Galen Scott

gscott@weatherforddemocrat.com

The Columbine shooters held a gun to her head, asked her if she believed in God, and then killed her.

An official investigation released eight months after the Columbine High School massacre on April 20, 1999, revealed Rachel Scott was the first among 15 people to die from gunshot wounds that day.

Accounts described Scott as eating lunch just outside the school when gunmen Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold approached and shot her several times. But before killing her with a point-blank shot to the temple, the gunmen asked Scott if she believed in God, and she answered, “You know, I do.”

Claims that Valeen Schnurr, another student at Columbine, was asked the same question were later substantiated. She apparently responded “no,” then “yes,” looking for the “right” answer. Schnurr, who had also been shot previously in the library, was not shot again and survived her injuries.

Life Choices Presents, a ministry founded by John and Debbie Phillips, Rachel Scott’s aunt and uncle, is scheduled to give presentations at several Parker County schools this week.

Trinity Bible Church, along with First Baptist Church of Aledo, Aledo United Methodist Church and Oakridge Church of Christ, is sponsoring the Life Choices program.

Kevin Libick, the high school pastor at Trinity Bible, said Rachel Scott’s story serves as a back drop in the program for understanding how teenagers’ decisions can affect the rest of their lives.

“The presentation brings in stories of people who knew Rachel and interacted with her at school,” Libick said. “Through these interviews, and [the Phillips’] personal story, it encourages teenagers to make positive life choices.”

The couple started leading assemblies three years before Columbine, but Libick said the massacre served as a kind of new direction for the family. The Phillips tell personal stories about battles with alcohol and drug addiction, and encourage abstinence. Their message urges young people to stand up to peer pressure and respect differences among people.

According to lifechoicespresents.org, the program is a fast-paced, motivational event which uses videos, music, sketches and real life experiences to deliver its message. The group claims to have presented more than 500 programs in six years, reaching 400,000 students in 29 states throughout the country.

Life Choices has occasionally drawn criticism from constitutional advocates and newspapers for allegedly interjecting Christian, faith-based messages and literature during some school presentations.

Products for sale on the Life Choices Web site include books describing Scott’s dedication to Jesus Christ, curriculum sets for teaching teenagers life values and CDs featuring Scott’s aunt and uncle singing Christian-themed songs.

Sara Mallet, a speaker in the Life Choices Presents program, said the group understands what its rights are in schools. She said the program is not preaching or proselytizing.

“It’s definitely mentioned that [Christianity] is what [Scott] believed, and we share some of her journals where that is talked about,” Mallet said. “But we really tell kids this is what Rachel believed. We live in the United States of America. Whatever you believe, you should celebrate that, and you’re definitely not supposed to die for what you believe.”

Mallet said the Life Choices program is scheduled to present during morning assemblies at schools in Poolville on Monday, and Brock on Wednesday.

Life Choices lists its current program fee at $3,000. Weatherford ISD spokesperson MJ McDaniel said the Live Choices assembly was funded through the Texas Education Agency. She confirmed a presentation is scheduled to take place at Shirley Hall Middle School on Tuesday between 9 and 10 a.m. in the cafeteria.

Members of the public are invited to attend a Life Choices presentation Wednesday at 7 p.m. in the Aledo High School Auditorium.