WICHITA -
The day after his murder, George Tiller's church family still sees Reformation Lutheran as their sanctuary, and not the scene of a crime. On Sunday a man shot and killed Tiller as he ushered people into the morning service. The pastor who was inside tells what happened next.
"All faiths hope that their place of worship is a place of safety and of peace," Pastor Lowell Michelson said.
On Sunday morning, the people of Reformation Lutheran Church in northeast Wichita lost that comfort for a time.
"I actually wasn't up here, I was part of the music group during the prelude yesterday," Pastor Michelson said.
The pastor started his service like always, singing before his congregation of 200 people.
"One of the ushers came in and made eye contact with me and then I left," Pastor Michelson said.
When the pastor walked through the doors into the foyer, he found Dr. George Tiller, an usher that morning and long-time church member, had been shot.
"There was a couple of folks from our congregation who were already administering first aid and CPR," Pastor Michelson said.
After seeing the scene, the pastor immediately took Tiller's wife into a separate room in the back of the church and notified the family.
"She was stunned and in disbelief, as was I," Pastor Michelson said.
Tiller died a short time later.
Within a matter of hours the very people who had come to worship with him, many whom police questioned, came back to their sanctuary to pray.
"It's important in such a tragic time to first of all say that this house of worship is a place of peace," Pastor Michelson said.
A place Pastor Michelson said violence will never overshadow.
"All faiths hope that their place of worship is a place of safety and of peace," Pastor Lowell Michelson said.
On Sunday morning, the people of Reformation Lutheran Church in northeast Wichita lost that comfort for a time.
"I actually wasn't up here, I was part of the music group during the prelude yesterday," Pastor Michelson said.
The pastor started his service like always, singing before his congregation of 200 people.
"One of the ushers came in and made eye contact with me and then I left," Pastor Michelson said.
When the pastor walked through the doors into the foyer, he found Dr. George Tiller, an usher that morning and long-time church member, had been shot.
"There was a couple of folks from our congregation who were already administering first aid and CPR," Pastor Michelson said.
After seeing the scene, the pastor immediately took Tiller's wife into a separate room in the back of the church and notified the family.
"She was stunned and in disbelief, as was I," Pastor Michelson said.
Tiller died a short time later.
Within a matter of hours the very people who had come to worship with him, many whom police questioned, came back to their sanctuary to pray.
"It's important in such a tragic time to first of all say that this house of worship is a place of peace," Pastor Michelson said.
A place Pastor Michelson said violence will never overshadow.
