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For Such a Time as This: Hope and Forgiveness After the Charleston Massacre
Featured on the TODAY Show and MSNBC Live … the inspirational memoir from the woman who lost her mother, two cousins, and several friends in the racially-motivated Charleston Church massacre of 2015. How can you forgive the unforgiveable??
The instant her phone rang, Reverend Sharon Risher sensed something was horribly wrong. Something had happened at Emanuel AME Church, the church of her youth in Charleston, South Carolina, and she knew her mother was likely in the church at Bible study. Even before she heard the news, her chaplain's instinct told her the awful her mother was dead, along with two cousins. What she couldn't imagine was that they had been murdered by a white supremacist. Plunged into the depths of mourning and anger and shock, Sharon could have wallowed in the pain. Instead, she chose the path of forgiveness and hope - eventually forgiving the convicted killer for his crime.
In this powerful memoir of faith, family, and loss, Sharon begins the story with her mother, Ethel Lee Lance, seeking refuge in the church from poverty and scorn and raising her family despite unfathomable violence that rattled Sharon to her core years later; how Sharon overcame her own struggles and answered the call to ministry; and how, in the loss of her dear mother, Sharon has become a nationally known speaker as she shares her raw, riveting, story of losing loved ones to gun violence and racism.
Sharon's story is a story of How an anonymous hospital chaplain was thrust into the national spotlight, joining survivors of other gun-related horrors as reluctant speakers for a heartbroken social-justice movement. As she recounts her grief and the struggle to forgive the killer, Risher learns to trust God's timing and lean on God's loving presence to guide her steps. Where her faith journey leads her is surprising and inspiring, as she finds a renewed purpose to her life in the company of other survivors.
Risher has been interviewed by Time Magazine, Marie-Claire, Essence, Guardian-BCC Radio, CNN, and other media sources. She regularly shares her story on American college campuses and racial-reconciliation events. "To Forgive a Killer," her essay as told to Abigail Pesta published in Notre Dame Magazine, won the 2018 Front Page Award for Essay published in a Magazine, awarded by the Newswomen's Club of New York.
The instant her phone rang, Reverend Sharon Risher sensed something was horribly wrong. Something had happened at Emanuel AME Church, the church of her youth in Charleston, South Carolina, and she knew her mother was likely in the church at Bible study. Even before she heard the news, her chaplain's instinct told her the awful her mother was dead, along with two cousins. What she couldn't imagine was that they had been murdered by a white supremacist. Plunged into the depths of mourning and anger and shock, Sharon could have wallowed in the pain. Instead, she chose the path of forgiveness and hope - eventually forgiving the convicted killer for his crime.
In this powerful memoir of faith, family, and loss, Sharon begins the story with her mother, Ethel Lee Lance, seeking refuge in the church from poverty and scorn and raising her family despite unfathomable violence that rattled Sharon to her core years later; how Sharon overcame her own struggles and answered the call to ministry; and how, in the loss of her dear mother, Sharon has become a nationally known speaker as she shares her raw, riveting, story of losing loved ones to gun violence and racism.
Sharon's story is a story of How an anonymous hospital chaplain was thrust into the national spotlight, joining survivors of other gun-related horrors as reluctant speakers for a heartbroken social-justice movement. As she recounts her grief and the struggle to forgive the killer, Risher learns to trust God's timing and lean on God's loving presence to guide her steps. Where her faith journey leads her is surprising and inspiring, as she finds a renewed purpose to her life in the company of other survivors.
Risher has been interviewed by Time Magazine, Marie-Claire, Essence, Guardian-BCC Radio, CNN, and other media sources. She regularly shares her story on American college campuses and racial-reconciliation events. "To Forgive a Killer," her essay as told to Abigail Pesta published in Notre Dame Magazine, won the 2018 Front Page Award for Essay published in a Magazine, awarded by the Newswomen's Club of New York.
125 pages, Paperback
Published June 4, 2019
17 people are currently reading
134 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
July 23, 2019
When I heard about FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS, I knew I needed to read it. I remember hearing about the shooting in Charleston and feeling deeply disturbed at the boldness and actions of the killer. Rev. Risher tells the story of her family and her journey through grief toward healing with courage and very straight talk. This isn’t a flowery, feel-good story. It’s raw and real, full of struggle, humanity, and faith.
Risher wades into political waters as she describes her personal evolution into an advocate for sensible gun laws and for racial equality in the United States. Hearing her perspective on why she travels the country speaking and how she developed her message moved me, too. It made me think about the way I have conversations with people.
She suggests beginning with a common ground. What is something that both parties agree on? Find that common ground and then build on it. I’m hoping to put this into practice in my own life as I have conversations about social issues with people I care about.
Risher’s frank discussion of racism in America left me with chills. Her calls to action to learn to have difficult conversations, to keep talking about racial issues even when we’re uncomfortable, stick with me even after the pages of the book are closed. I agree with her, and I want to find appropriate ways to be part of those conversations, too.
All in all, I think FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS is a must-read for anyone in America. This shooting happened here, perpetrated by a man with abhorrent ideas, ones shared by too many other people. After an event like that, I find myself wondering what to do, or how to respond. I think this book does a lot toward equipping people to do those very things.
Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Risher wades into political waters as she describes her personal evolution into an advocate for sensible gun laws and for racial equality in the United States. Hearing her perspective on why she travels the country speaking and how she developed her message moved me, too. It made me think about the way I have conversations with people.
She suggests beginning with a common ground. What is something that both parties agree on? Find that common ground and then build on it. I’m hoping to put this into practice in my own life as I have conversations about social issues with people I care about.
Risher’s frank discussion of racism in America left me with chills. Her calls to action to learn to have difficult conversations, to keep talking about racial issues even when we’re uncomfortable, stick with me even after the pages of the book are closed. I agree with her, and I want to find appropriate ways to be part of those conversations, too.
All in all, I think FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS is a must-read for anyone in America. This shooting happened here, perpetrated by a man with abhorrent ideas, ones shared by too many other people. After an event like that, I find myself wondering what to do, or how to respond. I think this book does a lot toward equipping people to do those very things.
Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
August 25, 2019
On June 17, 2015, a young White Supremacist named Dylan Roof visited a Bible study at Emmanuel AME Church in Charleston, SC. He was invited to participate in the study, but when the group stood to pray, he pulled out a gun and began shooting. Before he finished shooting the gathered members of this study group nine people were dead, including the pastor. Among the dead was Ethel Lance. "For Such a Time Like This" is in part her story, but it is more than that.
The author of this book, the Rev. Sharon Risher, is the daughter of Ethel Lance. She tells the story of this horrific event from the perspective of a family survivor. She writes as well from the perspective of one who has been trained to be a pastor, and who at the time of this tragic event was a hospital chaplain. The book is raw at times. It will push and pull at the reader. We experience through her life some of what it felt like to go through all of this. We see how something like this can bring people together, but it can also tear people apart. It can enhance faith and it can challenge it.
What Rev. Risher does is set the story of her mother's murder in a broader context of family, church, and community. We learn the role that Ethel Lance played in her families life, and how devastating it has been to have her removed from the family. As many know families are fragile. We don't all agree on things, and when the glue is removed, that can make difficult situations even more difficult. Such is the case here. There has been division within the family that has yet to be healed. Again the rawness.
At the same time this is a story of faith. Rev. Risher's mother wasn't always an active church member, but when she found Jesus, she immersed herself in the life of the church, so it's not surprising that she was there that evening when this study group gathered. This was her life. As for the author, she brings her own faith journey into the story, and as we learn she had her own difficult pathway to faith. She had great dreams but struggled with addiction. Through it all her mother stood with her as an encouragement. That loss thus is great.
The subtitle of the book speaks of hope and forgiveneness. This is a book about both, but both are not easily experienced. First the forgiveness. One of the themes that emerged out of the shooting was the declaration of forgiveness made by some of the families toward Dylan Roof (who as we learn in some detail here didn't ask for and actually mocked). The first to make that declaration was Rev. Risher's sister, but forgiveness was much slower in coming for Risher. In fact, this became a point of discord within the family and between the families. But, the conversation here about the process of forgiveness is important. We all get there at different speeds and in different ways. She did find a way of making that declaration, but it was a process and was for her own spiritual health -- not for Dylan Roof.
As for hope, this emerges in the book in the form of friendships formed afterward with activists who are addressing racism and gun violence, two concerns that Risher took up in the aftermath of the shootings. She decided early on that she simply couldn't return to her chaplaincy position. It would be too difficult, but she found a new calling in advocating for gun safety laws and for combatting racism.
This is an important book. It's raw. It's direct. It reveals family realities and realities of the church. While many made much of the offers of forgiveness, the real story is the call to a new ministry -- one that seeks to build coalitions that will stop gun violence and move us to a truly anti-racist reality.
The author of this book, the Rev. Sharon Risher, is the daughter of Ethel Lance. She tells the story of this horrific event from the perspective of a family survivor. She writes as well from the perspective of one who has been trained to be a pastor, and who at the time of this tragic event was a hospital chaplain. The book is raw at times. It will push and pull at the reader. We experience through her life some of what it felt like to go through all of this. We see how something like this can bring people together, but it can also tear people apart. It can enhance faith and it can challenge it.
