Tacoma woman ‘prayed’ for her stalker.

A stalker waited for his victim outside Birney Elementary School in Tacoma, Washington. He had recently been released from Pierce County jail on $10,000.00 bail. He shot Jennifer Paulson as the 30 year-old teacher arrived at school in the morning. The victim and Jed Waits, the stalker, had met in a work situation in 2003. By 2008, Waits was obsessed with Ms. Paulson; they were never romantically involved, however.

Waits was killed in a subsequent shootout with a Pierce County Sheriff’s deputy. Ms. Paulson was known for devotion to faith, family and students

Jennifer Paulson was reportedly a caring, compassionate and selfless Christian. She tutored kids and volunteered to help inner-city youths. She even prayed for the stalker.

Wait’s unhealthy obsession began in 2003.

According to court documents, “he called at odd hours, sometimes 10 to 15 times per day.
He drove from his home in Ellensburg to Tacoma and showed up unannounced at her workplace, asking to see her even though she didn’t want to see him.”

He sometimes sat in his car and just watched her.

Children were not at school, when the special education teacher arrived.

“She was being bothered by this man, but she was still praying for him,” said the Rev. Dean Curry, pastor of Life Center of Tacoma.

Waits killed Ms. Paulson, who was 30 years old, outside the school at about 7:30 AM, February 26, 2010. According to the Tacoma News Tribune:

“Paulson’s devastated family and friends described her as woman of abiding faith who possessed a deep well of kindness and generosity. She focused her life on kids, teaching them at Birney during the week and then helping at-risk children through a church-sponsored program on Saturdays.”

“She was a kind, merciful, loving person,” Ken Paulson said this morning. “That’s probably why she was a special ed teacher, because she loved so much.”

According to the TNT, Paulson graduated from Life Christian School and Academy in 1998, a member of its inaugural class. She was on the honor roll every semester of her high school years.

“She took advanced placement classes, edited the school newspaper, worked on the yearbook and earned varsity letters in volleyball, softball and basketball.”

No one apparently counseled the strong Christian woman, who regularly attended Life Center, that carrying a gun does not conflict with faith.

Pastors and Bible teachers ought to be teaching folks what the Bible says about lethal force. The Great Commission includes deliverance from sin and every kind of oppression, healing, dominion over demonic powers and principalities and putting enemies to flight! That is the “full Gospel” that some folks teach was only for the early Apostolic church and the Old Testament- but not for today.

Those that counsel women like Ms. Paulson should be thinking about what it means to rely on Protection Orders when the stakes can be so high. Pastors, lawyers, family members and police should always remind potential victims that obtaining a Concealed Pistol License and carrying a pistol is an option. Women should also get training so the stalker does not disarm her. There is no conflict between great faith and being armed.

Do you lack faith when you have a fire extinguisher in your home or learn CPR? Think about it. Those of us that counsel women in domestic violence situations should be wise and prudent, not politically correct or deluded by false notions about what Christ taught.