The mass shooting in Las Vegas, Nevada,

has rocked our nation.

With 59 dead and more than 500 wounded,

the tragedy has directly affected thousands of people

and leaves our country with many questions and fears.

Pastor and evangelist Greg Laurie

leads Harvest Church in Orange County, California,

and he joins us now for more.

Pastor Laurie, thanks for being with us today.

Good to be with you.

Thanks for having me on.

First, can you tell us how has the news of this awful event

affected you?

Well, I think it's very unnerving.

I think it's unsettling.

I think it's frightening.

I think you need to be really aware of small children

in the room if you're watching the news

and think about how it's impacting them

and maybe explain it to them.

Because, you know, when something like this happens,

it just can make everyone be in a state of perpetual anxiety.

And I think we need to just remember

a couple of times in the midst of a tragedy this horrific,

and that is simply that God is here.

God is in control.

Well, of course, the question comes up, well, then,

why did God let this happen.

Well, God allows evil in the world.

What this man did was the most evil thing imaginable,

to just mow down people with an automatic machine gun, who

didn't even know where the fire was coming from,

and it's a horrible thing.

But having said that, yes, God allows evil and bad things

happen.

And quite frankly, not to be a downer,

but bad things will always happen,

and this is just life as we know it.

And it seems, in recent days, more and more

bad things have been happening.

Of course, the horrible hurricanes that have

hit in Texas and then Florida and, of course, most recently

in Puerto Rico and the loss of life there.

CHARLENE AARON: Yes.

Then we have this tragedy and then add to that

the saber-rattling of North Korea.

These are very unsettling times.

But here's what Jesus says, "Let not your heart

be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

You believe in God, believe also in Me."

And so really what Jesus is saying

to us, in times like this, is put your trust in Me,

put your focus on Me.

And remember that, even in the midst

of all of these horrible things, God can still bring good.

Amen, Pastor Laurie.

And thousands of people are certainly grieving

and in need of comfort.

How can the church play a role in comforting the victims?

Excellent question.

I know a little bit about this because, nine years ago,

our son died in an automobile accident.

So ever since that day, I've spent

a lot of time comforting grieving people

because I have been since that day a grieving person.

And the grief that happens in the immediate aftermath

of a tragic like this is very strong.

And let me just say a couple of things.

If you know anybody who has lost a loved

one in this tragedy and probably more

will die because they are, of course, receiving treatment.

But I'm sure that death count will go up

well over what it is now.

I don't "well over" but over.

And I think we need to remember, when you're talking to someone

who has lost a loved one-- and this is not just concerning

this tragedy in Vegas, but in any situation--

you know, don't say I know what you're going through

because you probably don't.

So don't try to connect on that level.

I think the best thing to say is I love you, I'm sorry,

and I'm praying for you.

You know, the Bible says, "weep with those that weep."

And I think sometimes as Christians,

we want to try to put kind of a smiley face on everything

and say, well, you know, if they were a Christian,

they're in heaven, and so rejoice.

Well, no, the Bible says, "there's a time to mourn."

And we're having a national time of mourning in America today.

The President has asked the flags to be flown half-mast.

And in his talk that he gave the other day-- yesterday--

he talked about our need to turn to God at a time like this.

And I think that's so true.

So we need to be praying for people.

CHARLENE AARON: So true.

And reminding ourselves that eternity is real,

and life on Earth is short.

It sure is.

And Pastor, you know, as Christians,

we believe in a redemptive God, a God

who brings good from evil.

What good could possibly come from this tragedy in Vegas?

Well, I think one thing we've seen is--

I've been watching the news-- there's all these amazing acts

of heroism.

I read about one man who was a nurse and his wife, I think,

was a surgeon of some kind.

And he shielded her with his body, and he died doing that.

And many others who, at the risk of their own life,

helped other people.

And I saw Sarah Huckabee, in the press conference

yesterday, quote from the Gospel of John

a statement of Christ, where he said,

"Greater love has no man than this that he laid down

his life for his friends."

So we're really seeing this has happened,

that people risked their life and, in some instances,

gave their lives for others.

And so, I think, what we need to remember

is this is a horrible thing.

It will never be anything but a horrible thing.

God does not promise in Romans 8:28

that He'll turn bad things into good things.

God says He will cause all things to work together

for good to those that love Him and are called according

to His purpose.

And really what happens is, despite bad, despite evil,

good can come.

CHARLENE AARON: Amen.

We hear of amazing stories of courage.

But I think it should be a wake-up call to all of us

to, well, live our lives in the light of eternity,

remembering that we don't know when life will end for us.

CHARLENE AARON: Amen.

But if we are right with God, we

can know that we'll go into His presence.

CHARLENE AARON: Amen.

And Pastor, final question for you.

What do you plan to tell your congregation this Sunday?

Something along the lines of what I've just

said to you, to be praying for those

that are grieving in Las Vegas, to pray

for the healing of those who were wounded,

to continue to pray for the first responders

because imagine the hospital just being overwhelmed with all

of these wounded people.

It's an incredible thing.

And so praying for them as well and pray

for our nation and pray that America

wakes up and turns to God.

Because it just seems, as I mentioned earlier,

that there are so many alarming things

happening right now with all of these natural disasters

and this horrible shooting and other things that

just remind us life is fragile.

Life is short.

Eternity is real, and we all need to be ready to meet God.

But I think we also need to pray for America, to pray

that America will turn to God.

And if we saw a national awakening happen,

I would certainly rejoice.

Wouldn't you?

I certainly would.

Pastor Greg Laurie, thank you so much for joining us today.

God bless you, sir.

God bless you.