Tragedy struck the Youth With a Mission Center in Arvada, Colorado as two YWAMers were killed and two others wounded by a gunman in the early hours of Sunday morning, December 9. Just 12 hours following the shooting at the YWAM center, another shooting occurred at the New Life Church in Colorado Springs. Two people attending the church have died as a result of that shooting. The shooter was also killed by a church security guard.

Peter Warren, Director of Youth With A Mission in Arvada, Colorado said, "The young man – I don't know who he is; I don't think [the victims] knew him – but he must be going through a lot personally in his own life to do something like this. Our belief is that only God is the judge and our place is to forgive and that's a difficult thing to do, but really, I think it's the right thing to do."

"There's no blueprint for this," said Warren. "You know, we're just going to be honest, we're going to pray with one another and cry with one another. These kids were like our kids, you know. It's just such a tragedy, but who knows what's going on in this young man's life."

Youth With A Mission is a missionary organization that began in 1960 and now has centers in more than 170 countries around the world. Young people from various Christian denominations and churches work with the ministry to impact the world for Christ.

Sammy Tippit stayed many years ago in a YWAM center near Augsburg, Germany. He and his wife and small son, were allowed to stay at the castle as they were traveling throughout Europe doing evangelistic work. Tippit said, “This is a tragedy that strikes at the heart of God’s people. YWAM is such a great ministry and organization. We offer our condolences to everyone with YWAM.  We would ask our friends to pray for the families of those who have been killed.”

Sammy Tippit Ministries asks our friends to lift up in prayer all of those affected by this tragedy, both with Youth With A Mission and with the New Life Church in Colorado Springs. Pray for a moral and spiritual revival in America.