Charleston's streets fall silent as massacre church bells toll nine times

The Daily Mail ^ | June21, 2015 | Chris Spargo

[brwnsuga]

The Charleston church that was the site of a massacre on Wednesday held its first service since the horrific incident today.

Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church opened its doors for their weekly 9:30am service as thousands poured out to support the church, most filling the outside parking lot and street as they could not even get into the building.

Just five days ago, nine members of the congregation were shot dead in a racially motivated hate crime at the hands of 21-year-old Dylann Roof.

Services began with the organist playing Amazing Grace followed by What a Friend We Have in Jesus as worshipers filed into the church.

After that, Reverend Norvel Goff, the presiding elder at the church, began his sermon by telling the congregation; 'The devil entered and the devil tried to take charge. But the devil cannot take control of your people, and the devil cannot take control of your church.'

The church's bell also tolled nine times in memory of each of the victims.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3133350/Charleston-church-reopens-Sunday-service-just-days-horrific-massacre-claimed-lives-nine-people-THOUSANDS-line-worship.html#ixzz3dhusErv8 Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

[Chauncey Uppercrust]

A teaching moment people always love to say... I think a teaching moment might be that as evil an act as this murder of 9 people was by the racist thug, the murder of 70 million children since 1972 is as equally or more evil.

So why we are at it, lets examine the evil of supporting abortion while at the same time claiming to Love Christ.

Not to mention that liberal Churches White and Black also support the removal of God/Christ from the classroom/public square, now how could that be Christian?

Teaching children that homosexuality is a way of life for them is also IMO spitting on Christ.

As someone who has attended an unusual high number of Churches because of moving around, I have my own personal litmus test, I only need to find out if they support abortion etc, if they do then I do not set foot in such a place, I have had this test all my Christian life.

I would live to see the day that the Black and liberal white Churches turn from their sin of murder.

[Robe]

I am so proud to call myself South Carolinian, and to have close ties with Charleston.
From where I am this morning, West Ashley area, the bells resonated from all corners of the city, it was quite moving. I watched the Service this morning and Rev. Goff was indeed touched by the Lord.
It brought a tear to this crusty old salt.

Word to those that which to foment trouble in the state or our city, find another place....Charleston is called the “Holy City” and it's not just because of the number of churches, we live together here and look out for each other, regardless of race.

[informavoracious]

In choosing Charleston, the murderer failed miserably in his goal to start a “race war.” It may have worked in Ferguson or Baltimore or Chicago, but the good Christians of Charleston returned his acts with Christ’s love.

[I want the USA back]

Loving, kind Christians murdered cruelly.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

I attended my Army Basic Training and AIT at Ft. Jackson, SC back in 1979-1980. Spent a lot of time in Charleston every time I could escape. Loved that city. Still do. Living in the south back then was quite the education for a naive Yankee Girl!

[Tired of Taxes]

The reaction of the people of Charleston to this tragedy has been amazing. The whole country is proud, right along with you, of SC.

[NRx]

The response in Charleston to this barbarous act has been simply amazing. I did not see the entire service at the AME church due to being in my own church today. But the scenes I caught were deeply moving. God bless the people of Charleston and these good Christians as they try to recover and heal.

[NRx]

LOL great minds think alike.

[Tired of Taxes]

:-)

[JoeProBono]

[CopperTop]

Yes, the reaction of folks 3 hours South of here are very encouraging and a breath of fresh air compared to other recent national "events".
Watching the bond hearing and listening to the relatives/representatives I was truly impressed with their Christianity. These are more righteous people than myself and I grew up around very similar folks in the 70's and 80's Southern "millville" of Greensboro, NC. The "ferals" do not come from them.

"We" have the same problem with leftisis/progs. d;^)

[Undecided 2012]

is it on utube

[Yaelle]

Gd bless. I love your city.

[Robe]

is it on utube

I looked , but no, maybe it’s too early.

[tumblindice]

What would a political scientist do—if you could find one unimpaired by `political correctness’/peer pressures—to try to explain/bellcurve the difference between Charleston, SC and, say, Ferguson, Missouri following the shootings that occurred in both places?

Compare Charleston demographics with Ferguson demos? http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/45/45019.html

[gcraig]

This morning Pastor Steven shared a very emotional message of hope in church in Charlotte www.elevationchurch.org

[Undecided 2012]

Here’s my opinion on this tragedy. I’ve read practically all the stories involved in this insanity. I put the blame on the media and the race hustlers. This deranged young man was reading about black on white crimes he never hears about on the regular local or national news and was both shocked and outraged by it. The fact is those things happen, so too do the shootings last night in Philly and Detroit the only difference was less dead bodies but many injured by the same gun fire. Al needs to stir up his own neighborhoods to turn these folks in and prosecute and remove from your neighborhood. Period. It’s extremely frustrating in Philly when nobody wants to snitch and the killings continue. It’s only a matter of time until the word gets around the neighborhood and team “B” finds out who on team :A” did the shooting, and the game goes around and around. I thank God so much I was able to escape all my years in the “Badlands” and West Philly to retire in Texas.

But having said the above, I’ve read stories of people that knew the clown and heard him speak of mass shootings just a week prior. I don’t know about you folks but I would get involved if some one was speaking crazy stuff especially if I knew they possessed a gun. I’d take it away or call authorities. Call me a snitch, sorry.

[Califreak]

He was probably dismissed as a crazy talking but do nothing crackpot.

All kinds of people talk about doing all kinds of crazy things.

Most of them are just idiotic blowhards.

That being said, I wondered why his friend didn’t say anything.

My conclusion was that he just figured Dylann was full of it.

[bergmeid]

I saw that too. We should take care of that for these folks. Can we find out what the problem is and either fix the AC system they have or get them a brandnew system? Let us pay their kindness forward.

[umgud]

Good idea.