Called to Forgive: A Conversation with Anthony Thompson

On June 17, 2015, white supremacist Dylann Storm Roof, 21, armed with
a hidden .45-caliber Glock handgun, attended the Wednesday evening
Bible study at the historic Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal
Church in downtown Charleston. An hour later, Roof pulled his weapon
and killed nine African-American worshipers as they prayed—including Reverend Anthony Thompson’s wife, Myra.

After the shooting, the city’s leaders prepared for the expected racial
riots, looting, violence, arrests, property damage, etc. It had happened
everywhere else after a racially-motivated incident. But it didn’t
happen in Charleston. Why?

Because, 48 hours after the shooting, during Roof’s bond hearing,
Thompson (and two other family members) publicly forgave him for
killing their loved ones. His forgiveness and Christian testimony
stunned a nation, and Charleston responded with unanticipated love and compassion, black and white, Christian and Jew, standing together and making a powerful statement for racial reconciliation. It’s a forgiveness and a reconciliation our nation desperately needs in the midst of today’s volatile, divided and ideologically-driven culture.

In this personal and moving episode of The Walk, Rev. Anthony Thompson talks to John I. Snyder about the tragic loss of his wife in the Charleston church shooting and the power of forgiveness. While the murder of his wife devastated Anthony Thompson, he and three other relatives of the victims chose to privately and publicly forgive the shooter. Years later, the church and community still struggle to understand the family members’ deliberate choice to forgive the racist murderer. But as Charlestonians have witnessed these incredible acts of forgiveness, something significant has happened to the community – black and white leaders and residents have united, coming together peaceably and even showing acts of selfless love.

Click here to order Rev. Thompson’s book, Called to Forgive: The Charleston Church Shooting, a Victim’s Husband, and the Path to Healing and Peace.

About The Walk: The Walk is about our faith walk, the way we live out our faith in our daily life. Pastor and author John I. Snyder brings some of his conversations of faith from all aspects with writers, pastors, friends, musicians, entrepreneurs, and others.

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John I. Snyder

John I. Snyder: Born and raised in California, John is an international pastor, conference speaker, and bestselling author of Who Does Not Fight Has Already Lost: Why and How to Be a Christian Now, A Series of Fortunate Events: A Christmas Devotional, and Sheltered With God: Finding God’s Peace in a World of Fear from Theology Mix, Resenting God: Escape the Downward Spiral of Blame from Abingdon Press and Your 100 Day Prayer: The Transforming Power of Actively Waiting on God from Thomas Nelson Publishers. John received his Master of Theology and Master of Divinity degrees from Princeton Theological Seminary in Princeton, New Jersey, and he received his Doctor of Theology degree magna cum laude in New Testament Studies from the University of Basel, Switzerland. He has pastored and planted churches in California, New York, New Jersey, Virginia, and Switzerland, training pastors and leaders in evangelism, prayer, outreach, and building healthy churches. John has been featured on Focus on the Family, Moody Radio, Fox News, Faith Radio Network, Cru, American Family Radio Network, In the Market with Janet Parshall, The Bottom Line with Roger Marsh, Miracle Channel, Bill Martinez Live, and many more. John is host of the podcast The Walk. The Walk is about our faith walk and how we live out our faith in our daily lives. It brings together conversations of faith from all aspects with writers, pastors, friends, musicians, entrepreneurs, and others. Inspiring guests include George Barna, Rev. Anthony Thompson, Dr. John Lennox, Rev. Percy McCray, Deb Wolfe, Ty Manns, and many more.

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