COLORADO SPRINGS -- About 6,000 people gathered at New Life Church in Colorado Springs Wednesday evening for the first worship service since a deadly shooting Sunday.

"We will not be governed by fear," Senior Pastor Brady Boyd told the crowd. "We suffered a great loss in our New Life family."

Worshippers joined in inspirational music and prayer for two teenage sisters who died in the shooting. Stephanie and Rachel Works were killed, their father and two others were wounded by a gunman.

Special recognition was given to security guard Jeanne Assam, who attended the service. Assam received a standing ovation for stopping Matthew Murray. The 24-year-old gunman only made it 60 feet inside the church before he was shot, according to Boyd.

"When the attacker came on our campus, he meant to do great harm," Boyd said. "He came here to take hostages; he came here to kill."

Despite being struck several times by shots from Assam's weapon, the coroner ruled that Murray died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Colorado dignitaries who attended Wednesday's service included Lt. Gov. Barbara O'Brien and Attorney General John Suthers.

Counseling is being made available to any member of the congregration who needs it.

Boyd told 7NEWS the healing doesn't happen overnight.

"This is a journey," Boyd said. "The loss of a child is the loss of a child."