The pastor of an Illinois church who was shot during his early morning service attempted to use his Bible to deflect gunshots from a gunman on Sunday. The Rev. Fred Winters, the leader of First Baptist Church in Maryville, died of his injuries, the Associated Press reported.

Authorities do not know if there was any connection between the pastor and the gunman.

The church, located in a suburb of St. Louis, posted a statement on its Web site asking for prayers for Winters’ family, injured worshippers, the assailant and his family, and the church.

“In this day, where uncertainty seems to abound creating an environment in which people are vulnerable in doing things they might not do otherwise, one thing is certain, we, as human beings need a foundation upon which we can live our lives,” the statement reads. “We at First Baptist Maryville, along with other Christian believers, share this conviction: that foundation is God’s Word. In the pages of the Book we call the Bible, we find the pathway for peace, hope, and a quality of living life despite what circumstances we find ourselves in.”

(Photo credit: www.fbmaryville.org)