When They Were Mine - by Sheila Martin (Paperback)

About the Book

The result is a haunting account of one life, typical in its ups and downs, made atypical by a collision of faith with history.

Book Synopsis

When They Were Mine is the autobiography of Sheila Martin, a member of the Branch Davidian Church at the time of its apocalyptic encounter with the FBI in April, 1993. The assault resulted in a fire that killed 76 Branch Davidians, including 23 children. Sheila's husband and four oldest children died in the fire. Martin told the story of her life, both before and after the attack, to Catherine Wessinger, who then wrote this first-person narrative from the recordings of their sessions together. The result is a haunting account of one life, typical in its ups and downs, made atypical by a collision of faith with history.

Review Quotes

"Timely and absorbing. Like the best in this genre, this biography brilliantly positions Rauschenbusch in his own era."

--Harvey Cox, Hollis Professor of Divinity, Harvard Divinity School

This book is a tale well-told that helps readers understand the force of religious commitment.

-Rebecca Moore, Associate Professor of Religious Studies, San Diego State University

This is a story, told with both simplicity and dignity, of an incredible tragedy and an amazing faith.

-Eileen Barker, Professor Emeritus of Sociology with special reference to the Study of Religion, London School of Economics

This is a story, told with both simplicity and dignity, of an incredible tragedy and an amazing faith. We shall never fully comprehend how this incident could have happened, but Sheila Martin, assisted by Catherine Wessinger's sensitivity and perception, has added a critical and deeply moving dimension to our understanding. -- Eileen Barker

About the Author

Sheila Martin is a surviving Branch Davidian. She lost her husband and four oldest children in the fire on April 19, 1993 that ended the standoff between the Branch Davidians and federal agents. She continues to live and work in Waco, Texas.

Catherine Wessinger (Ph.D. University of Iowa) is the Rev. H. James Yamauchi, S.J. Professor of the History of Religions, Loyola University, New Orleans. She is the author/editor of six books, including most recently, Memoirs of the Branch Davidians: The Autobiography of David Koresh's Mother (2007), Millenialism, Persecution, and Violence: Historical Cases, Editor (2000), and Religious Institutions and Women's Leadership: New Roles Inside the Mainstream (1996).