Donald G. King, president of the Atlantic Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, issued the following statement in response to shooting death of nine people at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church in Charleston, South, Carolina:
Last Wednesday night in Charleston, hate took the lives of nine innocent people. Hate that was symbolized by a satanic evil force. But we know that in the end love will win . . . because love outlasts hate.
We all can be so proud of those relatives of the victims who declared in court to the shooter, “I forgive you.” Words that speak more clearly of the quality of the victim’s family than the perpetrator.
Once again we pray for the day when all of God’s children will treat each other with respect, dignity, and without hatred.
Donald G King
President
Atlantic Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists