DEERFIELD TOWNSHIP -- A church in Isabella County held its Sabbath worship service for the first time since its then-pastor was arrested on accusations he carried out the sexually motivated slaying of a 24-year-old neighbor.
About 20 members of Christ Community Fellowship attended Sunday services, welcoming visitors despite the trauma of the arrest of 55-year-old John D. White.
He's charged with first-degree murder, and Isabella County authorities say he's confessed to killing Rebekah Gay on Wednesday to act out a fantasy of sex with a dead victim.
The ex-convict was engaged to Gay's mother.
Gay's body was found in a wooded area in Broomfield Township this past week.
White was previously convicted in 1994 of involuntary manslaughter.
Service leader Donna Houghton says there were some blessings in the midst of "a horrendous week" and says there will come a time of forgiveness.
