FAITH NEWS SERVICE – Many repeat a sinner’s prayer and think that’s their guarantee to admittance to heaven. Author Denise Wilson says, “We aren’t saved by repeating a prayer. No one ever has been saved, or ever will be saved, apart from the conviction of sin, repentance, and true faith in the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ.” In a new release, Seven Words You Never Want to Hear: How to Be Sure You Won’t (Redemption Press), Wilson takes a hard look at assumptions people make about becoming a Christian.
She repeats the words of Jesus in Matthew 7:21: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 7:21). The book compares what the Bible actually says about becoming a Christian with popular thought. Wilson, a former missionary and church planter, examines the mystery of salvation, what being a Christian really means, and how to become one. She writes for those who may have prayed a sinner’s prayer but whose lives do not reflect a commitment to Christ—and for those who love them and are deeply concerned for their souls.
“The way a person lives give evidence of true faith, but does nothing towards gaining salvation,” says Wilson, a Bible teacher from Ontario, Canada. “The gospel changes everything—our beliefs, lifestyles, and priorities.” Lifestyle issues of greed, living for self, and what we love are held up against the biblical values of obedience, dying to self, and counting the cost, with reflective questions of each chapter.
Author Bio
Denise Wilson has been concerned about the issues discussed in this book for over thirty years. She has a BS in biblical studies from Emmaus Bible College. A former missionary and church planter, she leads Bible studies, speaks at women’s events, and is passionate about sharing her faith. This homeschool mom lives in small town Ontario, Canada, with her husband, two sons, and a whole bunch of chickens.
FAITH NEWS SERVICE – “Say thank you!” is one of the earliest lessons we learn as children when we receive a gift, but an attitude of gratitude is not just for the benefit of others. With its focus on thankful appreciation of the tangible and intangible good in our lives, gratitude is strongly associated with greater personal happiness and well-being.
According to Harvard Medical School, gratitude “helps people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships.” Helping people “refocus on what they have instead of what they lack,”* cultivating gratitude also goes hand in hand with developing emotional maturity.
Exposing children to the wonders of nature—God’s creation—is one way to help them mature in faith as they develop a sense of gratitude for and responsibility towards our shared world. In Good One, God, debut picture book author Stacy Leicht takes us on a fishing trip into the Gulf of Mexico with little Kelsey, her big brother Zach, and Grandad.
As they encounter nature’s marvels, such as great blue herons, terrapin turtles, and the salty sea that tastes just like potato chips, Grandad’s thankful “Good one, God!” prompts Kelsey to keep her eyes peeled for her own praise item. But Zach always beats her to the punch, and Kelsey worries she’ll miss out on thanking God. It takes a sudden insight into the human connectedness with nature for Kelsey to realize that she’s had something to be grateful for all along.
“I want children and adults to look at nature and see God’s amazing miracles in everyday life,” Stacy says. “My desire is for children and adults to see the minute details in small creatures, to see the incredible colors of birds and fish, and to know only God himself can make such beauty.”
This charming story not only highlights the natural beauty of the Gulf region, it also points to the value of intergenerational discussion about God’s good gifts and the importance of stewarding the earth he has entrusted to us.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Born in Dearborn, Michigan, Stacy Leicht grew up loving animals, nature, and books. She was an elementary school teacher and literacy curriculum facilitator for fifteen years before becoming an adjunct professor and then a supervisor in the Education Department at the University of North Carolina, Greensboro. Stacy lives with her husband, Rick, and their rescue dog, Bella, in North Carolina. She and Rick have two grown children. Stacy treasures time with her two grandchildren and loves reading, baking, and snorkeling at the beach.
FAITH NEWS SERVICE – According to a 2019 study by Pew Research, most Americans are familiar with key elements of Christian terminology, including the term “Trinity,” which refers to God in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.* But while most are familiar with its definition, the Trinity’s inexplicable concept is difficult to grasp.
John Wesley, father of the Methodist movement and evangelist in the 1700s, said, “Bring me a worm that can comprehend a man, and then I will show you a man that can comprehend the Triune God.”**
While acknowledging the difficulty of the concept of God in three persons, Larry Massa unpacks the mystery of the Holy Spirit’s role, from creation to eternity, in his new book, Indwelt. “There is a general lack of public knowledge about the Holy Spirit,” Massa says. “I have found that the majority of Christian teaching centers on Jesus, since He is the central figure in our salvation. I wanted to write a primer on the Holy Spirit to bring about an understanding of His impact both on the world and in our individual lives.”
Indwelt looks at the Holy’s Spirit’s role in creation and examines His involvement throughout the Old Testament, including the flood and a new nation through Abraham. It also chronicles the Holy Spirit’s manifestation in the New Testament, with the creation of the church as a body of believers, and provides an overview of their spiritual gifts. Massa also analyzes the Holy Spirit’s involvement in end times and eternity.
