Members of the Loudonville Community Church mourn the loss of Tom Little, the local doctor killed in Afghanistan. Dozens gathered to honor Little who was a member of the congregation for years. Our Dayana Perez has that story.

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LOUDONVILLE, N.Y. -- Just days ago, a note was printed reads: "Praise God for the safe if difficult travel, arrival at the village where they served the area people with medical and spiritual healing". It was a prayer letter hoping for his safe return, but is now a plea shattered by his sudden death.

"You hope that surely we'll be told that this is not Tom," said Loudonville Community Church pastor Stan Key.

For the Members of the Loudonville Community Church, Sunday's service was unlike any other as they gathered to remember one of their own many describe as a quiet man who loved helping those most in need.

“He was a servant to the hard places. He was a servant to the poor of the poor in Afghanistan," said David Evan.

Tom Little, a Delmar resident, was one of six Americans killed by militants in a remote area of Afghanistan. He was an optometrist and aid worker who volunteered in the country for more than 20 years. The news of his death came as a shock to the church where he was a long-time member.

"Grief, just grief, feeling violated. I felt nauseous in the pit of my stomach," said Key.

David Evans, Little's close friend of 15 years, talks about the last time he traveled to see him overseas.

“I was with him delivering vehicles to him. The vehicles were originally the ones that they've been using previously. Those had been stolen by the Taliban when they took over, eye hospitals had been destroyed all the equipment had been wrecked the purpose of our fund raiser was to restore the vehicle so that the aid and efforts to help the people of Afghanistan could continue," Evans said.

That sense of dedication is what his fellow church members say Little was all about. They believe his death was not in vain rather it should be used as a symbol of inspiration.

“Yes we lost Tom Little, but God will raise up ten more," said friend Tom Hale.