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<\/a>\u201cI knew something serious was happening and I couldn\u2019t leave,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He learned there was an active shooting incident occurring on campus. He did not yet know an FSU student had opened fire about 11:50 a.m. that day, killing two people and injuring six others.<\/p>\n
Sproles, who has been director of FSU\u2019s Baptist Collegiate Ministries since 2018, quickly called the BCM student president and told her to barricade herself and any other students in a back room at the center, \u201cthe most secure room we have,\u201d as he made his way back to the location less than a \u201ctenth of a mile\u201d from where the shooting took place.<\/p>\n
With six students secure in a back room, Sproles stepped out to assess the situation. Standing outside the room where the students were barricaded, Sproles said, \u201cIn the unlikely event that something would happen, I wanted to be between them and whatever\u201d happened.<\/p>\n
\u201cQuite truthfully, it was pandemonium on campus,\u201d he said. Rumors were still flying at the time and no one was sure how many shooters there were or what else might be happening. With the FSU Police Department located next door, Sproles watched as more law enforcement officials arrived, some in tactical gear walking about with guns in their hands.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was very thankful to see all the law enforcement respond so quickly. It was impressive. It was a blessing to have them there and to know they were working so hard to protect our students.\u201d<\/p>\n
The massive presence of law enforcement officers eased some of Sproles\u2019 concerns but also underscored the severity of what was happening on campus.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis was really serious. I knew I needed to get these students out of this building and far away from campus,\u201d he said. \u201cThat was really all I could think about: \u2018How do we protect these students?\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
As he saw officers head inside, Sproles felt like it was the time to escort the students safely off campus. He instructed the students to exit the front door and head right, running as fast as they could to a nearby Publix in a shopping center, less than a mile away near off-campus housing. He told them, \u201cI\u2019m right here with you. I\u2019m right behind you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was fast moments,\u201d he said. \u201cYou do the best you can; I just wanted to keep my students safe. That was my primary objective. I need to get them home tonight, get them off campus.\u201d<\/p>\n
Everyone made it safely to the nearby Publix, and he bought some food and water for the students.<\/p>\n
The students in the group, he said, \u201cwere shaken as you can imagine. They wanted to get as far away as they could from the university.\u201d<\/p>\n
Being the \u2018hands and feet of Christ\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n “It was a good moment for our students to see the body of Christ desiring to serve them and love them at that moment.”<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n About the same time Sproles discovered that one of the students in the group had his truck in a nearby parking garage, he received a text message from Fayez Ayoub, lead pastor at North Florida Baptist Church<\/a>. Ayoub asked how he could help, and Sproles asked if the students could take refuge at the church; Ayoub quickly agreed. Students scrambled into the truck, and once they arrived at North Florida Baptist Church, the pastor and Sproles \u201cprayed with the students, ministered to them.\u201d The church \u201cbecame a rallying point for some of our students,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n After the shooter had been apprehended and the campus was secure, Sproles and several students returned to the BCM center. Pastors from the area joined them there and began to minister to the students. Sproles posted a message on social media, inviting any students to stop by the center if they needed prayer or someone to talk to.<\/p>\n \u201cWe had some students coming in who just wanted to be with people,\u201d he said. \u201cThey needed to talk and process what had happened and to pray. The needs were different. They were very much aware of their need for each other and the value of life. It was a good moment for our students to see the body of Christ desiring to serve them and love them at that moment. It\u2019s a big deal,\u201d Sproles said.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was an opportunity to be the hands and feet of Christ in a very simple but, I think, important way.\u201d<\/p>\n Sensed \u2018God\u2019s presence\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n As news got out about the event, Sproles said he had calls and texts from area pastors and others who serve with the Florida Baptist Convention, checking on him, praying over him, offering encouragement and asking how they could help serve.<\/p>\n\n
\n director, Baptist Collegiate Ministries, Florida State University\n <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n