“The book focusses on the Holy Spirit throughout time but places special emphasis on how He can transform us to become more like Jesus and mature our faith,” Massa says. “When we give the Holy Spirit access to our lives, He will do amazing things and give power to our faith so that we live fruitful, joy-filled lives.”
Massa wrote Indwelt to provide a greater understanding of achieving spiritual maturity through the Holy Spirit and to glorify God.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Larry Massa is a longtime Christian leader and teacher with a passion for studying Christian scholars and apologetics. He has a gift for unraveling and explaining biblical complexities. Larry has written three other books as well as multiple articles and blog entries to facilitate deeper biblical understanding. He also encourages spiritual growth and maturity through his website, crazyaboutgod.com.
FAITH NEWS SERVICE – Each year approximately 175 peace officers are killed in the line of duty, from health-related issues, or other causes of death.* The year 2020 was especially deadly to the men and women in blue, because of the COVID-19 pandemic and an increase in violence due to protests and civil unrest. With every fallen officer, the aftermath is real. Grieving spouses are left to pick up the pieces, assuming the formal role of police widow or widower to honor their fallen hero.
April Katherman-Redgrave is the surviving widow of fallen San Jose Police Motors Officer Michael J. Katherman, and she knows what it means to survive the aftermath of losing her husband. In 2016 Officer Katherman was on patrol when another vehicle attempted to turn left in front of him, causing a collision. He left behind his wife, April, and their two young sons. Six months later, the 2017 winter storms in Hollister, California, flooded their dream home—not once, but five times—forcing April and her two sons to rely on the kindness of friends, community, and family to pick up the pieces.**
Katherman-Redgrave remembers feeling overwhelmed by the two major tragedies that had befallen her and her sons only six months apart. “Never mind the fact that I was a grieving widow trying to adapt to a new life raising two boys on my own, now the home we dreamed about was gone! All the time and money my friends and community had spent on renovating it after Mike was gone was wasted! I sat in the back of that firetruck soaking wet, holding my boys and my dog, not knowing what in the world I was going to do next.
I had no plans in sight on what in the world I was going to do with our once-beautiful, uninhabitable home, or where we would go once the six-month lease was up in our apartment. I just had to give my worries to the Lord and continue on. He allowed for all this to happen, and I knew He was not going to leave us stranded.”
In her personal memoir Through Hell and High Water, Katherman-Redgrave recounts in haunting detail the events surrounding her husband’s death and trial, the duties and decisions a widow of a fallen police officer must take on, the devastation of the flood, and how she helped her young sons deal with the loss of their father and their home. Katherman-Redgrave attributes her survival to the outpouring of help and support from her town, family, friends, and law enforcement community, as well as Jesus Christ. “Police families have a special bond. We are all tight knit and support each other through all stages of life and career with the unspoken realization that any of us could face the tragedy of our officer never coming home. After the hell and high water I had gone through, God especially has proven himself repeatedly to be more than faithful. Even through my darkest and most challenging times, He has performed numerous miracles and knocked my socks off with blessing after blessing.”
Today, Katherman-Redgrave is married to David Redgrave, where they live in Gilroy, California, raising five kids—two from his previous marriage, two from hers, and one from theirs. Katherman-Redgrave devotes her time to raising her family, writing and speaking to support and encourage other grieving spouses of fallen police officers, as well as those seeking love after loss and want to blend their families. She wants people to know that God sees them, God loves them, and God can turn their greatest pain into their greatest joys.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: April Katherman-Redgrave is an author, speaker, blogger, and founder of Beauty for Our Ashes Ministry. As the surviving widow of fallen San Jose Police Motors Officer Michael J. Katherman, April experienced unimaginable brokenness and despair but also witnessed how God redeemed a terrible situation into one of great beauty and joy. Once a school teacher and aspiring educational administrator, April now writes and speaks to encourage law enforcement, the grieving, the divorced, blended families, and finding love after loss.
Now remarried, April lives in Gilroy, California, with David, her husband on earth, and their five children—Joshua, Jason, Brayden, Tegan, and Savannah. They call themselves the RedKat Fam, a wonderful blend of the Redgrave and Katherman families. They enjoy exploring and camping in their RV, spending time together at their family cabin, fishing, sports, traveling, and hosting family and friends at their home. As a family, they always honor and remember Mike in everything they do.
To connect with April, you can visit her website, www.beautyforourashes.com, as well as follow her on Facebook and Instagram.
