As Emanuel AME opened it doors, to pray for the nine people gunned down in Charleston, churches across the nation held services Sunday in honor of the victims.
At Mt. Olive AME church in Myrtle Beach Reverend Leslie Lovett delivered a passionate sermon to the congregation with a message of healing and forgiveness.
“Forgiveness is a powerful thing. As a child of God, no matter what walk of life you come from, you can’t be close to God if you can’t forgive. Even in this type of tragedy,” said Lovett.
Lovett was personally touched by the tragedy and relies on his faith to help with the loss of his good friend and fellow pastor, Clementa Pinckney.
“Its hard. It’s still not registered yet. I’m still wrestling with it,” he said.
On the first Sunday service since the shooting, Mt. Olive attracted people who are not members, but wanted to attend as a show of solidarity.
“I feel like were one big family and we just got to deal with this and get through it,” said Stephanie Kornegay, who is in Myrtle Beach on vacation and not a member of any AME church.
“I just really wanted to be here, so i Googled AME church and unbelievably this church is Mt. Olive AME and i’m from Mt. Olive North Carolina. I just thought that was incredible, so I knew I had to come for sure,” she said.
Kornegay was among a dozen or so other visitors who came specifically to greive and heal with the larger community.
Reverend Lovett says his message is about serving God and loving people and they, “welcome whoever would want to come join us, no matter which background or denomination they come from, because we’re all here to serve and praise god.”
A message of unity shared by many in the congregation,
“I think if we work on it we can all sort of bring ourselves together as all Americans. We should all strive to live together in peace and harmony,” said member Taylor Alston.
On Tuesday, a prayer vigil will be held in remembrance of the nine lives lost in Charleston from 5:30 – 7:30 at Mt. Olive AME Church on Carver St.
Many local groups are participating and organizers invite anyone touched by the tragedy to attend.
At Mt. Olive AME church in Myrtle Beach Reverend Leslie Lovett delivered a passionate sermon to the congregation with a message of healing and forgiveness.
“Forgiveness is a powerful thing. As a child of God, no matter what walk of life you come from, you can’t be close to God if you can’t forgive. Even in this type of tragedy,” said Lovett.
Lovett was personally touched by the tragedy and relies on his faith to help with the loss of his good friend and fellow pastor, Clementa Pinckney.
“Its hard. It’s still not registered yet. I’m still wrestling with it,” he said.
On the first Sunday service since the shooting, Mt. Olive attracted people who are not members, but wanted to attend as a show of solidarity.
“I feel like were one big family and we just got to deal with this and get through it,” said Stephanie Kornegay, who is in Myrtle Beach on vacation and not a member of any AME church.
“I just really wanted to be here, so i Googled AME church and unbelievably this church is Mt. Olive AME and i’m from Mt. Olive North Carolina. I just thought that was incredible, so I knew I had to come for sure,” she said.
Kornegay was among a dozen or so other visitors who came specifically to greive and heal with the larger community.
Reverend Lovett says his message is about serving God and loving people and they, “welcome whoever would want to come join us, no matter which background or denomination they come from, because we’re all here to serve and praise god.”
A message of unity shared by many in the congregation,
“I think if we work on it we can all sort of bring ourselves together as all Americans. We should all strive to live together in peace and harmony,” said member Taylor Alston.
On Tuesday, a prayer vigil will be held in remembrance of the nine lives lost in Charleston from 5:30 – 7:30 at Mt. Olive AME Church on Carver St.
Many local groups are participating and organizers invite anyone touched by the tragedy to attend.