They are the men and women Akron’s Black community rely on to guide them through troubling times.

Times like Sunday.

Rev. Charles Myricks Jr. faced his flock on this morning, posing an important question hours after one person was killed and 24 people were injured in a mass shooting less than one mile from Arlington Church of God. 

Myricks’ voice boomed from the lectern, pausing to ensure members and guests heard his emotional plea.

“What could lead someone… to have a heart so cold… a heart so hard… that they would disregard the lives of innocent people?” he asked rhetorically. 

“People they didn’t even know. How… does this happen?” 

Later on Sunday, just before 4 p.m., faith leaders representing dozens of Akron churches, wearing black with pops of red, gathered at The Faith Place. These local leaders had previously scheduled this afternoon of city-wide fellowship.

Then Sunday morning’s news gave the communion worship service even more meaning. 

Pastor Robert Dejournett (left) shares a moment with Bishop Samuel Hampton before the city-wide communion worship at The Faith Place Sunday, June 2, 2024, in Akron. (Kassi Filkins / Signal Akron)

“Nothing happens by happenstance,” said Vincent Peterson, the pastor of Providence Baptist Church. “And so the fact that we are having this unity service with over 40 churches involved, God already knew this day was going to come and that we would need to be here.”

The pastors stood together physically — and metaphorically — to call for the stop of senseless gun violence.

Peterson, who recently retired after 36 years in law enforcement, said he has never witnessed a crime scene with so many people involved.

As faith leaders, pastors often find themselves at the forefront of these situations, caring for their communities.

“We deal with this all the time, unfortunately,” said Eugene Norris, the executive pastor at New Hope Baptist Church and Mountain of the Lord Fellowship. “That’s a part of what we do.

“You’re there when people are hurting and try to bring them together and get whatever support we can.”

Parishioners lift their arms in praise during the city-wide communion worship service at The Faith Place Sunday, June 2, 2024, in Akron. (Kassi Filkins / Signal Akron)

Some of the people involved in the shooting were more than names to these religious leaders. They were current or former members of their congregations. Associates.

Neighbors.

Said Peterson: “If I would say anything to our young people, ‘Lay your guns down before your guns lay you down.’”

Community & service reporter (they/them)
Reegan Davis Saunders is Signal Akron’s community & service reporter. Reegan studied journalism and art at Kent State University, and they are passionate about the intersection of the two disciplines.

Although Reegan grew up in metro Detroit, they have always been an Ohio State Buckeyes fan. After living in Kent the past few years, they are excited to explore more of Akron, especially the coffee shops.

At Signal Akron, Reegan hopes to serve underrepresented communities by creating more accessible content.

Multimedia reporter/producer (she/her)
Kassi Filkins strives to be an active part of whatever community she finds herself in and joins Signal Akron in its mission to bring accessible and community-focused news to all Akronites.

Kassi was born and raised in Central Ohio and is a photojournalism graduate of Kent State University. She was a staff member at the Southeast Missourian and the Hartford Courant before working in non-profit communications.

Kassi lives in Highland Square and enjoys local coffee shops, walking along trails in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park and hanging out with her dogs, cat and husband.

Managing Editor (he/him)
Gary is returning to Akron after previously working at the Akron Beacon Journal as a sports reporter from 2003 to 2006. He is committed to delivering authoritative, trustworthy journalism that is accessible to everyone. Gary mostly recently worked as a newsroom leader in Clarksville (Tenn.), Murfreesboro (Tenn.) and Nashville, where he was the business, race and culture editor at The Tennessean. He is a native of New Orleans and a product of Southern University and A&M College. In his free time, you can find him cycling, playing paintball and smoking meats.