Community prayer
By Kirsten Ballard
Published in News on April 17, 2015 1:46 PM
Full Size
News-Argus/MELISSA KEY
The Rev. Joann Turner of Saulston United Methodist Church prays during a service held in honor of WCC shooting victim Ron Lane on Thursday. Church leaders from across the county attended the memorial, which was held at First Baptist Church. Lane's funeral was held Thursday as well. A celebration of life event is being planned.
Full Size
Brandi Matthews, colleague of the late WCC staff member Ron Lane, shows her respect during the service.
Attendees at a prayer service for shooting victim Ronald Lane expressed shock and deep concern Thursday for both the victim and his family and the alleged killer, as well as the Goldsboro community as a whole.
"We have come together to find strength," said the Rev. Glenn Phillips of First Baptist Church, who opened the service at the church with a prayer for strength.
"We want to offer support and comfort," he said. "Especially to those impacted directly and everyone impacted indirectly."
The Rev. Joe Jackson of Best Grove Missionary Baptist Church said he was still in a state of disbelief that such an incident could hit so close to home.
"I was shocked this happened in our community," he said.
Jackson led the group in a prayer to reunite the community.
The Clergy Living in Faith and Fellowship Ministers Group hosted the prayer service. Ministers in attendance represented First Baptist, First African Baptist, Best Grove Missionary Baptist Church and St. Paul United Methodist Church.
Each pastor led a prayer.
The Rev. James Harry, senior pastor of St. Paul United Methodist Church, went to the memorial clock at Wayne Community College before attending the prayer service. He said he prayed for the victim, the perpetrator and the community.
"There is a sense of shame in the national news coverage of this glorious town we call home," he said. "There is a sense of fear, as a parent, to put a child at a bus stop. We want to remind the people of Wayne County that God is with us."
Goldsboro police Chief Jeff Stewart and Wayne County Sheriff Larry Pierce were in attendance. Both men said the community needs to come together to continue to heal.
"We just need to keep praying together," Pierce said. "We need to keep supporting each other and so far it has just been amazing, all the support from the community, the citizens, the churches and we just thank them for that."
-- Allen Etzler contributed to this article.