The pastor at the Baber AME Church in Rochester says he was mortified by what happened last night at a Charleston, South Carolina Church when a gunman killed nine people.
The Reverend James Simmons says the violation of the sanctuary of the church indicates to him what kind of state this world is in.
"Violation of the sanctuary transcends to all of us. And any of us could've been in prayer meetings, any of us could have been in sanctuary, numerous churchs have Wednesday night Bible studies and that's something that makes it hit close to home...that it could've really have been any of us."
Authorities are calling it a hate crime, and Rev. Simmons says it's important the community continue the dialogue on race, and continue to see eachother as humans.
One of the victims in Charleston was the pastor at that church.
Simmons says he knows the Reverend Norvel Goff, former pastor at Baber AME Church, who will now oversee the congregation at the Charleston church.
He says this event requires us to be vigilant and prayerful.
Here's a posting from today on the Baber AME Church's Facebook page:
"Pastor (James) Simmons and the Baber family prays for Mother Emmanuel and the families of the nine persons, including the pastor, Reverend Pinckney, that were murdered. The Baber Family also keeps our former pastor and Mother Emmanuel's presiding elder, Reverend Goff, in prayer as he and approximately 50 AME pastors minister to this community's grief."
The Rochester church will hold a prayer vigil 7 p.m.Thursday at Baber AME, 550 Meigs St.