Hundreds Pack Byron Church for Vigil for Connecticut Shooting Victims

BYRON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Hundreds of miles from Newtown, Connecticut, hundreds of Middle Georgians filled Harvest Church in Byron to mourn and remember the victims.

Harvest Church Pastor Jim Cowart has no connection to Sandy Hook Elementary or Connecticut but felt led to hold a vigil after watching the news.

“Jennifer just couldn’t stop crying,” Cowart said, “and we just thought, man, we got to do something.”

So members of the Harvest Church congregation came together in prayer.

“I feel that we all need to come together, especially as a church,” said church member Nick Palmer, “that’s a lot of people that could be praying for those people and prayer really helps.”

Church members read scriptures, played songs and even cried for people, they never knew.

“I know it’s so far away,” said church member Kim Thompson, “I don’t even think I’ve ever been to Connecticut but you hurt for them.”

“Every time, Christmas comes now, that’s what these families are remembering,” Palmer said.

The thought of Christmas seems almost unbearable for Palmer, as American continues to mourn.