Emmanuel Baptist Church in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, turns WSSU Day into call to prayer after two campus shootings

Emmanuel Baptist Church in Winston-Salem changed its planned “WSSU Day” into a “Call to Prayer” on Sunday, gathering the community to support Winston-Salem State University students and staff after two on-campus shootings during homecoming celebrations Saturday night.

Senior Pastor Herbert Miller II told the congregation, “We are a Winston-Salem State University church. Amen.” Miller told WXII that “Ram Sunday” at Emmanuel Baptist is typically a major event, drawing hundreds of WSSU students and staff for worship and fellowship. This year, the congregation still wore the university’s red, black and white and WSSU gear.

The service was largely joyful, the station reported, but it included somber moments as Miller acknowledged the heaviness of the previous night’s events. “It is our faith that helps us to make it through,” he told the congregation. “And so we’re going to be praying for Winston-Salem State University and those young people who survived, and the one who did not. We’re going to pray for them and their families.”

Miller said he was shocked when he woke up and heard the news, and he expressed deep sadness over the loss of life and for the school community. He said he is in contact with university leadership. Although the school’s official homecoming events were canceled, he decided the church would continue its focus on the Rams. “We decided that we would still celebrate the university. We would still celebrate the students and the staff,” Miller said. “Because we don’t want this one event to determine how people view Winston-Salem State University. That’s not who the school is. It’s a great environment. It’s normally a safe environment. And it’s just sad that we keep having these conversations, seems like weekly, about someone taking somebody’s life unnecessarily.”

Miller said the church is working with the university to explore ways to support both the school community and the victims and their families, a form of comfort offered to those who grieve (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). He also noted that Emmanuel Baptist Church offers free counseling services to anyone in need.

Source: Read the original report