VICTIM SHARES EXPERIENCE; COLUMBINE SURVIVOR SHOWS FAITH.

Byline: Paul O'Donoghue Staff Writer

WESTLAKE VILLAGE - Struck by seven bullets and trampled by fellow students fleeing the massacre at Columbine High School, Mark Taylor survived to share his experiences Sunday with churchgoers.

Accompanied by his family physician, who called the student's survival a miracle, Taylor spoke at New Hope Church on Hampshire Road, recounting the massacre in Littleton, Colo., on April 20 in which he was the first to be shot and which left 15 people dead and 23 wounded.

On the day of the massacre by students Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, Taylor, a 16-year-old Christian, was talking to some other Christian students at lunchtime outside the school when he said he heard what sounded like a pop-gun firing and felt a pain in his thigh.

``At first, I thought it was some kind of prank,'' he said. But that notion faded fast when he saw a nearby student shot in the face and a pipe bomb explode.

``Then we realized it was the real deal. I tried to get up and stand; that's when I was shot in the chest,'' he said.

``After that, I was just laying there praying.''

The talk at New Hope was one of a string of talks and interviews that Taylor and his family physician, Dr. Bill Deagle, are giving nationwide to promote Christian family values.

In addition, the talks at churches and on Christian TV and radio programs are aimed at raising funds for Taylor's medical expenses that he said amount to about $250,000, and promoting a book that he and Deagle's wife, Michelle Deagle, are co-writing on his Columbine experiences.

The book, titled ``Mark Taylor: A Prayer for Columbine,'' will be published in about a month, said Michelle Deagle.

Taylor was introduced by Kent Ingle, the pastor of New Hope, to the congregation of about 250, who packed into the church whose normal Sunday services are attended by about 200.

``I don't think there's anyone here who will forget that day on April 20, 1999,'' Ingle said to a rapt audience.

``This has been seen as a wake-up call to America and the world, and today you're going to hear why.''

Wearing a tan jacket, Taylor drank water frequently to help his voice that frequently went hoarse, the result of a cold.

During his speech, he recounted his rescue by police and ambulance personnel, but questioned why it took them so long to come to his assistance, and told of hours of surgery and suffering. He finally got a clean bill of health only last month, but still goes to doctors for frequent check-ups.

Deagle showed slides of X-rays showing Taylor's injuries that included a collapsed lung, chest cavity filled with blood and a bullet that pierced his body to within 2 mm of his aorta, the main artery of the body that carries blood from the heart to all organs and body parts but the lungs.

``There is no one I know anywhere who has survived that,'' said Deagle, a Canadian-born physician.

``This bullet was shot at 6 to 8 feet away, which is basically point-blank range, so basically he should have died.''

Holding a Bible, Deagle listed that bullet wound among seven miracles of Taylor's survival that, he said, amazed doctors.

During the service, some people wept as Taylor's suffering was recounted, and afterward the congregation gave him a standing ovation.

``I think everyone was in awe. I was surprised there weren't more standing ovations,'' said church member Jody Miller, who teaches childhood development at Moorpark College and Pierce College.

``It moved me . . . profoundly,'' said Miller, wiping tears from her eyes.

After the service, Taylor said it was by chance that he was shot first, that he'd only met Klebold and Harris a few times and that there was no animosity toward him personally.

``They were targeting everyone,'' said Taylor, who still suffers from back and other pains.

``It wasn't just the Christians, the blacks, the Jews; they were targeting everyone.''

And he said he forgave Harris and Klebold for what they did to him.

``They were such nice kids,'' Taylor said.

``They were holding a lot of pressure in their hearts for four years.''

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2 photos

Photo: (1 -- color) Mark Taylor with Bill Deagle recounts his ordeal as a Columbine High School shooting victim at New Hope Church in Westlake Village.

Lilly Barrett/Special to the Daily News

(2 -- color) Taylor and his doctor, Deagle, pray with New Hope parishioner Marge Patka after Sunday services.