CHARLESTON: The visiting minister at the church where nine African Americans were fatally shot last week said the racist shooter failed in his quest to foment hatred and to break their spirit of love and faith.
"There they were in the house of the Lord, studying your word, praying with one another," said visiting minister Reverend Norvel Goff from the pulpit of the Emanuel AME church, four days after the massacre.
"But the devil also entered. And the devil was trying to take charge," he said. "Thanks be to god, hallelujah, that the devil cannot take control of your people. And the devil cannot take control of your church," he added.