What Rev. Risher does is set the story of her mother's murder in a broader context of family, church, and community. We learn the role that Ethel Lance played in her families life, and how devastating it has been to have her removed from the family. As many know families are fragile. We don't all agree on things, and when the glue is removed, that can make difficult situations even more difficult. Such is the case here. There has been division within the family that has yet to be healed. Again the rawness.
At the same time this is a story of faith. Rev. Risher's mother wasn't always an active church member, but when she found Jesus, she immersed herself in the life of the church, so it's not surprising that she was there that evening when this study group gathered. This was her life. As for the author, she brings her own faith journey into the story, and as we learn she had her own difficult pathway to faith. She had great dreams but struggled with addiction. Through it all her mother stood with her as an encouragement. That loss thus is great.
The subtitle of the book speaks of hope and forgiveneness. This is a book about both, but both are not easily experienced. First the forgiveness. One of the themes that emerged out of the shooting was the declaration of forgiveness made by some of the families toward Dylan Roof (who as we learn in some detail here didn't ask for and actually mocked). The first to make that declaration was Rev. Risher's sister, but forgiveness was much slower in coming for Risher. In fact, this became a point of discord within the family and between the families. But, the conversation here about the process of forgiveness is important. We all get there at different speeds and in different ways. She did find a way of making that declaration, but it was a process and was for her own spiritual health -- not for Dylan Roof.
As for hope, this emerges in the book in the form of friendships formed afterward with activists who are addressing racism and gun violence, two concerns that Risher took up in the aftermath of the shootings. She decided early on that she simply couldn't return to her chaplaincy position. It would be too difficult, but she found a new calling in advocating for gun safety laws and for combatting racism.
This is an important book. It's raw. It's direct. It reveals family realities and realities of the church. While many made much of the offers of forgiveness, the real story is the call to a new ministry -- one that seeks to build coalitions that will stop gun violence and move us to a truly anti-racist reality.
August 16, 2019
In this book, the Rev. Sharon Risher opens up her life to the reader. She shares stories of her childhood, her journey with the church, and the powerful presence of her mother, Mrs. Ethel Lee Lance. She also shares the unbearable experience of finding out that her mother was one of the nine people killed by a white supremacist in their Charleston church on June 17, 2015. This is not an easy book to read, especially when unthinkable acts of gun violence and racism continue to happen in our country over and over again. It is, however, an important book to read because Sharon approaches her story with an openness, honesty, and faithfulness that brings the reader into her experiences and then pushes us out to take action. I know Sharon from her time as a student at Austin Seminary and her continued work with the school, and this book is 100% her wonderful, real, funny, thoughtful, and present self. She wrestles with being pushed into a national spotlight after a horrible tragedy; getting to meet the Obamas while processing intense personal grief; dealing with family rifts that are made even larger with the absence of her mother; and needing to forgive on her own time, even if it doesn't match what the media or the public seem to want from her. It is such a gift to be able to share Sharon's journey through this book, and I hope her hard work in spreading this message pushes those of us who feel like we'll never be touched by racist fools or senseless gun violence to act.
November 8, 2021
I couldn't put it down
This book is about a tragedy that I remember being absolutely shaken by. I'll never forget how helpless I felt the day I learned of the Charlston chuch shooting. I thought this would be a difficult book to read. It is so beautifully written that I finished it in one evening. I cried in parts, but closing the book didn't occur to me. The author bares her soul, flaws and all, embraces her own humanity, and lights up the page with inspiration and the call to become better people, led by love. She says that thoughts and prayers are appreciated, but the prayers need to have feet to get anywhere. That's where our actions come in. She challeges us to love one another and to do our best. My new mantra on difficult days is now, "I am better than this circumstance." I don't think I have any excuses left for not striving to pick myself up and do my best each day. I would like to thank the author, Reverend Risher, for opening her heart and serving humanity with her wisdom , experience, and grace.
This book is about a tragedy that I remember being absolutely shaken by. I'll never forget how helpless I felt the day I learned of the Charlston chuch shooting. I thought this would be a difficult book to read. It is so beautifully written that I finished it in one evening. I cried in parts, but closing the book didn't occur to me. The author bares her soul, flaws and all, embraces her own humanity, and lights up the page with inspiration and the call to become better people, led by love. She says that thoughts and prayers are appreciated, but the prayers need to have feet to get anywhere. That's where our actions come in. She challeges us to love one another and to do our best. My new mantra on difficult days is now, "I am better than this circumstance." I don't think I have any excuses left for not striving to pick myself up and do my best each day. I would like to thank the author, Reverend Risher, for opening her heart and serving humanity with her wisdom , experience, and grace.
