Fulton, GA-- Rev. Creflo Dollar has appealed to his congregation to help raise nearly a quarter of a million dollars for the family of a volunteer church employee who was killed at his World Changers Church International 

Speaking to parishioners on Sunday, Dollar challenged members to clear all the debt held by the family of Greg McDowell, who was gunned down Wednesday by former World Changers employee, Floyd Palmer. 

Dollar urged them to take up an offering of $234,000, reports the Atlanta Journal Constitution (AJC). The paper writes that Dollar said, “We want to completely eradicate all debts in their lives… house, cars, everything. Let’s now show the world the power of a mega church,”“In my book, he’s a hero,” Dollar said referring to the 39-year-old victim. “If those bullets hadn’t been trained on him, there would’ve been more people that would’ve died.” 

“It’s a megachurch with a big heart,” Robert Herbert, a member of the church for more than 23 years, he said. “We take care of our own.” 

McDowell was killed as he led a mid-week Bible study for a group of about 25 people. Eyewitnesses said Palmer, a former maintenance employee at the church, calmly walked into the chapel and fired multiple shots. 

Palmer was later tracked down by police at Atlanta’s Lenox Square mall and taken into custody. He has been charged with murder.