FAITH NEWS SERVICE – One in twelve Americans—and one in nine women—live with an autoimmune disease.*
According to a 2017 Bingham Memorial Hospital web article, more women are diagnosed with autoimmune diseases than cardiovascular disease and breast cancer combined, causing women across the US to wonder if their life would always hang in the balance while they suffered and sought answers to heal their bodies.
For years, author Tara Smith Johnson battled life-threatening and debilitating internal and physical issues she couldn’t explain—and doctors had no answers or relief for. Gradual weight loss over two years. Grand mal seizures, sometimes several in a row. Severe physical reactions to foods, chemicals, and the environment. Unable to stand or walk. Enduring a season of being bedbound. Color coding Scriptures, drawing from them deep hope and abundant strength in the Lord. Seeing a plethora of doctors, neurologists, and nurses for answers—and always coming up empty. This was Tara’s years-long journey before a dysautonomia diagnosis
At first she didn’t fit neatly into the category of dysautonomia, and finding a comfortable path to healing proved challenging. Dysautonomia is an umbrella term that covers a number of conditions, all of which include some level of autonomic dysfunction. In simplest terms, all the stuff a healthy body does automatically, a dysautonomia patient’s body either does improperly or not at all.
“I have neurotoxicity,” Johnson explains. A common virus exacerbated by common antibiotics had caused her to be sick initially, and unknowingly, dysautonomia symptoms may have wreaked havoc on her body since toddlerhood.
Her team of doctors, neurologists, and allergists worked tirelessly with her to create a health plan to manage her symptoms and reactions. Enter nine hundred pills a day. A mental and physical health regimen that consists of rest, walking her service dog, Trixie, and exposure to glorious sunlight. Using essential oils to coax the nervous system. And Tara still color codes Scriptures to encourage her during her difficult days.
Johnson’s debut memoir Defeating Dysautonomia: One Spoon at a Time with Faith, Hope, and Love seeks to provide authentic help to others with autoimmune diseases because, she says, “One day you will tell your story of how you’ve overcome what you’re going through now, and it will become part of someone else’s survival guide.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR After special-education teacher Tara Smith Johnson was diagnosed with dysautonomia, an autoimmune disorder, she put the books away and became an advocate for people who experience chronic illnesses. She founded Hope for Team Tara, an organization that raises money for dysautonomia awareness through Dinner and Dancing for Dysautonomia. Tara has a daughter and lives in Memphis, Tennessee, with her service dog, Trixie, who has medic alert superpowers and travels everywhere with Tara. Visit www.hope4teamtara.org and connect with her on social media.
FAITH NEWS SERVICE – Being alone has gained somewhat of a negative reputation with the COVID-19 pandemic and with stories of Americans suffering from loneliness as a result of sheltering in place. But isolation and solitude should not be confused. While isolation is often associated with loneliness, solitude is recognized as vital by many.
Henri Nouwen, professor, author, and pastor of the twentieth century, had strong thoughts on the spiritual benefits of being alone. “Without solitude it is virtually impossible to live a spiritual life.”* According to an NIV devotional, “solitude also has the meaning of ‘absence of human activity.’ . . . The purpose is not to be alone but to experience the absence of human activity so that we can more fully experience the presence of God.”**
Author Sharon Lamson has particular insight into solitude, or more specifically sanctuary, which she defines as a time of being alone, removed from all distractions, focused on conversing with God, and meditating, resting, thinking, and listening to the Holy Spirit. In her encouraging devotional for women, Seeking Sanctuary: Finding God, Lamson discusses her need and hunger for regular sanctuary and the spiritual benefits and lessons that have resulted.
“For me, sanctuary is a safe place for intimate conversations with God that set the stage for sharing my problems, hurts, and emotions or just a time of listening for the lessons he has for me,” Lamson said.
God’s lessons for Lamson often come in the form of nature. With Lamson’s love for God’s creation, she shares within her book of the ways God has used her observations of birds, flowers, or even a single blade of grass to reveal Scripture and teachings. Readers will resonate with Lamson’s stories of her challenges, struggles, and successes, which are weaved throughout the devotional.
“I want readers to know that God can talk to them, and this devotional encourages them to look for opportunities for connection with him,” she said. “I know personally that taking time to look for him and talk to him has been adrenaline for my soul and has transformed my life, and I want that for my readers as well.”
Seeking Sanctuary: Finding God includes brief questions for reflection at the end of each chapter, which will encourage readers to look for and turn to God.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Sharon Lamson is a talented author, editor, and copywriter, with published works for both adults and children. She is especially proud of a seven-book fictional series she coauthored, which received recognition from the International Board on Books for Young People. Sharon lives in Michigan and cherishes spending time in God’s creation, most notably enjoying prayer walks along the shores of Lake Michigan. With a loving husband, five adult children, and nine grandchildren, Sharon is never short for new stories.
