February 17, 1999
East Texas shootings spur ministry
___By Orville Scott
___Texas Baptist Communications
___VAN ZANDT COUNTY--When the unthinkable happened and a friendly 13-year-old active church member was held in connection with the shooting deaths of his father and stepmother, Baptist churches in three East Texas communities demonstrated redemptive love.
___The Van Zandt County Sheriff's Department said it received a 911 call from the teenager Saturday, Jan. 30, saying he had killed his parents. Authorities found the bodies of Walter and Deborah McCowan at the family home in Pruitt, a farming community between Van and Grand Saline.
___A few days later, authorities had not determined a motive. They said friends and relatives of the family reported the youth had been grounded for two weeks by his parents.
___Members were bewildered at Main Street Baptist Church in Grand Saline and Pruitt Baptist Church in Van, where the couple and their three sons were among the most active participants.
___Main Street Baptist youth director Tom Bruce described the 13-year-old accused of the murders as "quiet but always friendly when spoken to. I never had a discipline problem with him. He seemed to be here every time the doors opened."
___Bruce said the boy's older brother, 14, was on a church youth outing when the tragedy occurred.
___At Sunday services the day after the shooting, pastors and other leaders spoke to shocked, grieving members.
___At Main Street Baptist Church, Pastor Larry Jones and others comforted grieving church members. About 45 shocked youth stared silently or with teary eyes as leaders urged them to share their feelings.
___At Pruitt Baptist Church, Pastor David McNary told the congregation, "This was Walt and Debbie's home, and we have a responsibility to keep loving them and praying for them. And we need to love . . . (the 13-year-old) right now. He is so very alone, except for the presence of God and your love."
___First Baptist Church of Van opened its sanctuary for funeral services Feb. 3.
___McNary described church and community response to the tragedy as an outpouring of love. A Baptist family provided their home as a place for the McCowans' family members to eat, and churches provided food. Local churches also helped cover funeral expenses.
___At the funeral, McNary told of visiting with the McCowans when they first moved to Pruitt four years ago. Walt McCowan told the pastor he was not a Christian but he wanted to be sure it was the real thing when he took that step.
___Soon he and his wife came forward, and his three sons also professed faith in Christ within a few months.
___"They were gems. They loved the Lord, and they served the Lord with all their hearts," McNary said. "They taught Sunday school and did other ministries."
___The couple had turned their lives around after failed first marriages and job struggles, he said. McCowan was a diesel mechanic and avid fisherman, studying to become a pastor. Mrs. McCowan was assistant director of nursing at a Grand Saline nursing home.Frontpage / Contents/ Masthead / Why We're Here / Links / Archive / E-mail us/ SUBSCRIBE!