Fairlawn Church Hosts Copley Tragedy Prayer Gathering

The Fairlawn Church where two of the Copley-Fairlawn shootout victims attended youth groups will hold a prayer gathering tomorrow night.

It's scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday at Crosspoint Family of Faith Church, at the corner of Rothrock and Cleveland-Massillon roads.  

"We do a program in the fifth and sixth graders," Crosspoint Youth Pastor Sam Schriever said, "and both girls came."

Schriever said that Autumn Johnson, 16, and Amelia Shambaugh, 16, who were went to their own churches as they grew older. 

"A lot of times when kids get to middle school they go on to their own churches," Schriever said. "They were part of our children's program, and, of course, now they were supposed to be juniors.

"We just can't get over the sadness of that," he said, "especially the girls who had nothing to do with (shooter Michael Hance's) beef, and poor Amelia was just on a sleepover."

Senior Pastor Tim Feather will lead the prayer meeting, Schriever said. "We are inviting everyone to come to pray for the community." 

Church member Renee Flynn said Crosspoint Church has many activities for teens. "We're all trying to spread the word that anyone is welcome on Wednesday."

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