OPINION:
Victims and families are mourning after a transgender-identifying man, “obsessed with the idea of killing children,” attacked a Minneapolis church on Aug. 27, slaughtering two kids and injuring 18 others.
The horrific act at Annunciation Catholic Church traumatized the children and adults forced to endure it and terrified the nation.
But amid the suffering, hatred and evil on full display that day, there’s one story that must be told — one that showcases a stunning level of bravery, heroism and selflessness.
Javen Willis, a 13-year-old student at the school, revealed the harrowing boldness he exhibited as the unthinkable unfolded around him that day.
Speaking to MSNBC host Craig Melvin, the eighth grader — who appeared on screen next to his mother — recounted what he saw inside the church and revealed where he put his trust amid the pandemonium.
“Right when I heard the shots, I knew something was off,” Javen said, explaining that some of his peers pondered whether the loud bangs were confetti or fireworks. The teen said he knew these sounds wouldn’t be appropriate for Mass and felt in his gut something else was going on.
In those moments of uncertainty, even an adult would buckle under the pressure of the unimaginable, yet this brave young man did just the opposite.
In fact, Javen repeatedly chose to put his peers above himself.
“I want to try to keep everybody as safe as possible,” he said, reflecting on his real-time reaction. “So I told me and my two buddies to get down and get under the pew.”
His quick-thinking actions likely helped him and his friends stay safe, but he wasn’t done there. He told Mr. Melvin that he continued to think about how he could help others around him.
“I knew that I had to try to keep as many people around me as I could safe,” he said.
Mr. Melvin, clearly captivated by the conversation, asked the teen what was going through his mind as he was on the floor and under the pew.
In those moments, Javen had no way to fully know the scope of the pain and carnage happening around him, and he had no sense of what would happen next. Yet, as he hid under the pew, he remained collected and focused on what mattered most.
As it turns out, he immediately turned to the Lord.
“I dropped down under the pew … and I prayed,” he said. “And then I realized, ‘I can’t just sit here and focus on myself,’ knowing that, with God on my side, I would be fine.”
The immeasurable faith shown by this young man in these moments is absolutely spellbinding. Knowing the peace, comfort and hope he would find in the Almighty, he placed his full trust in the Lord.
It’s a powerful testament to Jesus’ teaching about the most important commandments of all: loving God and loving others. And as Javen prayed to God, he again turned his attention to serving those around him who perhaps felt less peace and solace.
“I tried to just go and help out my fellow classmates — try to keep them calm and safe,” he said. “And let them know that they would be OK.”
Such kindness and selflessness are sorely lacking in today’s media coverage and culture. Many adults lack the wherewithal and composure to take such steps, yet this young teen seemed fully equipped to deal with what was before him.
For that alone, Javen deserves praise, but the story doesn’t end there, as Mr. Melvin noted that the young man also openly expressed gratitude for the first responders who arrived on the scene.
The teenager fist-bumped the officers and thanked them as he exited the church, explaining that these brave men and women had helped prevent the situation from escalating even further.
“I didn’t want to just sit there and think about it, so I just thanked the officers,” he said. “Because, without them, who knows how much worse this could have been.”
While Javen’s actions may seem simple, they’re profoundly deep and offer us a blueprint to follow when we face our own chaos and struggles.
Rather than panic, the teen chose prayer and trust. And, at no moment, was he concerned primarily or solely with his own safety, putting others above himself and seeking to comfort the afflicted.
Even when it became clear what had happened, he extended again beyond himself to praise the officers who showed up to help. It’s an expression of gratitude that cannot be overstated — and one that reminds us to find the glimmer of hope even amid our own negative circumstances.
Javen is truly a young hero from whom we can learn a great deal about what truly matters.
• Billy Hallowell is a digital TV host and interviewer for Faithwire and CBN News and the co-host of CBN’s “Quick Start Podcast.” Mr. Hallowell has written four books.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.