Nashville-based Christian musicians react to school shooting: 'Dear Lord, we need you'

Keith and Kristyn Getty

Keith and Kristyn Getty, the Nashville-based hymn writers behind “In Christ Alone,” shared a lengthy lament on Facebook. 

“Today tears have flowed, our minds numb with shock and hearts heavy with grief. We are heart broken for our friends at Covenant school and church and their Senior Pastor Chad Scruggs. We had hard and unchartered conversations with our children about the tragic shooting that happened so close to their school. Our community is grieving.

Just yesterday we visited the new Spurgeon Library at Midwestern Seminary. I spent a few quiet moments with Spurgeon’s hymnal ‘Our Own Hymnbook.’ I was drawn to the category of praying for our children, singing together our earnest prayers for these precious ones. And I took a photograph of this hymn written by Thomas Hastings (composer of the Toplady melody for the hymn ‘Rock of Ages’).

I would struggle to sing these words today. Yet here they are. True. Pleading prayers in 1834 and pleading still in 2023. Please pray as we mourn for our beautiful Nashville, particularly for the children.

Tis for our children we would plead,

The offspring thou hast given;

Where shall we go in time of need

But to the God of Heaven?

We ask not for them wealth or fame

Amid the worldly strife:

But, in the all-prevailing name,

We ask eternal life.

‘My eyes are swollen with weeping, waiting for my God to help me…Answer my prayers, O Lord, for your unfailing love is wonderful. Take care of me, for your mercy is so plentiful.’

Psalm 69."