Neighbors Gather to Pray Amid Cherokee Co Killing Spree

With a killer on the loose many people are relying on faith to find strength. More than 100 people gathered at Restoration Church in n Gaffney Friday night to pray for the victims and surprisingly enough, the suspect, and hopefully peace.

Some of the people in attendance admitted they were a little scared to leave their homes and even come to the church to pray, but they felt they were called to the church to do just that with the belief that a higher power will bring the senseless tragedies to an end.

“Father we come against fear,“ said Joey Turner, Pastor of Restoration Church.

The service brought many people in attendance to their knees.

“I have three daughters,“ said Mike Freyta. “And all three of them are scared.“

Scared and shaken, the family of faith is praying for peace and answers.

“We view it and I view it as more than attack on these families,“ Turner said. “It’s really an attack on these community. And I see it as a spiritual attack.“

In this congregation, some of the people are connected to the victims. “We lift up the Linder family and the Parker family,“ many of those in attendance praised.

“It takes sometimes a tragedy like this to hit close to home before we really get up and arm ourselves together,“ said Sonia Littlejohn, a church member.

But for now, until the violence ends, they are lifting their hands for the families who have lost.

“As devastating as it is, we believe the spirit can still be a strength to them,“ said Turner. 

And as a picture reminds them, asking that the killer will turn himself in so that his soul will be saved. And they pray that a community can finally be at ease.

“We do want him caught,“ said Littlejohn. “We want justice.“