FAITH NEWS SERVICE – According to Medical News Today, nearly 80 percent of people feel significantly unloved.*
How devastating for those who are part of this statistic. And how awful it must feel, especially for Bella Roberts, the main character in Love Never Fails, who loses her mother in a hit-and-run and experiences the death of her aunt and uncle who raised her.
Nevertheless, author J. C. Lafler encourages readers that, like Bella, “it’s going to be okay. I know that no matter what, God’s love will not fail you.”
In Love Never Fails, Bella feels alone, unworthy, and unloved because everyone she gets close to dies. But she finds sweet solace in Rosie, a stray pup, and repeating Scriptures that her uncle taught her growing up. As an adult these verses keep her going through difficult times. When she experiences severe threats from Bruce, her mother’s ex-boyfriend, Bella must cling to God’s love even more.
But after Bruce threatens to kill her beloved dog and companion, Bella can’t even imagine God’s love, because of the fear that grips her heart. If Bella can keep Bruce from harming her and her dog and accessing her money, she will escape the feeling of worthlessness that Bruce has projected onto her . . .
Readers will learn that experiencing God’s love transcends all fear and feelings of worthlessness. Love surrounds us always, even when life is tough, because God created us to love him and love each other.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: From a young age, J .C. Lafler always wanted to write, but she ended up in a government career that lasted nearly thirty-two years. Now she spends her days writing about deep faith and enjoys puzzles, painting, and traveling. She and her husband, David, have six kids and nine grandchildren. They live in Portage, Michigan, and winter in Missouri City, Texas. Her novels include Lost and Found, Amazing Grace, Hope Everlasting, Leap of Faith, and Finding Joy. Love Never Fails is J.C.’s sixth novel with Redemption Press. Visit www.jclafler.com for more information.
FAITH NEWS SERVICE – If you can look your enemy in the eye and forgive him, you have the power to change the world.
Wallace Hayes grew up at Summerton Place, the plantation where his grandparents were once slaves and his father was born the illegitimate child of the wealthy landowner. Now the owner of what’s left of the once grand plantation, Wallace is determined to bring good from the tragic and painful events of the past.
Slavery happened here, rape and abuse and war. Two children born, Moses and Hope—one into slavery and one smuggled out, never to be seen again. But God had hold of every event, as He always promised He would. Repentance, forgiveness, and redemption follow, but some things that were set in place cannot be undone. In an effort to teach others the life-giving power of forgiveness and faith that his father taught him, Wallace shares the darkest secrets and the sweetest truths of his heritage with three special people—Hattie, who will write his story into a book, Ezra, who will carry his story out into the world, and Livy, who will continue his legacy for the next generation.
Author Patty Mullins Elson says the inspiration for the setting of this book came through a fascination with plantation life and several visits to Charleston, South Carolina. “When I visited Middleton Plantation,” Elson says, “I took the slave tour and was forever changed. I knew my story would be based around their voices so that my characters could learn from the lessons of the past even as they resolve their issues to clear the path for their own redemption.”
Dancing on Fields of Sorrow and Blessing is a three-generation saga that begins in slavery and ends in freedom as the descendants of those twins separated at birth reunite, and their story comes full circle. Forgiveness does indeed have the power to change the world, even if it’s just your little corner of it.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Patty Mullins Elson lives in Northern Virginia with her husband, Steve, and their college-aged twins, Alex and Ana. Patty is an avid outdoor enthusiast who loves to travel, hike, and practice her photography—preferably somewhere she can do all three at once. Give her a good adventure and a historical place to explore, and she’s in heaven. And if she’s not outside, then she’s somewhere cozy, writing or researching for her next book.
Follow Patty on Facebook @Patty Mullins-Elson – Author and on Instagram @vitaveravitabella.
FAITH NEWS SERVICE – Christmas trees, Santa Claus, reindeer, stockings, pretty lights, bells, stars, mistletoe, and more . . . For a holiday that’s supposed to be about a baby born in a stable, there sure isn’t much Jesus to see in that list. Or is there?
Frankly, it seems the holiday celebrations get more distorted and more frenzied with every year that passes. Is it possible to celebrate the season without losing focus on the reason it exists?
Author Marissa Barbee believes it is. “Our Lord is represented in everything around us,” she says. “The decorations of Christmas, the new life of spring, the falling leaves as the year closes out—God’s general revelation is always speaking to us of his power, his love, his compassion, his grace, and his plan for us. All we have to do is look for him. My goal is that this book opens that door for parents to tune in to the lessons God gives all around us and to see how his special revelation—the Bible—interprets that for us.”
