Baltimore Churchgoers Pray For Charleston

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- In Baltimore, worshipers with a connection to Emmanuel AME Church gathered to pray for change.

Tracey Leong explains.

In the wake of the Charleston shooting, members at the Baltimore Bethel AME Church say now is the time to forgive and heal.

Hundreds of worshipers in Baltimore rallied for the Charleston victims and their families.

"In the midst of this struggle, we will emerge victorious through faith," said Bethel AME Pastor Frank Reid.

"Forgiveness starts the healing process and everyone needs to heal from this," said church member Louise Green.

The mass shooting at Charleston's Emmanuel AME Church that left nine people dead was a tragedy felt right here in Baltimore.

"We all know each other and are connected to each other so anything that happens to any of our churches happens to us," Green said.

Bethel AME and Emmanuel AME are also both among the oldest AME churches in the country.

"We share a common history, a common heritage of slavery, a common goal of fighting against slavery," Reid said.

The shootings are being investigated as a hate crime. Officials say the suspect, 21-year-old Dylann Roof wanted to start a race war.

Pastor Reid says these killings will not shatter their beliefs.

"As a nation, we need to turn to each other, not on each other," Reid said.

And fear will not overtake the congregation.

"We move on first by going to the funerals and praying for the families," Reid said. "Then we move towards shaping public policy, nationally and locally."

Pastor Reid says the church will not be changing their open door policy, but they will increase security measures by adding surveillance cameras.

The suspect in the Charleston shootings, Dylann Roof, is in protective custody and on suicide watch.