Officer Killed During Shooting at Planned Parenthood Was Pro-Life, Co-Pastor at His Church

The police officer killed during Friday’s shooting at a Colorado Springs Planned Parenthood is pro-life and a co-pastor at his local church.

Garrett Swasey, 44, the University of Colorado Colorado Springs police officer who was shot and killed while responding to a shooting at a Planned Parenthood office, was described by his fellow church members and friends as a courageous man and loving father who drew strength and inspiration from his Christian faith.

He was married, with two young children, and had been on the campus police force for six years. He also spent seven years as a co-pastor at Hope Chapel in Colorado Springs.

“Here’s a guy who worked full time as a police officer, and then gave a great amount of time to his local church and didn’t get a dime for it,” said Scott Dontanville, a co-pastor who knew Officer Swasey for 15 years. “He did it because it was the thing that he felt he needed to do.”

Today, Swasey’s family released a statement on his behalf:

“While the nation now knows Garrett as a hero who gave his life for others, he was also a devoted husband of 17 years and a wonderful father to his two children,” the family said. “Helping others brought him deep satisfaction and being a police officer was a part of him. In the end his last act was for the safety and well-being of others and was a tribute to his life.”

Now, copies of Swasey’s last sermon at Hope Chapel have surfaced online. The sermon clearly shows a man who put his love for God ahead of himself.

“Our objective is not to bring glory to ourselves but to bring glory to God. How? By transforming our lives through the Gospel. Apart from that it can’t be done, not in our own strength,” he says.

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Below is a copy of Swasey’s final sermon to the congregation. Transcript courtesy of The Cripplegate web site:

Jesus is not ashamed to call us brothers, therefore we must not be ashamed to call each other brothers in Christ. We are not born brothers, but it is something that happened to us after birth.

We are redeemed by Christ despite our betrayal.

If we were able to be more attentive we would be able to love Christ more and be able to obey him more.

We are part of a family. Your sin affects me and my sin affects you. Exhortation comes with the territory, it’s part of being part of the family of God.

Sermon continues at: http://www.lifenews.com/2015/11/30/