Christmas Traditions through the Lens of Scripture is an advent book like no other. For each day of December leading up to Christmas Day, Marissa looks at one common element of traditional Christmas celebrations and helps readers find a scriptural tie-in, even for those elements rooted in secular elements. Further, each entry includes a “Digging Deeper” listing of related Scripture to boost the day’s reading into a true Bible study.
Full-color illustrations, created by Marissa’s own daughter, enhance this engaging Bible study and are repeated in the back of the book which may be cut out and used for an advent calendar.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Marissa Barbee is a wife of twenty years and a home-educating mother of nine. Marissa and her husband Scott live in Colorado and enjoy playing games with their children and tackling projects—from the challenges of gardening in the Rockies to the DIY remodeling of their home. You can connect with Marissa on Instagram at instagram.com/mrsmarissabarbee or on Facebook at facebook.com/mrsmarissabarbee.
ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR Miriam Barbee is a talented artist with a passion for sharing the beauty of God’s creation through her art. Miriam’s signature style makes use of artistic framing to highlight the subject of her artwork and to give the viewer the sense of peering through a window or doorway into a much wider world. You can find Miriam’s art at paintinginframes.com and can connect with her on Instagram at instagram.com/painting_in_frames.
For review copies and media interviews, contact: makarios_kypseli@icloud.com.
Connect with Marissa:
Instagram: instagram.com/mrsmarissabarbee.
Facebook: facebook.com/mrsmarissabarbee
Connect with Miriam
Instagram: instagram.com/painting_in_frames
FAITH NEWS SERVICE – For years, college campuses across the country have struggled with the issue of sexual assault. By definition, a sexual assault occurs when the offender subjects the victim to any unwanted or offensive sexual advance.[i] The Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network revealed female college students between eighteen and twenty-four are three times more likely to experience sexual violence.[ii]
According to a 2019 Association of American Universities survey, polling over 150,000 students at twenty-seven universities, 13 percent of students admitted to nonconsensual sexual conduct, meaning they were sexually assaulted.[iii] However that statistic is likely to be significantly higher, as the Department of Justice reports that 80 percent of sexual violence goes unreported[iv] for various reasons, including fear of reprisal, personal reasons, and not believing the police could do anything, among others.[v]
This was certainly the case for author Tracey Glenn, who through her book, Gathering the Wayward Heart, reveals the devastating trauma and the aftermath she experienced from being sexually assaulted by her boyfriend as a college student.
Glenn, a first-time author, blogger, and advocate for special needs kids and families, chose to talk about this event in her book, even though it was extremely painful. “My hope is for someone reading my story about what happened that fateful night to know they are not alone in their pain and struggle as a victim. It happens, or has happened, to so many people, women and men, and its effects are devastating to the mind and soul,” Glenn says. Glenn talks candidly about how her life unraveled and how self-loathing led her to more destructive choices, including other abusive relationships with alcohol and men.
“I wish I could go back in time and change my decision to spend the weekend with him. I wish I could save that stupid girl from her destructive choices. Recalling the details of the rape, I found myself dealing with renewed hurt and shame, but God revealed something significant to me: it may be the girl who makes the decision to be there, but it is the man who chooses to overwhelm and violate her. God places the guilt on the man, the rapist, because He does not want women exploited, then thrown away.”[vi]
Like so many other women who were sexually assaulted, Glenn chose not to report it, but she hopes more women will come forward, if anything, to get help in dealing with her emotions and begin the road of healing. “If you are a young woman in a destructive relationship, I encourage you to seek help. Healing begins when darkness is put into the light. We may have been taken by force, and I know that scars us internally, but these are wounds that only God can heal, and He will if you let Him.”
Gathering the Wayward Heart is Glenn’s story of how God redeemed her life through intense struggle and hard lessons. She uses her own stories, including those of growing up on a ranch in southeast Arizona, to tell of God’s faithfulness, healing, and provision. “God does not promise us a life without sorrow or trouble, but He does give us peace to move beyond tragedy into the life He has for us. Take it from me—I am living proof.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: After repeated attempts to heal herself from a date rape that happened in college, author Tracey Glenn decided her way wasn’t working. Tired of the self-loathing, self-destruction, and fighting for control, Tracey ultimately surrendered her life to Jesus Christ, who, looking back, had never stopped pursuing or protecting her through some harrowing, life-threatening circumstances. Now, Tracey and her husband, Link, spend their time loving their three children, four grandchildren, and the life they have built, having overcome hardships, including raising a special needs child, adopting their son, marital strife, and business struggles. Tracey has witnessed firsthand how God redeems fractured people and circumstances when we put our trust in Him.
FAITH NEWS SERVICE – An astounding 71 percent percent of US women feel pressure to be physically attractive, according to a Pew Research study.* Yet only one in ten women consider themselves to be very attractive.** The result: low self-esteem, often leading to anxiety and depression.
