Valley church leaders react to Texas shooting

Valley church leaders are reacting to the shooting at a church in Texas Sunday.

Pastor Kephyan Sheppard with the Word of Life Fellowship Center in Desert Hot Springs released this statement to KESQ and CBS Local 2 Sunday:

“There was a time when the house of God was reverenced, and esteemed. There was a time where the house of God was treated with respect and was considered a sacred, Holy place of worship. Here in 2017 it appears those days are long gone, the fact that we’re becoming desensitized to church shootings is a problem. We can discuss gun control and/or lack thereof all day long but the issue is evil. Pure unadulterated evil. We know that we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but in times like this a unified body is mandatory. Praying for all affected this afternoon in Jesus name.”

Rev. Kevin Johnson with Bloom in the Desert ministries in Palm Springs released this statement in reaction to the shooting:

“These events have brought us to a place of higher awareness for security needs, and we have been taking some steps to put some additional measures in place without being reactionary. This is another opportunity for us to greater understand the need for greater gun safety action by our legislators and in our legal system.”

At least 26 people were killed and 20 others injured in a church shooting in Sutherland Springs, near San Antonio.

READ: At least 26 people killed in shooting at Texas church

Stay with KESQ and CBS Local 2 for the latest updates regarding the shooting.