Emanuel AME Church already was among South Carolina\u2019s most well-known churches long before someone entered the ground floor and shot its pastor and eight others to death during a June 17 Bible study.<\/p>\n
But the unspeakable crime \u201d\u201done that led to an outpouring of support and unity from across the nation \u201d\u201d has changed the church in ways that are still playing out.<\/p>\n
In coming months, the church\u2019s leaders, members and supporters are expected to discuss not only how to memorialize the nine victims on the site but also what repair work is needed. They\u2019ll need to decide how to conduct the repairs to the sanctuary and ground floor, where the crime occurred, while also tending to the spiritual needs of the church.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur focus is \u201d\u201d as it has been since June 17 \u201d\u201d to make sure those families and their concerns, their immediate needs \u201d\u201d monetary, spiritual and emotional \u201d\u201d are met,\u201d\u009d said the Rev. Dr. Norvel Goff, Emanuel\u2019s interim pastor.<\/p>\n