Psychologist Neerja Birla writes, “One’s identity should never be swayed by social conventions. One’s self-esteem should never be dependent on one’s appearance.”***
Denise Goosby has struggled with society’s image of beauty since childhood. Afflicted with a disfiguring, and often painful, skin condition at the age of eight, Goosby has since struggled with her self-image and the ensuing physical and emotional wounds. She wrote Scarred like Him: Seeing Beauty in the Life You Live to share her journey to feeling loved, whole, accepted, and beautiful.
“This book examines the power of replacing the false, limiting, and negative beliefs about beauty with God’s redemptive, grace-filled, and truthful view,” Goosby said. “I hope it will help other women escape the hurtful, self lies that life often teaches and receive the truth of God’s love, favor, and acceptance.”
Goosby chronicles her experiences throughout each chapter—including her struggles with skin scarring, weight, rejection, and family dysfunction—and uses her story to tell God’s story.
“After years of suffering, I experienced an emotional healing and acceptance is an identity rooted in Christ,” Goosby said. “Offering up our vulnerable, soul-scarred selves to Him leads to finding the beauty in our lives and in ourselves.”
Through her story, and through related devotions and her personally penned songs and poems, she strives to inspire readers that healing can come only through Jesus. Young women and middle-aged women alike—with struggles over body image, self-esteem, skin color, skin ailments, or disabilities—will be blessed with Goosby’s honest and inspirational memoir.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Denise Ann Goosby was born and raised in Compton, California, a preacher’s daughter coming to faith later in life. Her childhood love of writing led her to earn an English degree from Mount St. Mary’s College (now Mount St. Mary’s University) and a master’s degree in print journalism from the University of Southern California. After working as a newspaper reporter, Denise began a career as an educator in public and private schools for two decades. In 2018 she founded Healing Song Ministry to serve seniors, veterans, and the hurting in south Los Angeles County with music therapy for the heart and soul. She also writes and sings on her blog, “Denise’s Healing Journey,” and offers speaking and singing engagements. Denise enjoys spending time with friends, visiting museums and cultural sites, and cheering for her world-champion, childhood heroes, the Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angeles Lakers. She is single and lives near Los Angeles.
FAITH NEWS SERVICE – At the height of the pandemic, Athletes in Action offered struggling students a valuable resource titled “7 Disciplines to Practice During a Pandemic.” It pointed out that “without discipline and structure, this time can easily be wasted and you could be missing out on opportunities to spend time with God and experience His transformative grace.”
The online ministry tool acknowledged the loss of canceled sports seasons while also encouraging young men and women to use the extra time to grow in their relationship with God through journaling, patience, devotional reading, scripture memorization, prayer, solitude, and fellowship.
Author Missy Eversole learned the power of drawing close to Christ through spiritual disciplines during a very different season of stress. At the time, she was a frazzled busy mom who loved Jesus but struggled to find time for Him between school pickups, soccer practice, and everything she’d said yes to.
“For years, I carried a small, compact Bible in my purse, intending to read it during downtimes, such as in the pickup line while waiting for my children to exit the school building. Instead, it had become another object that I transferred from purse to purse.” One day while waiting for her sons in the school parking lot, she reached for her phone and felt God nudging her to grab her Bible instead. That was the first step of a journey toward embracing disciplines that transformed her life. She shares what she gained in her new book, Transformed, Not Conformed: A Journey to Embracing a Life-Changing Approach to Spiritual Habits.
Filled with honest personal stories and relatable examples from Scripture, Transformed, Not Conformed offers a respite from society’s demands to be Pinterest perfect, using a fresh approach to the spiritual disciplines. In addition to helping women create habits of Bible reading, meditation, prayer, silence, solitude, and fasting that they can stick with, Missy highlights the benefits of connecting with God through journaling and worship. Drawing from the hills and valleys of her own faith journey, Missy paves the way for igniting or reigniting a love for Christ and a hunger for Him that is truly life changing.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Missy Eversole is a wife, mother of two teenage sons, writer, and blogger. She and her husband, Craig, have been married for twenty-one years and live in Morton, Illinois. Missy shares her love for digging deep into God’s Word as a small group leader for Proverbs 31 Online Bible Studies. She writes about her faith and family on her weekly blog, MissyEversole.com.
For review copies and media interviews, contactMissy:
FAITH NEWS SERVICE – Maci Driscoll was a happily married, successful artist enjoying life on the coast of Maine. The sudden death of her beloved husband rocked both her world and her faith. Anger, bitterness, and resentment fill her heart and stifle her art.
Seeking peace and a fresh start, she sells her seaside home and moves inland to a lovely century bungalow surrounded by blueberry fields. As she learns the history of her new home and the struggles and losses of its original owner, Maci finally finds the courage to deal with her own grief and waning faith.
