Charlotte-area churches help process spiritual toll of violence, uncertainty

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) – In a world flooded with disturbing headlines, where do we turn for peace?

Local faith leaders said the answer lies in prayer, scripture, and community.

Pastor Steven Newberg shared his thoughts about the light rail stabbing and Charlie Kirk’s assassination during a sermon at Ascension Lutheran Church in Dilworth on Sunday.

“As long as anyone can say something like better him than me about anybody, people are still going to be troubled, and things are still going to be scary,” Newberg said at the beginning of Sunday morning’s service.

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Newberg said it’s his responsibility to minister to people’s needs now – that faith is beyond things we can see in those videos.

“I was noticing last week, that, many people were sensing how deeply troubling and even scary a place, our nation can be with all of its gifts,” Newberg said. “In the midst of all sorts of violence and change and things coming to an end, there’s still goodness and there’s a way in which God continues to be good to us all.”

In Gaston County, the Stanley Pentecostal Holiness Church held a special night of prayer for our nation on Sunday night, saying that change begins with prayer.

Catholic Bishop Michael Martin said we can find peace by reading scripture instead of social media, speaking and acting with charity, and reaching out to someone in need.

Tim Stephens is a priest at St. Peter Catholic Church. He said we need to work on taking care of one another.

“We may not agree on a lot, but we agree on our need for God’s help,” Stephens said. “God put us here for a purpose, and so our purpose is to unite and be with one another and try and make the lives of each other safer, easier, or better.”

Stephens said when things seem beyond our control – that’s when people turn to church.

“It doesn’t mean that the church has an easy or simple answers, but it’s a first step in inviting people to come together and recognizing that the people in front of us are behind us,” Stephens said.