When Thoughts and Prayers Aren't Enough

A Shooting Survivor's Journey into the Realities of Gun Violence

By: Taylor Schumann

Narrated by: Lisa Larsen

Taylor Schumann never thought she'd be a victim of gun violence. But one spring day a man with a shotgun walked into her workplace and opened fire on her. While she survived, she was left with permanent wounds, both visible and invisible.

In When Thoughts and Prayers Aren't Enough, Taylor invites us to see what it means to be a survivor after the news vehicles drive away and the media moves on. Healing is slow and complicated. As she suffered through surgeries, grueling rehabilitation, and counseling to repair the physical injuries and emotional trauma, she came face-to-face with the deep and lasting impact of gun violence. As she began grappling with the realities, Taylor experienced another painful truth: Christians have largely been absent from this issue. Gun violence undercuts God's vision of abundant life and community - and the silence of the church rings loudly in the ears of survivors and families of victims.

Taylor weaves her own incredible story of survival and recovery into a larger conversation about gun violence in our country. With compassion and honesty, she encourages listeners to reconsider their own engagement with the issue and to join her in envisioning a more hopeful, safer future for our nation. Move beyond thoughts and prayers and enter into grace-filled dialogue and action.

©2021 Taylor Sharpe Schumann (P)2021 eChristian

powerful, thoughtful and informative

I loves this book. I ran through tears and rage and hope. I love the kind of Christian that Taylor presents. She is not preachy but her faith is beautiful, and in this day especially, so hopefully.

Story-driven and well-balanced

Taylor’s story and research hit deep. As a parent of a medically fragile and special needs child, I not only learned the perspective of a survivor of a mass shooting, but felt seen in many ways as she described how your life is changed in ways many people just won’t understand.

I live in Arizona and have gun culture all around. Her balanced perspective on understanding the culture but calling out the ways it is too much was refreshing. As a Christian who is relatively new to the gun control conversation, the practical tips and Christ-centric perspective was very helpful.

I wish more people would read this

I Live in a state that is very "God Guns and Trump" This book helps with so many talking points to help people understand gun reform from someone who believes in God but doesnt believe that gun Violence is his answer.

must listen

This is a must listen for people on both sides of the gun reform issue. It’s full of facts and education to better understand the practical action steps and why they’ll work.

I appreciate this very personal story of senseless gun violence!

Thank you Mrs Schumann for your brave fight for LIFE❤️ May God continue to bless and protect you as you glorify HIM in your very common sense fight against America’s love affair with guns. I appreciate all your very venerable personal stories and all your very practical suggestions towards a safer America !