Story highlights People traveled from around the country to attend Sunday's service

The church's pastor, who lost his daughter in last week's attack, was expected to speak

Sutherland Springs, Texas (CNN) Pastor Frank Pomeroy has delivered many sermons, but this week's was different.

He nearly broke down addressing Sunday's service, the first since a gunman entered the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs last week and opened fire on Pomeroy's parishioners. The shooter killed 25 people and an unborn child -- including Pomeroy's 14-year-old daughter, Annabelle.

"Victory has a price," Pomeroy told the attendees gathered under an overcast sky, in a white tent on a baseball field blocks away from the church that is now the site of the deadliest mass shooting in Texas history. "You cannot be victorious in battle without being wounded in battle."

Pomeroy and his wife, Sherri, were out of town last Sunday when their daughter was killed.

"I know everyone who lost their life that day, some of which were my best friends, and my daughter," Pomeroy said, overcome with emotion as he spoke. "And I guarantee without any shadow of a doubt they are dancing with Jesus today. God gets the glory."

Worshippers gather in front of a roadside memorial to sing praises & honor the #SutherlandSpringsShooting victims hours after church let out pic.twitter.com/rPzJMqNNbD — Jaide Garcia (@Jaide_Garcia) November 12, 2017

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