Vice President Mike Pence met with the families of those who died in the Texas church shooting on Wednesday, promising the 'full resources' of government is behind them.
First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs is still riddled with bullet holes after 26 members of the congregation, including an unborn child, died last Sunday when a gunman stormed the building with an assault rifle in the deadliest gun violence ever committed in a US place of worship.
Although about half of the tiny community were killed in the attack, the remaining members of the congregation are undeterred and plan to hold a church service this Sunday.
Pastor Frank Pomeroy, who was travelling with his wife Sherri on the day of the attack, will speak after his 14-year-old daughter Annabelle died in the shooting.
Pence and his wife, Karen, were welcomed with cheers and applause from as many as 2,000 people who filled half of a high school football stadium in Floresville, Texas, for the prayer vigil, about 13 miles from the scene of Sunday's carnage.
'We gather tonight to offer our deepest condolences, and I offer the condolences of the American people to all those affected by the horrific attack that took place just three days ago,' Pence told the crowd.
'Whatever animated the evil that descended on that church last Sunday, if the attacker's desire was to silence their testimony of faith, he failed,' he said to cheers.
Pence insisted 'faith is stronger than evil' as he met with residents in Sutherland Springs after the prayer vigil.
'I'm here as Vice President to ensure that the full resources of the federal government are being brought to bear,' he said.
'Our deepest condolences, whole country is praying for you,' he told one family according to CBS News.
Pence was there on behalf of President Trump who is in Asia on a 13-day tour.
He also said the Air Force was looking into why Delvin Kelley was able to buy a weapon in the first place and said the Department of Defense is now conducting its own review.
'We're here to express our deepest sympathies, our resolve. But we're also here to express our admiration for a special community of faith,' Pence said.