July 21, 2019
So grateful that Rev. Sharon Risher put her honest, painful, tearful, agonizing, heartfelt, loving and moving feelings and words on paper, for sharing her truth and following her heart where she knew she will make the most change. Her words and actions gave me much depth in the facts around the “Emanuel Nine” deaths by gun violence, and horrific insight into the racism that spurred this horrific slaughter of innocent gun violence victims in a beloved, historic black church in Charleston.
I am grateful to be part of the army of “prayers with feet” in Everytown’s national movement against gun violence and yes, sadly also against racism. Sending much love to Rev Risher and all the survivors of that preventable tragedy. As a volunteer in Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America I will Keep Going to see the change we need in this world.
I am grateful to be part of the army of “prayers with feet” in Everytown’s national movement against gun violence and yes, sadly also against racism. Sending much love to Rev Risher and all the survivors of that preventable tragedy. As a volunteer in Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America I will Keep Going to see the change we need in this world.
March 18, 2019
I love reading biographies and memoirs and this book by Reverend Sharon Risher was an absolute pleasure to read. As she takes the reader back to the devastation of a shooting in Charleston a few years back when a white man killed nine African American people during a Wednesday night Bible study, her raw emotions and her journey of faith and forgiveness is expressed in every page. Such a powerful read that challenged me on deep topics like gun control laws, racism and how I can make effective change as a Christian. Highly recommend.
May 15, 2019
I’m a gun violence prevention activist and a pastor, so I was looking forward to reading Rev Risher’s book. It is an intimate look into her family’s lives from her childhood to the Mother Immanuel shootings and the years that came after. She doesn’t back away from her own personal struggles, strained family relationships or from the difficult process of forgiving her mothers killer. Her honesty is compelling. Her strength in being an accidental activist is inspiring.
November 10, 2019
For as much as the author gets right, she is incorrect in her using the term "Sikh Muslim"on page 70....Sikhs are not Muslims.
On page 114 the author mentions Bria Smith of Milwaukee...Ms. Smith is a teen age activist who is a speaker and up comer in several organizations...so why haven't I heard of her? Is our local media (TV, radio, newspapers) ignoring her?? What else are we not hearing about and from whom have we not heard?
On page 114 the author mentions Bria Smith of Milwaukee...Ms. Smith is a teen age activist who is a speaker and up comer in several organizations...so why haven't I heard of her? Is our local media (TV, radio, newspapers) ignoring her?? What else are we not hearing about and from whom have we not heard?
September 21, 2022
This book about gun violence and racism speaks to us all. Reverend Susan Risher lost her mother in the terrible shootings in Charleston AME Church. Risher was a chaplain in Texas when this happened. Her story and the stories of so many during these violent gun shootings should make us all push for changes in gun laws and changes in how we treat other people. This is definitely a must read and a book that should be discussed to help push for changes.
January 21, 2020
The shooting at Emmanuel AME Church in Charleston reverberated through the world. This very personal perspective from the daughter of one of the victims was striking and powerful to read. This book was real and raw, with a moving message about racism, forgiveness and activism. I love reading memoirs and true life stories, and this one was no exception. Very well done!
June 25, 2022
My church's Andrew's Readers Book Club read this book for our June selection. I lead the discussion at our meeting. I emailed the author and she gave me 4 questions to get me started on our discussion. Our discussion lasted almost 2 hours. It was about racial violence, gun control and forgiveness. It went very well. So well that we forgot to eat the treat until it was time to leave.
February 22, 2025
This story is about a clergy woman (chaplain) who was able to come to a place of forgiveness for Dylan Roof who killed her mother and cousin in the hate crime at the church in Charleston, SC. This book is an honest look at how one's faith can inform their understanding and ability to forgive. It shows that forgiveness is often a messy process and reviews the feelings around such a brave act.
August 11, 2019
Very good book! Fair warning you will cry during parts of this book! However it is worth it.
November 12, 2019
Torn about this book. Think the author wrote this book as a type of therapy and to explain her side of the story. Some insights but not what I was looking for
March 4, 2021
A powerful story, but it could have used a stronger editor.
February 28, 2022
Reverend Sharon Risher is working as a hospital chaplain when she receives a phone call that will change her life. There had been a shooting at the Mother Emanuel AME Church in South Carolina and her mother, cousin, and friend had been among the victims. This is the powerful story of how Rev. Risher works through the pain and anger to come to a place of forgiveness at the same time she becomes a national figure in the fight for gin law reform. A compelling story!
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April 7, 20252020 NSDA DI Finalist
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews