Podcaster, advocate, and peacemaker Osheta Moore releases debut book, Shalom Sistas

News release
October 5, 2017

Podcaster, advocate, and peacemaker Osheta Moore releases debut book, Shalom Sistas

HARRISONBURG, Va.—In her timely debut book, Shalom Sistas: Living Wholeheartedly in a Brokenhearted World, Osheta Moore sheds light on being a peacemaker in a world of violence, alienation, and injustice. Publishers Weekly, in a starred review, says that “fans of Elizabeth Cunningham, Anne Lamott, and Nadia Bolz-Weber will be delighted with this new, exciting voice.”

When Moore and her husband lost everything to Hurricane Katrina and found themselves relocated to a new city, she made the life-changing decision to become a “seeker of shalom.” Assuming herself to already be a peacemaker, Moore took a bold step and threw herself into her Bible and intensively studied the word peace for 40 days.

“Shalom Sistas is the book I wish I had 10 years ago when I stood at our kitchen sink in Boston and realized that the life we lived as urban missionaries in New Orleans was over because of Hurricane Katrina—we lost our occupation as peacemakers to the storm,” says Moore.

There were more adventures ahead. “I certainly didn’t feel like I had the sweet and passive disposition of a peacemaker in our little suburb, so I was left with one big question: If Jesus is my Prince of Peace, what does that mean for me now?” Moore says.

Shalom Sistas is the story of what happened after Moore asked God to help her make peace with peace. “In the book, you’ll see how God used the Hebraic concept of shalom—God’s dream of wholeness for you and for me—to show me I can be a peacemaker right in my everyday life,” says Moore. “You’ll also see how this releases the pressure gauge of ‘not enough,’ which so many of us feel when faced with brokenness in ourselves and in the world.”

Moore takes readers through her Shalom Sista Manifesto, 12 guideposts for living wholeheartedly in a brokenhearted world. The manifesto includes points such as “We are beloved,” “We will rest,” and “We will choose subversive joy.” Readers may race to the end of the book for Moore’s “Shalom Steps,” practical ways people can practice shalom. She also includes a few special recipes in the book, like her famous red beans and rice.

Shannan Martin, author of Falling Free, says, “Shalom Sistas made me want to stand up and cheer! Only Osheta Moore could land these powerful soul truths with such humor and grace.”

Melanie Dale, author of It’s Not Fair and Women Are Scary, writes, “Osheta’s shalom is strong and opinionated; there’s nothing passive or saccharine about it.”

Shalom Sistas includes a foreword by author and blogger Sarah Bessy, and a free online study guide by Abby Perry for small groups, Sunday school, or individual study.

Osheta Moore is a writer and podcaster, as well as wife to an urban pastor, mother of three, and economic justice advocate for women in developing countries. Moore has consistently been a voice for peacemaking, justice, and racial reconciliation. Her work has been featured on numerous websites and blogs, including Sojourners, SheLoves Magazine, A Deeper Story, The Art of Simple, ReKnew, and Rachel Held Evans’s blog. Connect with her at shalominthecity.com.

Shalom Sistas is available from Herald Press for $15.99 (paperback) via 800‑245‑7894, the Herald Press webstore at www.HeraldPress.com, Amazon, and other online sources. Canadian customers can order from CommonWord (877‑846‑1593), Parasource (800‑263‑2664), and elsewhere.

See her video book trailer here describing the Shalom Manifesto.

To schedule an interview with Osheta Moore, contact LeAnn Hamby at 540‑908‑3941 or [email protected]. Media contact: Jeane Wynn, Wynn-Wynn Media, LLC, 918‑283‑1834 or [email protected].