Colorado Springs — You would sooner find an atheist than an empty seat in New Life Church on Sunday morning, just a week after an explosion and the sound of gunfire sent worshipers scurrying for safety.
For both morning services, the megachurch’s 7,500-seat Worship Center boomed with music, punctuated by dancing fountains, fog machines and lighting fit for rock opera. Palms were raised, and shouts for peace and salvation filled the sanctuary.
“If you asked somebody who was a nonbeliever or who did not read the Bible, they would have said, ‘Well, that place will be empty next weekend,’ ” senior pastor Brady Boyd told the congregation, “a family” in the church’s massive “living room.”
The church members prayed for the victims of last weekend’s shootings, particularly the Works family. Matthew Murray’s armed assault on the church took the life of 18-year-old Stephanie and 16-year-old Rachel Works.
Their father, 51-year-old David Works, continued to recover from his wounds and was not in attendance Sunday. Two other members of the congregation were wounded before volunteer security guard Jeanne Assam shot and wounded Murray, who then fatally shot himself.
Murray’s name did not come up in prayers, songs or sermons delivered from pulpit Sunday morning.
“It’s hard to forgive, but you have to,” said Hilary Smith, 13, a friend of Rachel Works. “The Bible says you have to. I can’t get over it. I never will. But I have to forgive.”
Sondra Murray, an usher with no relation to the shooter, said of Christian faith: “It’s all about forgiveness.”
Boyd preached about tribulations, telling members that dire tests of faith are not new — to Jesus, to defenders of Christianity throughout history or in places around the world today.
Neither the church nor its members have done anything to bring such hardships to its doorstep, Boyd said.
“Sin was not the reason for last weekend,” he said.
In November 2006, New Life Church members struggled with the ouster of the Rev. Ted Haggard, the church’s founder who was embroiled in a sex scandal when he was accused by a gay prostitute of buying sex and drugs.
“Thirteen months ago, we were tested from the inside,” Boyd said of the Haggard scandal. “A week ago, we were tested from the outside, and we are passing the tests.”
Taylor Ashley, a 16-year-old with a choppy two-tone punk rock hairdo, said the pastor’s words had instilled courage and strength.
“It was good to hear the pastor talk about courage,” he said amid a group of friends gathered around the 10-foot cross in the Worship Center’s lobby. “I’d had some doubts. I didn’t know what to think.”
Several members who had been in the church a week ago when the assault erupted said they did not wish to recount it Sunday.
Jeffrey Gobel quoted associate pastor Rob Brendle’s earlier remarks from the pulpit, “Sorrow lasts through the night; joy comes in the morning,” he said. “It’s morning. It’s time to put this behind us and move on. God has too much for us to do to live in the past.”
Rob Thomas of Denver attended the church for the first time Sunday with his daughters, Kristi, 12, and Elana, 14.
“We’re standing in for the Works family,” he said, hugging his youngest daughter with one arm. “Hopefully they’re standing in for us in heaven.”
Joey Bunch: 303-954-1174 or jbunch@denverpost.com
