In first service since shooting, Fort Worth-area church honors victims and finds joy
Minister Britt Farmer said he got up Sunday morning and, at first, did not want to deliver his sermon.
Just one week ago, two church members were shot and killed inside West Freeway Church of Christ. One of the victims, Richard White, was Farmer’s best friend. It has been a long week of vigils, interviews and grieving.
But on Sunday morning, the White Settlement congregation and community was looking to heal.
So while he said it was the most difficult part of the shooting’s aftermath so far, Farmer drove to the building off Las Vegas Trail and spoke to the hundreds of people gathered inside.
“To be completely honest, I didn’t want to come,” Farmer said after the service Sunday morning. “I knew I needed to. But I’m gonna be honest with you — I wouldn’t be anywhere else.”
At about 11:45 a.m., Farmer talked to reporters in the church’s parking lot, which was packed for the 10:30 a.m. service. Bouquets of flowers adorned the stone sign out front.
Farmer said his sermon honored those the church lost in the shooting and focused on finding joy in suffering.
“Love never ends,” he said. “You can take people away from us, and God is going to supply us with new ones. And as long as we’re doing what we’re supposed to do, we will find joy in that. We know where those people are; they’re a lot better off than we are.”
White, 67, and Anton “Tony” Wallace, 64, died in the shooting when a man who did not attend the church stood up during communion and shot them both. The head of the church’s volunteer security team, Jack Wilson, killed the shooter with a single shot.
“We suffered a loss, and it needs to mean something to us,” Farmer said. “We find joy in the death of Christ in our lives because of that tragic death he suffered — same, too, with the loss of Tony and Richard. We’re looking for the joy that we need to be able to find in that. And that’s not going to be easy.”
Keith Kinnunen was identified as the River Oaks man who shot and killed Wallace and White. He had been to the church before to ask for food, and the church helped him, Farmer said.
But the shooting will not change the church’s dedication to helping others, Farmer said.
In fact, the day after the shooting, the security system at the church broke, and a homeless man was able to walk inside, Farmer said. He asked for food, and they gave it to him without hesitation.
“We’re not going to shy away from that,” Farmer said. “That’s what we’re here for.”
Officers in uniform, guns still allowed
Farmer said the church had no extra security Sunday, although some police officers wore their uniforms to the church at the urging of Fort Worth Police Chief Ed Kraus. In a tweet Saturday, Kraus asked officers who attend faith services to wear their uniforms to make churchgoers feel safer.
Farmer said he supported the chief asking officers to do so.
“I love it. I think it’s wonderful that members of the congregation wear it, and wear it proudly,” Farmer said.
He also defended his stance on the right to carry guns in church, which he said some people have criticized him for.
“A lot of people have criticized me for thanking the government for rights that we already have. That’s not my stance, ” he said. “My stance is we had the rights, and I’m thankful the government is backing us in those rights. We’re thankful for the opportunity that we can protect our own, and can continue to do so.”
All are welcome
In a statement on their website, West Freeway welcomed any who wished to attend Sunday’s service to support the still-grieving congregation.
“I know that there will be many who will attend our services through the next few weeks and we welcome your visit,” the statement said. “Please, if you are visiting us on any given time of our assemblies know that we are interested in your spiritual future. We may not want to speak about the tragedy, so please be considerate of our wishes. We don’t mean to put anyone off but we are going to need time to heal.”
The church asked that members of the media not attend Sunday’s service.
Janice Marut, regional director for the Lutheran Church Charities K-9 Ministry Southwest Region, brought two golden retrievers, Pax and Phoebe, to the church Sunday. The dogs provided emotional support for children at the service.
She said the mood inside the church was positive.
“They’re very upbeat; they’re very positive. They have a very strong faith — that’s very evident,” Marut said. “They’ve been through a tragedy, and there’s some healing that needs to happen, but I’m confident they will come through it.”
This story was originally published January 5, 2020 at 3:28 PM.
