Dorwan Stoddard, a member at Mountain Avenue Church of Christ (Tucson, AZ) was one of six people killed in last Saturday”s shooting that also severely wounded Democratic U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords.
Stoddard was hit by the gunfire while protecting his wife, Mavy; Mavy was shot in the leg and was in stable condition as of Tuesday.
The Christian Chronicle, a news blog of the churches of Christ, has updates here.
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Tucson area news reports have also shared responses from several local churches, including Chandler (AZ) Christian Church and Central Christian Church in Mesa.
Several of the congregations held special prayer times for the victims and families.
“There were a lot of lives ended, changed and turned upside down, so we prayed for the victims and our state and national leaders as they try to process the whole thing,” said Central campus pastor Perry Emerick in an East Valley Tribune article.
“You cannot explain an irrational act by an irrational person in a rational way,” said Chandler senior pastor Roger Storms. “It”s impossible. For us to try and understand it does not work. The thing we try to convey as a church is that we have an anchor to hold onto no matter what happens around us.”
The beautiful people at this church that God has taken home with Him, are loved, missed & honored continuously in my prayers. I was honored to join your church in 2003-04 & miss you all terribly. I am forever thankful for the many kind women who helped me through health & spiritual trials. God, hold Mavy & all of your church in your loving embrace. Please forgive my errors in lack of communication with you. Your loving sister in Christ. Rose Marie Hoglund.