When white supremacist Dylann Roof entered The Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church in Charleston, S.C. on June 17, 2015 and murdered nine black parishioners, the aftermath shocked the world. At Roof’s first bond hearing, family members of the victims forgave Roof. So stunned by their ability to forgive, then-President Obama attended the AME members’ funeral service and sang some impromptu lines from “Amazing Grace.” Rev. Anthony B. Thompson was one of those family members, the husband of Myra Thompson, who was murdered by Roof. Rev. Thompson joined Bold TV to discuss his upcoming book, “Called to Forgive: The Charleston Church Shooting, a Victim’s Husband, and the Path to Healing and Peace.” “I discovered that the forgiveness was for me,” said Rev. Thompson, who told Bold TV that after forgiving Roof, he felt all anger and hate immediately leave his body and never return. “Forgiveness is all about the victim. It’s not about the perpetrator.” Rev. Thompson said he sent Roof a letter about his wife, Myra and told him what she was like. Thompson even offered to meet with Roof to give him spiritual advice. “I have a peace now like no other,” Rev. Thompson said. “It releases you from everything…
See original post: Family Member of Charleston Shooting: This New Year, Forgiving Others Will Free You