When the news broke this morning that an unthinkable act of racial violence had been committed inside of a Charleston, SC church, people all over the nation looked to Christian leaders for their reaction. At a time when Christians across America are coming together to offer support to those hurting in the midst of this tragedy, artists within Christian music community used their social media platform to offer messages of empathy, unity and hope.  

The overall sentiment of Christian artists seemed to reflect the magnitude of emotion that the news of nine people killed during a prayer meeting evoked. Kari Jobe (@karijobe) said simply, "My heart is so heavy." 

Similarly, Lecrae (@lecrae) reflected, "Heavy, the weight of it all is heavy." He went on to quote John 16:2-3 with his next reaction, tweeting, "Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. And they will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor me." 

Reach Records artist and rapper KB (@kb_hga) tweeted, with his characteristic eloquence, "We can do more than pray but we can never do less than pray...heavy heart this morning for my people." He added hashtags for Charleston as well as the ethnic cleansing of Haitians taking place in the Dominican Republic. 

Rapper Tedashii (@tedashii) rounded out the reaction from the Reach Records crew, stating at first, "Heart breaking," before adding some thoughts, "Those who are progressive in the area of race somehow leave behind those who aren't afforded the luxury to move on. It seems that if the majority ignore the issue we are all required to do the same. Moving on isn't the same as moving forward."  

Matthew West (@matthew_west) echoed the "heartbreaking" sentiment, tweeting out, "Heartbreaking news about the trafgic shooting in Charleston. The evil in this world makes me long for Heaven a little more each day."

Mary Mary's Tina Campbell posted information on her Instagram (@tedddyandtina) about a National Prayer Call happening tonight at 9pm. The photo stated, "Time for the church to pray." Tina's sister, Erica (@imericacampbell), retweeted the message.

Jars of Clay and The Hawk in Paris singer Dan Haseltine (@scribblepotemus) said, "Saddened to hear about Charleston. We mourn and hope that civility will find its way into our humanity."

Haseltine followed up with some philosophical thoughts, saying, "Humans: if we don't undersand it we fear it. If we fear it, we try to control it or ultimately move to destroy it. As long as people are afraid of people that are different than them, violence will live on. Don't be afraid."

Whatever the fate of the suspect in this mind-boggling act of hate, it is certain that the Christian community will reeling -- and reacting -- for days to come.