Gun Violence Response Resources

As followers of Jesus, we are invited to live a life of seeking justice and having mercy. To embody both of those, it requires us to take action. We have put together resources for you to explore and help you take your next step toward being an everyday peacemaker.

**If you would like to speak with a pastor on staff about the most recent events, please email us today**

Communicate with Your Political Leaders

Guidance for Families

  • The American Psychiatric Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend avoiding such topics with children until they are around age 8, if you can help it.
  • It is helpful to prevent children from seeing pictures or the news. Images will stick with children longer than words. We know the toil the 24hr news cycle takes on us as adults, especially during a tragedy; this can cause even greater fear and anxiety in children do not have the skills to process.
  • As always, process your own emotional response away from children. Be aware of your own emotional health and state.
  • Pre-school / Kindergarten children should be shielded from the news as much as possible. If you talk with your child about the event, consider a one sentence, very simple update. Perhaps you want to let them know that a person with a serious illness felt angry and hurt people.
  • Early Elementary children need brief, simple information that should be balanced with reassurances that their homes are safe and that the adults in their lives are are here to protect them. If necessary, give simple examples of how your school may be addressing safety like reminding them about exterior doors being locked, adults monitoring kids on the playground, and the fact that they have practiced emergency drills during the school day.
  • Upper elementary and early middle school students will be more vocal in asking questions about whether they truly are safe and what is being done at their school. They may need assistance separating reality from fantasy. Discuss efforts of school and community leaders to provide safe schools.
  • High school students will likely be fully aware of what is going on and of the lack of response to address gun violence in our country over the years.  Many of our INC Students have already taken to social media to share their fear, concerns and their not-so-shocked remorse for the fact that this has happened again. In processing with them, make sure you hear them. Affirm their feelings and comfort them in their grief and fear.