Pastors help keep the peace during protests in Charlotte.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Every night, a group of pastors walks with protesters in Uptown Charlotte, easing tensions.

"There was considerably more tension last night," Park Road Baptist Church pastor Russ Dean said.

Dean was in Uptown when protesters tried to march past police.

"I was really afraid the tension was rising and one of the African-American pastors in our group got up and was able to convince the crowd to move along and continue the march," Dean explained.

Hand in hand, the pastors try to stand between police and protesters, guiding the crowds so they stay peaceful.

"God loves you and so do we!" Kevin Williams exclaimed during a night of protests. He's the emergency response logistics Manager for the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team.

Last week, he was training chaplains to go into other cities with civil unrest. They've already been to Ferguson, Missouri, Baltimore and Dallas.

On Day Two of their training at their headquarters in Charlotte last week, Keith Lamont Scott was killed by police and the city erupted.

"By having approximately 30 chaplains right in the classroom, they went from classroom right to practical right out on the street," he said.

The pastors have been praying with protesters, and Mayor Jennifer Roberts as well, trying to help ease the hurting.

"Just hearing someone out sometimes just gives them enough to release and balance their emotions out to calm them." Williams continued, "There is hope and Charlotte is going to make it through this."

The pastors say their short-term goal is to get Charlotte through the protests without any further violence. Their long-term goal is to work until the African-American community is on equal footing with every other community in Charlotte.

Cox Media Group