Local churches hold prayer service for Charleston shooting
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JACKSON, Tenn. — Church groups gathered Tuesday in north Jackson to pray for the lives lost in the church shooting in Charleston, S.C., and for a brighter, kinder future without racism. Skyline Church of Christ hosted the event where about 100 people from different places of worship came together for community prayer. They mourned the deaths caused by the shooting in and prayed for an end to racism. “If we can’t be in prayer for sisters and brothers that have lost loved ones and pray for unity, then we’re not doing what God’s asked of us,” Melinda Hale said. Coordinators said they invited different churches with different racial congregations for support through adversity and diversity. “It takes a moment like this to show that we have a common humanity,” said Jeff Brown, preaching minister of Skyline Church of Christ. “We are mourning together. We grieve together.” Those in attendance said they prayed and sang not only for the lives lost hundreds of miles away but also so racial relations close to home can seek healing from old wounds. “By having a diverse crowd, we can open those. We can link lines of communication,” Cassandra Williams said. The pastor said they were not expecting such a great turnout and that he hopes it is a sign that Jackson is ready to unite against racism and violence.
