We do not need more religion. We do not need more gaudy Television evangelists spewing out verbal religious garbage. We do not need more million dollar church buildings built while people with basic needs are being ignored.

We do need a change of heart and an humble acknowledgment that this nation was founded on the principle of simple trust in God.

As my son Craig lay under that table in the school library and saw his two friends murdered before his very eyes. He did not hesitate to pray in school. I defy any law or politician to deny him that right!

I challenge every young person in America and around the world to realize that on April 20, 1999 at Columbine High School - - prayer was brought back to our schools. Do not let the many prayers offered by those students be in vain. Dare to move into the new millennium with a sacred disregard for legislation that violates your conscience and denies your God-given right to communicate with Him.

To those of you who would point your finger at the NRA - I give to you sincere challenge. Dare to examine your own heart before you cast the first stone!

My daughter's death will not be in vain. The young people of this country will not allow that to happen.

Lauren Beyer & Heidi Johnson

2 Columbine Christian Survivors visit Lafayette IN

Lauren Beyer, 15 yrs old and Heidi Johnson, 16 yrs. old, shared their story from the Columbine high school tragedy and their testimony for God in Lafayette Indiana.

"We've all got to get together in this. Sure, we'd like to blame this or blame that. But the truth is, they gave their hearts over to Satan." Heidi hopes to persuade kids in Lafayette -- kids everywhere -- to give their hearts to God instead. "I want them to see a different perspective on life and the way they should be living."

School shooting survivors to share faith in Lafayette

By Dan McFeely

Indianapolis Star/News

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (May 12, 1999) --

Blame the parents.

The Internet.

Hollywood.

Blame who you want.

Lauren Beyer knows who is responsible for the Columbine High School massacre. "It was Satan," she said. "Satan in the flesh."

Lauren would know. She was there.

Today, she and another survivor will share their feelings, their memories -- but mostly their faith -- with students at two Lafayette area high schools. And tonight at 7, the community is invited to hear their testimony at the First Assembly of God church on the south side of Lafayette. It is there that people will learn how Lauren, 15, was enjoying lunch in the Columbine school cafeteria on April 20 when the bullets started to fly. "I saw Dave Sanders (a teacher and former Hoosier who later was killed) running through the cafeteria, yelling at us to get under the table. His face was just pale white." A minute later, Lauren joined a group of kids who found an exit. She was one of the first ones out of the building.

Her friend, Heidi Johnson, wasn't so lucky. "I was in the library," Heidi said. The library, where most of the blood was spilled that day. Heidi, a tall, thin, blonde sophomore, tried to hide under a table. "Luckily I was alone under my table," she said. "At the other tables they were crowded in. If there was a hand stuck out or a leg, they would walk by and shoot it." From her vantage point, she saw her classmate, Isaiah Shoels, shot because he was black. Then she saw one of her best friends killed after telling the gunmen that she believed in God. Then they turned toward her table. Heidi, 16, thinks one of the gunmen said something to her, but she doesn't remember what it was. Then he fired three shots. "It was like there was a shield around my table," said Heidi, who remembers one bullet hitting the table just above her head. "I was just praying the whole time. And I knew where I was going to go if I did die. That just brought so much peace to me."

As the gunmen sought out other victims , Heidi helped gather her scared and injured classmates, then rushed to an exit. And, she said, she kept up her praying, clutching her fellow students -- particularly several girls who were hysterical. "God definitely gave me strength that day," Heidi said.

In all, students Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold killed 12 classmates and one teacher before committing suicide. After submitting to scores of interviews -- with police, school officials and the press -- it might seem odd that Heidi and Lauren's parents agreed to let them come to Lafayette. Why not stop talking about it and try to move on? "You can't go back. You can only go forward," said Robin Beyer, Lauren's mother, who made the trip with her daughter. "This is actually good for them. We want God to use this for his glory."

The Rev. Jeff Countryman, a minister who teaches aspiring ministers at the Lafayette Masters Commission, which is based at First Assembly of God, arranged the trip after some unusual, yet divine, intervention. Three days after the shooting, Countryman said he felt God push him to gather his student-ministers and go to Colorado. That same day, a member of the church in Lafayette found out about his plan and wrote him a check for $3,000 to cover expenses. The group of 13 arrived the next Tuesday with no plans other than to help others pray. By chance, he was asked to give a sermon at Trinity Christian Center, about two miles from Columbine High School. In the audience that night was Lauren and Heidi. "We honestly did not have a plan. We did not have one contact out there," said Countryman. "God just opened up the doors."

Later that week, he helped at Isaiah Shoels' funeral. Afterward he decided to hold a Stop the Violence Rally in Lafayette, with Lauren and Heidi the featured speakers. "If just one kid hears about all the pain those two kids caused, and stops something that he has been thinking about, then it will be worth it," Countryman said.

Anna Montgomery