On Thursday, Chris Harper Mercer strategically targeted Christians during his hateful mass shooting at Umpqua Community College in Oregon.

Witness Anastasia Boylan told CNN that the shooter said to one student as he fired at her: "[B]ecause you’re a Christian, you’re going to see God in just about one second."

In a video posted to the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association website, the Rev. Franklin Graham said, "Persecution and targeting of Christians isn't just in Iran or the Middle East, it's right here in America. The bold souls at Umpqua Community College who stood up to say they were followers of Jesus Christ were heinously gunned down with no mercy. Jesus said, ‘If they hate you, remember they hated me before they hated you.’ (John 15:18)."

Graham also said that his family's organization has sent chaplains to the community to help with the healing process.

Photo: Universal Free Press