Kenyan tragedy

Tragic news from Kenya, with Al-Shabaab gunmen from Somali attacking a college campus, located 90 miles from the Somali border. Al-Shabaab militants have killed hundreds of Kenyans - on country buses, in churches, in remote coastal towns and Nairobi's Westgate shopping mall. A primary aim of such attacks is thought to be sowing terror. There's also a religious undercurrent, given Al-Shabaab's once and possibly future goal of creating a fundamentalist Islamic state. Needless to say, that aim isn't shared in most places - particularly in Kenya, where more than 80% of citizens are Christian.
No words can express the sorrow for the senseless loss of 148 young lives and the escalation of violence. Authorities say the attacks happened around dawn when a small group of militants roved from dorm to dorm, separating Christian from Muslim students and killing the Christians. A few students had woken up early to head to early morning Christian prayers.
Heartfelt prayers for peace and comfort for families and friends of the victims.
Prayers for wisdom by those in leadership to the escalation of violence by al-Shabaab, especially the growing persecution and violence towards Christians.
Prayers that Christian leaders and Muslim leaders will work towards peace and stand in solidarity against all forms of violence and religious persecution, especially by religious extremists.