But Maci’s new home has more to share than just its owner’s history. A simple renovation project brings hidden items to light. Can she reunite a star-crossed couple, solve a decades-old murder, and find herself again? Or will she remain in the sorrow and increasing bitterness that are weighing her down?
“I’ve experienced loss, grief, brokenness, disappointment, and drastic, unexpected changes in my own life,” says author Konnie Viner. “Learning to trust God and His faithfulness in those times was a slow and painful process. I wrote Blueberry Bungalow to encourage those who are at that lonely crossroad between questioning and accepting God’s plan and to assure them that, yes, God is faithful. And yes, everything He allows, He uses for good for those who love Him.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Konnie Viner writes to encourage women with the assurance of God’s love and faithfulness. She is also the author of Amaryllis Journey (2020) and Rested Soul, Resilient Heart (2017). She holds a BS in Education from the University of Kansas and an MS in Business Management from the University of Redlands, CA. Konnie cherishes time with her three grandchildren. An avid photographer, she finds particular joy in capturing the ever-changing beauty of sunrise and sunset.
FAITH NEWS SERVICE – Westley King’s award-winning novel, Under the Sun, began with a bang and didn’t slow down until an elk stepped off the side of the road and totaled Redemption Gray’s car.
Now, in Nothing Knew, Redemption is stranded on the side of the road, still high from his mountaintop experience of faith. Disoriented from the accident, he accepts a ride from a convenient motorcyclist who can only be an answer to the prayer he hadn’t even formed into words. After all, when you give your life to God, doesn’t He come in and make everything better? That’s what faith is, right?
At first Longstoryshort seems strong and kind and admirable, but as the miles pass beneath them, Redemption’s first impressions wear thin, and truth is hard to find. Redemption finds himself trapped in doubt and fear and danger, imprisoned in body and soul. At the very point of no return, he comes to himself and runs. Evil is strong, but God is good, and He provides a way of escape. Or does He?
Redemption’s story is far from finished, but this piece of it does not disappoint.
In Nothing Knew, S. Westley King demonstrates again his keen understanding of the struggles today’s youth face. With a deft hand, he draws the reader in, asks the questions they ask, and offers answers without condescension. Is God real? Is Satan real? How do we know? Why does God allow evil? Why do so many Christians just look the other way?
King says, “Too often, sanitized narratives within Christian fiction end when the character finds God and everything wraps up perfectly and beautiful. Nothing Knew turns that story on its head. When Redemption finds God, things don’t get easier. Instead, he is lured in by a deceptive antagonist, hit with a smattering of larger conflicting worldviews, and sees the ugly underbelly of tepid Christianity.”
King’s stories are real—“safe but not sanitized,” he says—and that’s because life is real. Twists and turns come without warning, including the one at the end of this book. Look for the conclusion of Redemption Gray’s story in its final installment, Chasing the Wind, coming soon from Redemption Press.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Westly King holds degrees in English and history from Texas Christian University and an MA in biblical studies and ministry from Lubbock Christian University. He is a pastor in Cisco, Texas, but when he isn’t preaching, he’s drawing shots at the family coffee shop with his wife, Kasity, and children, Ilya and Nehemiah.
FAITH NEWS SERVICE – From its first page, Under the Sun is a riveting coming-of-age tale of discovery, of independence, of letting go, and of finding God. A 2018 Nautilus Silver award winner, the book is the first of a trilogy by author S. Westley King.
When high school senior Redemption Gray challenges his perpetually positive English teacher’s assertion that happiness could be found in anything (except maybe under a rock in Montana), he never expected the adventure that would come.
Without forethought, Redemption suddenly finds himself on an epic 1,500-mile road trip to the Crazy Mountains in Montana. As he drives, he finds himself losing his ties to the distractions of everyday life—school worries, relationships, social media—and experiencing an unsettling draw to the internal—silence, solitude, peace, and the value of deliberate thought. Along the way, he discovers great and wonderful things about himself and the world around him until, ultimately, he finds that happiness is found in surrender to the God he wasn’t even sure he believed in anymore.
When asked where he got the idea for this project, King said, “The character and first line were with me for more than a decade before I set out to write the book. I’ve always had a love of literary fiction and classical literature that reaches deep into the human experience, but I’ve noticed a lack of such works in the mainstream Christian market. Ultimately, though, of all the excellent and influential books I was required to read in both high school and university, Under the Sun is the book I really needed to read as a young man in search for deeper meaning and religious relevance in the world.”
