The church has become a nexus of faith after the families of the victims forgave Roof after he was arrested, challenging the members to make sense of the tragedy for themselves and others.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is no secret that we have been walking through a valley,\u201d\u009d Clark said at Wednesday\u2019s prayer service. \u201cAnd at times that valley has been so dark that we wondered if our light was able to shine. As we walk through our valley, the key is knowing that where we are today is not where we\u2019re going to be tomorrow if we hold onto God\u2019s unchanging hands.\u201d\u009d<\/p>\n
Her voice rose up and down, matching the strength and serenity of her words. Mayor John Tecklenburg played a soft song on the piano a few feet away.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe key is knowing that despite our temporary discomforts, our trials, situations in life that we can\u2019t explain and don\u2019t understand, we\u2019re so grateful to know a God who\u2019s right there in the valley with us. And because he\u2019s with us, we have no reason to fear.\u201d\u009d<\/p>\n