After the fire came a sound of sheer silence. 

When the civil rights movement shook the United States, Churches of Christ largely remained silent. Only a few brave voices dared to speak out. Historian Wes Crawford, drawing inspiration from the prophet Elijah's discovery of God's presence in the "sheer silence," invites readers to explore this era and the largely overlooked stories of a handful of ministers who risked everything to challenge racism within the church. 

Crawford's groundbreaking work begins with twentieth-century church leaders who openly supported White supremacy or turned a blind eye. Under their watchful guidance, they carefully managed the cultural engagement of Churches of Christ through colleges, journals, and lectureship gatherings. He then highlights the lesser-known heroes, like Carl Spain, John Allen Chalk, Walter Burch, Dwain Evans, and Bud Stumbaugh, who spoke out against the establishment at high personal and professional costs. Their sacrifices and bravery offer lessons that resonate to this day. 

Wes Crawford is an Associate Professor of Church History at ACU, where he also directs the Center for Restoration Studies and serves as the Vice Provost. He spent twenty years as a preaching minister in Texas, splitting time between the Broadway Church of Christ in Lubbock and Glenwood Church of Christ in Tyler. His research centers on American religion and the intersection of race and religion, which is the theme of his book Shattering the Illusion. Wes and his wife, Kim, have been married for over twenty years and have four children. 

"Often overlooked in the scholarship of religion and the civil rights movement was the engagement of the Churches of Christ. Shattering the Illusion remedies this major oversight through an honest analysis of the successes and shortcomings of Southern Christians, both Black and White, in confronting the inexorable challenges of the modern Black freedom struggle." 

-Dennis C. Dickerson, James M. Lawson Jr. professor of History, Vanderbilt University 

ISBN 9781684260133

Pages 208

Dimensions (inches) 6 x 9

Weight (pounds) .5