Inviting you into the heart of inspirational experiences and unforgettable testimonies, Conversations will spark your curiosity and encourage you in your walk with God.

<p>Inviting you into the heart of inspirational experiences and unforgettable testimonies, Conversations will spark your curiosity and encourage you in your walk with God.</p>

<p>Free sharing permitted under the Creative Commons <a rel="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/us/">BY-NC-ND 3.0 (US)</a> license.</p>

It Is Written

John Bradshaw

Conversation with Anthony B. Thompson

In June of 2015, Pastor Anthony Thompson's world was turned upside down.

But he has allowed God to take that tragedy and use it to touch lives all over the world for good.

Well, thank you for being here to do this.

I wonder if you'd take me back to June of 2015.

Walk me back through the events that took place on June 17 and leading up to that time?

Well, on June 17, 2015, prior to the Bible study for that night, Myra was just at home Trying to get her Bible study lesson together.

She had everything spread over the dining room table she's a perfectionist she wanted to get 100% and Totally you can get 99 but not a hundred She wanted me to help her.

I was like I had enough of this and But something unusual was going on that morning because she had this glow about her and I found out later on what it was But at the time I didn't understand.

And she had this overwhelming smile and joy.

And I wanted to ask her, but then I said I'll wait until she returns from Bible study.

Because I wanted her to keep that moment.

You know, it was just a beautiful moment.

Then all of a sudden she's ready to go and we never leave the house without saying, hugging each other at the door, kissing, love you, goodbye.

For some reason, she got to the door and I just couldn't get there.

And I could hear her saying, honey, come on, I'm getting ready to go.

You know, I can't leave the house until you come to the door.

And she's walking to the car and I could hear her outside saying, okay, I'm to the car.

Next thing I know, she's talking to somebody on the phone.

I found out later on, she was talking to our daughter who was in Charlotte at the time, but I didn't know that then.

How did you find out about what had happened at Mother Emanuel Church that night?

Well, I was here because we had a vacation Bible school for the first night.

As a matter of fact, she's the 1 who told me to come because I wanted to be at the Bible study, her first Bible study.

And we always support each other, but for some reason that night, She kept telling me she didn't want me to go.

She said you go to your church She said because it's gonna be the first night and the ladies may have a lot of drama going on And and I said really and so that got me to come here.

So you may well have been at the church that night.

And for some reason I told her I was coming and I don't even know why I told her because normally she would expect me to be there.

So I wouldn't have to say I'm coming, but I just blurted it out.

And she said, daughter wants you to come.

And we went back and forth like for about 5 minutes was I'm coming no you're not coming I'm coming no you're not coming.

So I didn't understand it at that time Of course afterwards I understood it very well.

And for some reason I couldn't get away from here to get to the Bible study that night.

And so upon leaving here I went home thinking she would be there before me because normally on Wednesdays she'll get home before I do.

I remember her saying she wanted a certain kind of food so I ran out to get that to make sure I have it when she gets home and I'm thinking she would get home she would be there by the time I get back, she still wasn't there.

1 of the members from Emmanuel Church called and said, well first she called, she said she wanted to speak to Myra.

She said, well she has to be home, We just had a meeting.

So Myra left the meeting, went to Bible study.

And so she told me to hold on the phone because somebody else was ringing her She came back to the phone.

I said well, I just left my church She said no Emmanuel.

He says shooting is going on around the church and I just dropped everything ran out of the door.

Got there like 1 of the first responders because we're like 5 minutes away from Emmanuel.

And I ran into a police officer, had the street blocked.

By the time he and I exchanged conversation about what was going on, he told me that they took everybody out of the church, took them to the hotel, which was adjacent to Emmanuel, right across the street.

So I take another street, jump out of the car, and I'm running down Meany Street, which is where I'm at now.

I'm passing this service station, and I see 9 ambulances strategically parked, no lights, nobody's sitting aside.

So I'm thinking he didn't tell me everything because you know I was an retired agent for 27 years, been in situations like that so I knew something else was wrong.

Anyway, I proceeded to the hotel, got there, trying to find out where everybody is.

I got to a room, opened the door, and I saw it was Polly Shepard, who was 1 of the survivors.

She had her head laying down and she was just upset, I mean crying.

Then I looked to my left and I saw Sister Felicia Sanders and her granddaughter.

There were 2 other survivors and they didn't see me.

I mean they're just crying and consoling each other.

And so I'm trying to figure out where's my wife and where's everybody else.

And then on my way out of the door, Felicia sat and just turned around and looked at me.

I'm like, okay, I'll wait till she gets back.

I said, I told you I'll wait till she gets back.

She said, no, Anthony, she's not here anymore, she's gone.

Tell me what goes through your mind, no way.

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Conversation with Anthony B. Thompson

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