To Lay Down Your Life For Your Friends

Kendrick Castillo (Photo courtesy of Maria Castillo via Instagram)
Kendrick Castillo (Photo courtesy of Maria Castillo via Instagram), The Denver Post

The photo before you is a picture of 18 year old Kendrick Castillo.  He was killed while trying to save his friends during the school shooting here in my community yesterday (5-7-19).  He was the only fatality and I am asking for prayers to be poured out on the Castillo family.  The horrible tragedy at the Highlands Ranch STEM School has hurt us all and this is a time to come together and support each other in love.

I want to give you the link to The Denver Post news article about Kendrick, so you can read what his parents and friends said about him.  This young man will forever be a hero.  He and another young man (who survived) rushed the adult male shooter and tackled him to the ground.  Both young men are heroes and they were both shot multiple times in the encounter.  They laid down there lives for their friends, and their bravery, courage, and love stands as a righteous example for us all.

The Denver Post News Article About Kendrick Castillo

“He was the best kid in the world,” John Castillo said through tears Wednesday morning.

Castillo said Kendrick’s friends and the coroner told him that the 18-year-old and another boy charged one of the shooters once they entered their classroom. The coroner told Castillo his son was a hero, that the gunfire he took would have hurt other people.

“It doesn’t surprise me,” Castillo said. “He cared enough about people that he would do something like that, even though it’s against my better judgment.

“I wish he had gone and hid,” Castillo continued, “but that’s not his character. His character is about protecting people, helping people.”

-Sam Tabachnik, The Denver Post

The whole community is heart broken over Kendrick and he deserves to be honored and remembered forever.  This tragedy has impacted so many people we know here in our community and hit so close to home.  There are teachers my wife works with that have kids who go to that school in Highlands Ranch.  They ran out of the school yesterday to rush up the road to get their kids.  Thank God their kids are safe.  All the other kids who were injured are going to be okay.  Some are still in serious condition, so please keep praying for healing for them all.  Some of the people we know are friends with the families whose kids were injured.  It has been traumatic for everyone and the outpouring of love and support in the community has been a blessing.

The other young man who bravely rushed the adult male shooter alongside Kendrick is Brendan Bialy.  He is graduating in just a few days and he will be joining the Marine Corps.  He chose the right profession and his bravery and courage proved it!  My heart is lifted up by such acts of bravery and love and I pray God heals his wounds and lifts him up.  May God bless his career in the Marine Corps!

“Brendan’s courage and commitment to swiftly ending this tragic incident at the risk of his own safety is admirable and inspiring,” the Marines said in a statement.

“His decisive actions resulted in the safety and protection of his teachers and fellow classmates.”

-Chuck Hickey, Fox 31 News Denver

Fox 31 Denver News Article About Brendan Bialy

Both Kendrick and Brendan deserve to be honored for their heroic actions yesterday.  Those two 18 year old men laid down there lives for their friends and that is rare courage in this world and that is true love.

Kendrick ended up giving up his life and his friend’s lives were saved because of it.  Kendrick will be remembered forever in our hearts.  I pray the Lord draws near to his parents and family and comforts their hearts.  I pray the Lord pours out His love on them.

Jesus told us there is no greater love than laying down your life for your friends.  That is true love that comes from God and that is what Jesus did for us.  Kendrick’s death is not in vain and his life is already being used for God’s glory.  Kendrick died for his friends yesterday and I will remember him forever.  My heart is broken for his parents and my prayers will be with them for the rest of my life.

Thank you all for your prayers and love for our community here in Douglas County.

Grace and peace to you all

“Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.”

Jesus speaking in John 15:13

kendrick
Kendrick Castillo, Courtesy Fox 31 News Denver

 

Author: Ryan Callahan

Hello, and welcome to my site! I am an independent Christian author (One Man's Very Strange Supernatural Life), blogger, and evangelist for Jesus. My main goal with this blog is to help people come to know Jesus, help people understand the Bible, and to minister to a lost and hurting world. This site is about hope, new beginnings, grace, mercy, forgiveness, and love! I'm glad you are here, God bless you! Copyright © 2024 Ryan Callahan. All rights reserved.

53 thoughts on “To Lay Down Your Life For Your Friends”

  3. “Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants
    You have ordained strength,
    Because of Your enemies,
    That You may silence the enemy and the avenger..Psalm 8:2

    Liked by 3 people

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  4. I hear the Lord saying this young generation has a fearless spirit. When this spirit is combined with faith, this is what happens. He’s raising up a generation who will worship Him in spirit and truth, and who will also lay down their lives for their friend….Have Your way Lord!

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  6. Kendrick was a brave and loving soul. You can see his loving nature in his eyes and smile, and his bravery in his spontaneous action to stop the killer. Brendan is a brave soul, too, and his selfless act of charging a killer to stop him is nothing short of being a hero. Brave, young men these two are. “God bless Kendrick and his parents and family”. They will need our prayers. “God bless Brendan and his family, and may Brendan be protected in the military and always”. Amen.

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  7. Wow, I don’t have words. Thank you for posting this Ryan. These two young men are the true definition of ‘Hero’. I pray God gives the Castillo family peace, comfort, and His presence during this time. God bless.

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  11. Because I work at a library and also teach college classes, I have some training in how to respond to an active shooter. I have no clue whether I would respond properly in the actual event. Thank God for both those families, and God bless the Castillo family with comfort at this difficult time. J.

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  14. I’ve saved the article to read later because I’m too emotional right now to see it, but that kid is definitely a hero! I bet Jesus hugged him so tight when he reached the gates of Heaven. I’m praying for his family! What a terrible thing for parents to have to go through.

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  18. A very touching story! The new heroes of this generation should be honored. I know they will be rewarded for their unselfish acts. My earnest prayer for their families specially to Kendrick’s family. God bless!

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  19. Perfectly said Ryan. One of my sons was home sick when this happened and watching him worry for his friends was gut wrenching. Both our schools are just down the road. The new normal for them is awful. But we push through and have conversations that are uncomfortable because we know it’s the truth that sets us free. Prayers for all… and may Jesus be glorified through these true and noble souls that exemplify what real love is.

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  22. What a tragedy. I cannot even imagine what you, your family and your community must be feeling. Lord have mercy. I am praying for Kendrick’s family, for comfort and strength to endure this sorrow. I do praise God for the bravery of these incredible young men. May God bless you and your family with special time together this weekend, Ryan.

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