On Saturday, February 1, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. the Gerton Fire Station at 4975 Gerton Hwy., Gerton, NC 28735 will host the book launch of The Deep End of Hope in the Wake of Hurricane Helene: 40 Days and Nights of Survival and Transformation. 

Published by GracePoint Publishing’s Evolve Press, this is the first book on the market about what happened in Western North Carolina in the wake of Hurricane Helene.

Event Speakers include John Ager, Former Representative, NC House; Kevin King, Executive Director of Mennonite Disaster Service; and Pamela Prince-Eason, President and CEO of Women’s Business Enterprise National Council.

Malaprop’s Bookstore will be onsite selling books. The author will be available for book signing. The event is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served. The event is sponsored by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council.

Timothy Moffitt, State Senator for Henderson, Rutherford, and Polk Counties said, "This book is a must read for politicians and legislators, as well as disaster relief organizations and business leaders, to understand the true impact of living through such a horrendous event and the long term recovery implications.”

Kevin King, Executive Director of Mennonite Disaster Service said, “This book is a must read by every disaster response organization and their constituents including volunteers and donors.”

With raw honesty and unexpected humor, Emma chronicles her role as a trauma chaplain in her community of Gerton, NC as it is forced to build itself anew. Without power, phones, or internet, they teetered between chaos and unity. As lawlessness emerged and desperation mounted, Emma made a choice that would change everything: to transform her fear into a fierce kind of love. Part survival story, part love letter to human resilience, this unforgettable memoir shows us what's possible when crisis strips away our differences and reveals our shared humanity. In a world increasingly divided, Emma's story reminds us that our greatest strength lies not in our independence, but in our connections to each other.

A portion of the book proceeds will go to Mennonite Disaster Service, as they were one of the first groups in Gerton helping with recovery efforts.

Emma M. Churchman, MDiv is a beacon of resilience and transformation. With over 25 years of experience as a spiritual and business leader, Emma has guided thousands through the labyrinth of trauma to reclaim hope and strength. Her powerful work as a trauma chaplain and mentor is rooted in her own journey of overcoming acute childhood adversity.