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Following news that one of their own was killed by a crazed fan in Orlando, there came more news that another crazed person in the same town killed far more. Members of Fellowship Alliance Chapel were gathering to mourn Christina Grimmie Sunday morning, when they learned of 49 more people shot to death in a nightclub nearby.
Grimmie, 22, was shot Friday night in Orlando while signing autographs after a concert. Authorities say that Kevin James Loibl, 27, fired at Grimmie before he was tackled by her brother Marcus. Loibl killed himself. Grimmie, a season 3 finalist on NBC’s The Voice, was rushed to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
A day later and three miles away at nightclub Pulse, attacker Omar Mateen, who used an assault rifle to kill 49 people and injure 53 more.
Prior to receiving this news, Pastor Marty Berglund began an early service with a video tribute to Grimmie, including a YouTube video of Grimmie singing “In Christ Alone.” The song’s lyrics speak of the power of faith to conquer death. Grimmie was a devout Christian, and her music was rooted in inspiration.
Elder Bryan Russell told The Daily Beast, “Christina had a tattoo on her forearm. It said ‘All Is Vanity’ from the book of Ecclesiastes. So every time she performed she could see those words. She never wanted to forget who she was working for and who she represented.”
