{"id":21755,"date":"2025-10-02T11:56:16","date_gmt":"2025-10-02T15:56:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/inspirationreport\/?p=21755"},"modified":"2025-10-02T11:56:16","modified_gmt":"2025-10-02T15:56:16","slug":"church-members-raise-over-250k-to-support-michigan-shooters-family-amid-tragedy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/inspirationreport\/2025\/10\/church-members-raise-over-250k-to-support-michigan-shooters-family-amid-tragedy.html","title":{"rendered":"Church Members Raise Over $250K to Support Michigan Shooter’s Family Amid Tragedy"},"content":{"rendered":"
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In the wake of the shocking attack<\/a> at a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints congregation in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan, members of the LDS community have rallied together\u2014not in defense of the shooter, but to care for his grieving family.<\/p>\n

Thomas Jacob Sanford, the man responsible for the Sunday assault that left four people dead and the church building in flames, has become a household name for all the wrong reasons. Yet, while his actions were devastating, members of the LDS community have raised more than $250,000 through a GiveSendGo<\/a> campaign to support his surviving wife and children.<\/p>\n

A Compassionate Response<\/h2>\n

The campaign, organized by David Butler, an ordinary member of the LDS church with no personal connection to Sanford or his family, explained the heart behind the fundraising effort.<\/p>\n

“One of the families that suffered a terrible loss on that day was the family of Thomas Jacob Sanford, the shooter. Sanford leaves behind a wife and children who must be grieving,” Butler wrote on the donation page.<\/p>\n

He noted that Sanford’s family would face financial hardship and deep emotional trauma in the wake of the tragedy. “On top of that, one of the Sanford sons deals with serious medical challenges that require ongoing care, treatment, and specialized support. In the past, the family attempted to raise funds for him, but with limited success.”<\/p>\n

The fundraiser’s stated purpose is to provide stability: “Every donation will help provide for the Sanford family’s daily needs, provide for ongoing medical treatment, and create some stability in a time of heartbreak and upheaval.”<\/p>\n

A Troubled Past<\/h2>\n

As the fundraising total grows details about Sanford’s long history of resentment toward the LDS church have also emerged.<\/p>\n

According to friends who spoke with The Associated Press<\/em>, Sanford began harboring hatred toward the Mormon faith more than a decade ago after a failed relationship with a woman in Utah who was a member of the church. After leaving the Marines, Sanford moved to Utah, where he reportedly struggled with methamphetamine addiction.<\/p>\n

Childhood friends recalled how his demeanor shifted dramatically during this time. “When he came back from Utah, he was a completely different person,” said Bobby Kalush, who grew up near Sanford.<\/p>\n

Another friend, Frances Tersigni, remembered Sanford bringing up anti-Mormon views at bonfires. “It was just so random. It was like, ‘Why Mormons, dude?'” she said. “It’s hard to explain. We didn’t take it seriously.”<\/p>\n

Though Sanford would often vent, Tersigni insisted he never voiced violent intentions. “He never once, never, said ‘I’ve got to do something.’ There’s a Jake we all knew, and there was one who was hidden. It wasn’t apparent to us.”<\/p>\n

Faith in the Midst of Heartbreak<\/h2>\n

The campaign for Sanford’s family underscores a uniquely Christian response: to extend compassion, even in the shadow of tragedy. While Sanford’s actions brought grief and loss to many, members of his faith community are ensuring his family is not left to suffer alone.<\/p>\n

For many Christians, the act reflects Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 5:44\u2014”Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” Though the victims and their families remain foremost in prayer, the willingness to also help the shooter’s family demonstrates a commitment to grace, mercy, and compassion in the hardest of circumstances.<\/p>\n

As the LDS community grieves, this fundraiser is sparking conversations on how the church, and Christians more broadly, can respond to violence with the radical love of Christ.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In the wake of the shocking attack at a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints congregation in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan, members of the LDS community have rallied together\u2014not in defense of the shooter, but to care for his grieving family. 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