SD Churches Show Solidarity With Charleston

For many at Bethel AME Church, there is no way to truly understand what happened in Charleston, South Carolina.

"When I heard about it I was just completely shocked. It was hard to believe that something so profound could happen in a place of worship,” said Tara Cador.

"We don't want our churches to become places that are no longer safe,” echoed Bethel AME’s Pastor, Leslie White.

Thursday, the traditionally African American church was full of people of different ethnicities and religious backgrounds.

β€œI can't imagine what it is like to be in a community of faith and have someone come in and commit violence in a place that is supposed to be a refuge. It's supposed to be a sanctuary and place of God,” said Minister Elizabeth Bukey.

Each person in the church looked to each other for comfort, joining together in prayer. Praying for the nine lives lost at Emmanuel AME Church in Charleston. People who were killed doing what those at Bethel AME feel the need to do now more than ever.

"We know God that you are more powerful than any hate on this planet,” prayed one minister. "So we're gathered here tonight as a community to ask you, father, to heal the hearts of those who have lost loved ones."

Nearly everyone at the church is hoping to prove that in the midst of tragedy, there can be healing.

β€œWe know that love overcomes hate,” said Cador.

There was also another vigil Thursday night at the Table Church of Christ of La Mesa. There, they said say they are not afraid to pray and they're not going to allow an act of terror to take away their sense of community.

Contact Us