On June 17, 2015, in our beautiful home city, Charleston, SC the lives of nine of our neighbors were taken during bible study at Mother Emanuel Church on Calhoun Street. It was only minutes before the world was coming as fast as they could. In all the noise surrounding this tragedy, it is easy to miss the most important agony of all.

We are a family here at AV Connections. Both actually, and in sentiment. We work together, we live together, we worship together. We serve churches and civic organizations just as did the lost members of Mother Emanuel. We feel the pain of these families; loss so acute that finding the words to write now is nearly impossible. We look on each reached-out hand of a family member with renewed thanks and we agonize for our neighbors at Mother Emanuel whose loss we cannot fathom.

We are angered that anything should be lost to hatred, let alone human life. We are desperately aching for the parents and children who have lost those they cherish most and cannot for a moment hope to understand their pain. We hope only that our prayers are heard for their peace. A better world must await for all of us now, this is the only solace in Charleston’s shared grief.