AURORA, Colo. – Worshipers in this city rocked by Friday's mass shooting flocked to church Sunday, seeking solace in their faith community and God.
"People are saying that if there's a day to go to church, this is it," says Allie McNider, associate pastor at Mississippi Avenue Baptist Church, about a mile from the movie theater where police say James Holmes opened fire, killing 12 people and wounding 58 more. "They're looking for a sense of something bigger than themselves."
Inside the church, Pastor Mitch Hamilton says that times of crisis test faith by upending routines and making people question their daily lives.
"No matter what, God is with us. We don't have to walk through this alone," Hamilton preached Sunday morning after several days of leading counseling and vigils for the victims and witnesses. "God will not leave us, even in the midst of the darkness."
Hamilton's sermon moved some congregants to tears, an outward sign of the grief, fear, anxiety and even anger this community is feeling.
Facebook friends of Rory Miller, who was celebrating his 19th birthday at the theater, have called for Holmes to be beaten or killed and worse. Miller, who was hit with what he thinks were shotgun pellets, says an eye-for-an-eye is not the right approach.
Miller says his experience has renewed his faith in the power of forgiveness and the message of his church. A man sitting behind Miller and his friends in the theater was hit in the neck and seriously injured. Miller attended a church-sponsored vigil Friday evening, offering prayers for the victims and for Holmes.
"We need to pray for him," says Miller. "Even being that close, I know he needs help and prayer. I'm still struggling with it. I'm still angry at things. But I know he needs prayer."
Churches in Aurora were not alone in praying for the victims of Friday's massacre. Other Colorado pastors said they were focusing on the Gospel for support and comfort in their grief.
Brady Boyd, senior pastor at New Life Church in Colorado Springs, says the most important message for his congregation is that people can and should talk about the tragedy that occurred.
Hearing about the shooting was heartbreaking , Boyd says, and it brought back many painful memories for members of his church. Less than five years ago, a gunman killed two girls in the parking lot of his church after Sunday service.
Boyd didn't plan to preach on Friday's tragedy.
"We talk about it all the time, so I don't need to explain it to members of the church," Boyd says. "We understand completely."
Boyd says they will pray for the victims and their families, as well as pause and reflect on what happened about 50 miles from their homes.
Many members of New Life Church knew people who were at the theater the night of the shooting, Boyd says.
Boyd says he has been in contact with pastors located close to Aurora, offering advice for moving forward. He told them this is painful and difficult for many people and the grieving process cannot be rushed.
Located in the Denver area, Allan Karr, lead mentor of the Ethne Church Network, says he changed the message he planned to send during church services.
Anger or resentment is a natural response for those grieving, but it will not have a positive long-term effect, Karr says, which he planned to make clear during his sermon.
Karr says he also wants people to understand that God did not make or want the shootings to happen.
"God is powerful, but he doesn't keep people from making evil decisions," Karr says.
