Dennis Pedigo
The Chattanooga Police officer injured in Thursday morning's shooting is a faithful member of Bayside Baptist Church in Harrison, according to an article in the Baptist and Reflector publication.
Also, city police said Officer Dennis Pedigo has been moved to another hospital and remains under medical care at an undisclosed facility. He has asked for privacy as he recovers.
The article says the church pastor, Eric Stitts, was in disbelief when he heard of the shootings at two local military centers.
It says he then "turned his attention and prayers to the many policemen in his church, who he knew would be called to the scene.
One of those officers, Dennis Pedigo, was one of several people wounded during the incident which took the lives of four Marines and a sailor.
Pastor Stitts said of the officer, "(He) is very faithful. He loves his family and he takes his responsibility as a police officer very seriously. He is a man of integrity and a member who is well respected in the church and community."
Rev. Stitts has been in contact with the officer's wife. He told the Baptist publication, "She told me the recovery process will be long, but he is expected to make a full recovery.".
Bayside Baptist was open all day Friday for people to come and pray. The church service on Sunday was devoted to prayer as well.
Rev. Stitts said prior to the prayer service, "We will be praying for (the officer) and his family and the families of the four Marines who were killed as well as the two others who were wounded and all those involved. We also are going to enter into a time of seeking the Lord and praying as a church family that the community will come together and seek the face of God."
He added, "We must walk in our faith more than ever before. We must trust in God who can raise the dead.".
Rev. Stitts in the article said the shooting incident "is another reminder that we need spiritual renewal in our nation and that it must start within our churches," he said.
Steve Roper, Baptist Collegiate Ministry specialist on the campuses of UTC and Chattanooga State, said the campuses and the community are in "a state of shock. Our community has never really experienced anything remotely like this."
Tennessee Baptist Convention Executive Director Randy C. Davis said, "Baptists all over the state of Tennessee are praying for our friends in Chattanooga as they deal with the enormous grief caused by evil personified.
"We know all things work for God's glory and the good of those who follow Christ, even in great tragedy."
Rev. Eric Stitts