A Wisconsin Christian school is holding tightly to its faith after a devastating shooting left two dead and six injured on Monday. Administrators and families at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison are leaning into the promises of Scripture, even as they process profound grief and shock.

Barbara Wiers, director of elementary and school relations at Abundant Life, spoke at a press conference hours after the tragedy, sharing words of comfort and faith. “We believe that God is good in everything and that He turns beauty for ashes,” she said, referencing Isaiah 61:3. “This wasn’t a surprise to God, and He’s going to do something mighty with it.”

The shooting unfolded during study hall when a female student, identified as Natalie Rupnow, opened fire, killing a teacher and a teenage classmate and wounding six others. Two of the injured remain in critical condition, while the remaining four—three students and another teacher—are recovering from non-life-threatening injuries.

Abundant Life Christian School, which serves 420 students from pre-K through 12th grade, has long emphasized its identity as a close-knit, faith-driven community. Wiers said the school’s families offered words of encouragement and prayer even in the immediate aftermath of the shooting.

“They were supportive. They were amazingly patient and kind,” Wiers said, recounting conversations with parents at a reunification site. “We see ourselves as a family, not just a community. What affects one part of the body affects all, as the Bible says. In spite of tragedy, we believe God is working.”

Wiers, who was teaching at the time of the shooting, commended the students for their composure during the lockdown. “They handled themselves magnificently,” she said. “They were clearly scared when they realized it was real, but their bravery shone through.”

The school regularly conducts lockdown drills and maintains strict security protocols, including locked doors throughout the campus.

The Madison Police Department received the first 911 call at 10:57 a.m. from a courageous second-grade student. Officers arrived within three minutes and neutralized the shooter by 11:05 a.m. Police Chief Shon F. Barnes praised the swift response of law enforcement and emergency personnel, but he also urged the community to focus on healing.

“We need to come together as a community and heal and try to wrap our arms around those who survived,” Barnes said.

Barnes confirmed that investigators are reviewing an alleged manifesto circulating on social media, though its authenticity remains unverified. The document, attributed to a long-distance boyfriend, suggests the shooter struggled with bullying, isolation, and nihilism.

In the wake of the tragedy, Wiers emphasized that the school’s mission remains unchanged: building disciples of Jesus Christ. “We have complete faith that He will carry us through this,” she said. “He is our foundation at Abundant Life Christian School.”

The words of Isaiah 61:3—God’s promise to “bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair”—serve as a beacon of hope for the grieving community.

As Abundant Life Christian School mourns the loss of cherished members of its community, its unwavering faith is a testament to the power of God’s presence in the darkest of times. The journey toward healing will not be easy, but the school remains committed to its calling to embody the love and grace of Christ.

“Our hearts are broken, but our hope is eternal,” Wiers said. “We trust in God to bring healing and redemption, even in the face of unimaginable tragedy.”