Church service honors Charleston shooting victims

By: Rebecca Turco

Email: rturco@abc6.com

Twitter: @RTurcoABC6

Facebook: RebeccaTurcoABC6

PROVIDENCE – As people in Charleston pray for peace and justice, many others across the nation, including in Rhode Island, are doing the same.

At Congdon Street Baptist Church in Providence, locals honored those who died by turning to their faith to try to make sense of this tragedy.

Alvin J. Green, a deacon at that church, is from South Carolina. He was friendly with one of the shooting victims at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church, Rev. Clementa Pinckney.

“[He] was truly a community activist,” Green told ABC6 News.

Forgiveness was a theme at Sunday’s worship service. “We must forgive,” said Green. “But we must also learn and grow.”

“Be not overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good,” remarked Sen. Harold Metts of Providence, who is also a deacon at the Baptist church.

Green will be heading to Charleston soon to pay his respects to Pinckney.

© WLNE-TV 2015