The Light Shines in the Darkness: Choosing Hope After a Mass Shooting

“You cannot read this book without being moved to tears as you behold a community responding to horror and trauma with grace, humility, courage, and faith. If anyone is searching for testimony about what being a Christian means in contemporary America, they should begin here. I often say, ‘If it can’t be happy, make it beautiful.’ I’ve never read a more eloquent example of that statement than this elegant and stirring volume."—The Rev. Dr. Samuel Wells, Vicar, St. Martin-in-the-Fields, LondonWith bravery, faithfulness, and beauty, the authors of The Light Shines in the Darkness illuminate the varied ways that individuals respond to traumatic events and try to make meaning of them. This is an important read for anyone who is curious about how trauma impacts people of faith and the plurality of ways in which they respond. - The Rev. Danielle Tumminio Hansen, Ph.D., Candler School of Theology, Emory University Assistant Professor of Practical Theology and Spiritual Care; Director of the Chaplaincy Concentration“And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love” (1 Cor 13:13). These reflections on tragedy offer a powerful witness to this beautiful truth. In the St. Stephen’s community, faith, hope, and love abide. Violence, pain, and suffering could not extinguish them; no, these honest and heartfelt testimonies proclaim, they increased them. And, indeed, the greatest of these is love.- Will Kynes, Ph.D., Professor of Biblical Studies, Samford University On June 16, 2022, a church potluck dinner turned into a murder scene. Between the main course and dessert, a visitor opened fire, inexplicably killing three beloved members of Saint Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Birmingham, Alabama.Although the shooting devastated the community, it did not defeat them. From the first hour after the shooting, members of the church made the conscious decision not to focus on vengeance but to choose the way of love.These essays, written by survivors, family members, and others, offer poignant, powerful insight into the grief, loss, and fear surrounding a mass shooting. The essays and photographs also point to hope and life. The writers share how they have reclaimed their church as sacred space, overcome fear and anger, and relied on their faith as a beacon, shining light in the darkness.This is not an easy book to read—but it is an important one, one that will inspire you with the faith and hope expressed by the people of Saint Stephen's. They are survivors, not victims, determined to honor their family and friends with love and light.All profits support the ministries of Saint Stephen's Church. Read more