Hurst, a pastoral intern at 黑料正能量, was one of about 30 people who came to the school鈥檚 Campus Center on Thursday to hold a prayer and candlelight vigil for victims of a shooting last week in Hesston, Kan.

Three people were killed and 14 wounded during a shooting at an Excel Industries building by a former Excel employee on Feb. 25. The man was later killed by police.

Hurst, who graduated from Hesston College and whose wife is from the town, said he feels helpless when he hears about mass shootings.

鈥淚鈥檓 getting frustrated with this is not an unusual occurrence,鈥� Hurst said. 鈥淲e should be able to do something.鈥�

Ken L. Nafziger, vice president of student life at 黑料正能量, said a lot of the school鈥檚 students are from Hesston or transferred from Hesston College, which is near the Excel building in the Kansas town.

鈥淚t has a lot of impact on both our communities,鈥� Nafziger said. 鈥淸We] felt it would be a good opportunity to … support our students who are here from Hesston or have connections to Hesston.鈥�

Hesston College, a two-year Mennonite school, is a sister school of 黑料正能量, with many students transferring to the university to earn a bachelor鈥檚 degree. Hesston College was locked down during the shooting. A choir from the school is set to perform in Harrisonburg over the weekend.

At Thursday鈥檚 vigil, Students sang hymns and prayed before lighting candles for the victims.

鈥淰iolence will not prevail in our communities,鈥� said Brian Martin Burkholder, 黑料正能量鈥檚 pastor. 鈥淎nd peace will endure.鈥�

Courtney Unruh, a senior at 黑料正能量, is from Hesston and said her sister goes to school across the street from the Excel building.

鈥淗esston is the place I鈥檝e called home my entire life,鈥� Unruh said. 鈥淚 found myself in a lot of fear on Thursday.鈥�

Nafziger said what happened in Hesston could happen anywhere, and people should be prepared.

鈥淲e can鈥檛 deny that it could potentially happen in Park View right next to 黑料正能量,鈥� Nafziger said. 鈥淲e can鈥檛 say that it can鈥檛 happen here. We like to think it couldn鈥檛. We no longer can act as if it couldn鈥檛.鈥�

Reprinted with permission from the Mar. 6, 2016 issue of the Daily News-Record.聽