Betty Deas Clark Appointed Pastor at the Charleston Church Where 9 Were Killed Last Year
Rev. Dr. Betty Deas Clark has been appointed the pastor at the historic Emanuel AME Church on Saturday. Last year, on the evening of June 17, 2015, during a prayer service, nine people were killed by a gunman in the same church.
Of those who were shot and died included the senior pastor and state senator Clementa C. Pinckney The morning after the attack, police arrested a suspect, later identified as 21-year-old Dylann Roof, in Shelby, North Carolina. Roof later confessed that he committed the shooting in hopes of igniting a race war.
Since the shooting, the church had been led by interim pastor Rev. Dr. Norvel Goff, amid controversy. Goff is running for bishop, Clark was appointed by current Bishop Richard Norris, who will retire this summer from his post overseeing the district that spans South Carolina.
The Awendaw native preached her first sermon at the church affectionately called Mother Emanuel at 9:30 a.m. last Sunday morning. Late Saturday, she was crafting her first sermon for her new congregation, one that has much healing to do. She will focus on the message of, "I still have hope," based on a passage from Jeremiah in which God tells the faithful he "plans to give you hope and a future."
Clark said she wants to leave the congregation with a simple message: "In the face of tragedy and uncertain times, we still have a God in whom we can trust."
When the bishop first approached Clark about the widely sought-after post, she was humbled. But when he officially assigned her to Emanuel AME on Saturday: "It took my breath away."
She personally knew five of the nine people killed in the massacre.
"It's just an awesome task," she said. "You want to do God proud with whatever you do and approach it with humility."
Tags : betty deas clark Emanuel AME Church charleston church shooting charleston church charleston massacre
Hot Trends
-
Former Avalon Singer Michael Passons Says He Was Let Go Because of His Sexuality
-
Here Are the Lyrics to Transformation Worship's "Yahweh"
-
Hillsong's Marty Sampson's Startling Revelations About Brian Houston & His Own Marriage
-
Wilson Fairchild, Sons of the Statler Brothers, to Debut Album
-
Bethel Music's Kalley Returns with New Song Three Years After Daughter's Death
-
Maverick City Music and Elevation Worship Share their Thoughts About their New Song "Names"
-
Kari Jobe and Cody Carnes Are Married
-
Matt Maher Teams Up with Dee Wilson on "Common Ground"
-
Taize Releases "Music of Unity and Peace"
-
Chris August Tied the Knot with Katelin Cummings
-
Tauren Wells Releases New Single "Making Room"
-
Tasha Layton on Her Suicide Attempt, Singing with Katy Perry & Working on Her Own Music
-
Elevation Worship and Maverick City Reveal How Grandma was the Inspiration Behind "Talking to Jesus"
-
Lee Greenwood Collaborates with Drew Jacobs on New Version of "God Bless The U.S.A."
-
Phil Wickham Celebrates His 15th Wedding Anniversary with "Just Too Good"
Most Popular
-
Former Avalon Singer Michael Passons Says He Was Let Go Because of His Sexuality
-
Here Are the Lyrics to Transformation Worship's "Yahweh"
-
Hillsong's Marty Sampson's Startling Revelations About Brian Houston & His Own Marriage
-
Wilson Fairchild, Sons of the Statler Brothers, to Debut Album
-
Bethel Music's Kalley Returns with New Song Three Years After Daughter's Death
-
Maverick City Music and Elevation Worship Share their Thoughts About their New Song "Names"
-
Kari Jobe and Cody Carnes Are Married
-
Matt Maher Teams Up with Dee Wilson on "Common Ground"
-
Taize Releases "Music of Unity and Peace"
-
Chris August Tied the Knot with Katelin Cummings
-
Tauren Wells Releases New Single "Making Room"
-
Tasha Layton on Her Suicide Attempt, Singing with Katy Perry & Working on Her Own Music
-
Elevation Worship and Maverick City Reveal How Grandma was the Inspiration Behind "Talking to Jesus"
-
Lee Greenwood Collaborates with Drew Jacobs on New Version of "God Bless The U.S.A."
-
Phil Wickham Celebrates His 15th Wedding Anniversary with "Just Too Good"