While Redemption makes it to Montana and finds his happiness under that rock, his journey home is just as epic and life changing. Look for the rest of Redemption’s adventures in books two and three—Nothing Knew and Chasing the Wind—coming soon from Redemption Press.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Westley King holds degrees in English and history from Texas Christian University and an MA in Bible studies and ministry from Lubbock Christian University. He is a pastor in Cisco, Texas, but when he isn’t preaching, he’s drawing shots at the family coffee shop with his wife, Kasity, and children, Ilya and Nehemiah.
FAITH NEWS SERVICE – The struggle for freedom in prerevolutionary Boston—by real people with hopes, dreams, and families—is eerily similar to what Americans have faced in the opening decades of the twenty-first century.
For historical fiction readers and lovers of American liberty, author Cam Molineux presents a fascinating tale of a nearly forgotten historical figure. Her distant rabble-rousing relative William Molineux fought for patriotic freedom even before the Revolutionary War began.
“Between 1768 and 1774, Molineux was behind only Samuel Adams in importance as a Boston organizer.” ‒J. L. Bell, Boston historian, boston1775.blogspot.com
“With the exception of Samuel Adams, no name is oftener found, in connection with the public acts of the day, than that of William Molineux, and his death . . . was a great loss to the patriot cause.” ‒Francis S. Drake, nineteenth-century historian
After years of research at more than fifty repositories in multiple colonial states and across the Big Pond, Cam Molineux began to understand the significant role her ancestors played in American history. As a result, and coupled with her concern for mounting attacks on American freedoms, she wanted to use stories to remind others what the Founding Fathers believed was worth fighting for.
The Spirit of a Revolution is the only novel about Samuel Adams’s right-hand man, William Molineux, written from a family-friendly perspective. Through the eyes of this little-known patriot in America’s founding history, readers will learn the importance of taking control of their own destiny.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Award-winning author and speaker Cam Molineux wants to help Americans understand and fall in love with their history. With genealogical ties to and a shared patriotic spirit with The Spirit of aRevolution’s protagonist, she is uniquely qualified to tell his story. Her articles have appeared in an international publication for those with ties to the Molineux family tree. Learn more at www.cammolineux.com.
FAITH NEWS SERVICE – A 2018 and 2019, a Pew Research study found that 65 percent of American adults identify themselves as Christian.* Another Pew study broke down practicing Christians versus nonpracticing Christians in western Europe, with the majority calling themselves nonpracticing.**
In response to the study’s breakdown of practicing versus nonpracticing Christians, Baylor seminary student Jaake Raabe said, “Christianity is not a series of beliefs one agrees or disagrees with. It is a vocation. The gospel of Christ is a free gift, but one that demands action in response.”
Three Simple Words author Ed Malone believes that too many people who identify as Christian have a lack of understanding of the commitment Jesus asks for. “Many claiming to be Christians know nothing of Jesus’s teachings, how he lived, or have any desire to live as he lived,” he said. “They think they are saved but are not getting to experience the fullness of life in Christ.”
Malone wrote Three Simple Words to help readers move from mere belief in Jesus to knowing him and experiencing his abundant life. The book provides a synopsis of the life and teachings of Christ, encouraging believers to live out the standards set in Scripture and providing guidance for implementing his life-giving principles.
“I wanted to write this book to point people to what Jesus makes available and to provide an understanding of the pathway to an abundant life, which only God can give,” Malone said. “It is my prayer that readers will go through the narrow gate pursuing what only a few take seriously and find worthy of their life.”
Malone’s background in expository preaching allows him the benefit of sharing the full scope of the biblical text, while his life on a farm as a herdsman provides him with a unique insight into the agricultural word pictures Jesus uses in his teachings.
Ed Malone has been serving as a pastor for forty-eight years. Along with being a pastor, he enjoys raising Black Angus cattle, carpentry, and writing. Author of three Christian books, Ed earned a masters of divinity degree from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary after graduating with an electrical engineering degree from the University of Tennessee. He lives out his faith by helping others and works as a lead carpenter for Habitat for Humanity, has been a counselor in a residential home for juvenile offenders, and has fostered children. He is a Vietnam veteran. Ed and his wife of fifty-four years, Gale, live on a farm in Tennessee and have two children and eight grandchildren.
FAITH NEWS SERVICE – In her third book of biblical retelling, Karen Geisler takes the reader on a journey through time to learn more about what the Bible says will happen in the last days. Along the way, she hopes readers will understand that how they choose to live their lives will determine how they spend eternity.
In Pilgrims and Dwellers, we rejoin young Abraham, a shepherd boy who, just two months ago, witnessed the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ in Jerusalem. Now he’s alone in the fields at night for the first time. As the night noises move in around him, he distracts himself with all the questions he still has about Jesus and what’s to come now that Jesus has returned to heaven.
Suddenly, his guardian angel, Zagzagel, is there beside him, and just like last time they decide it would be easier to see what will happen than just hear about it. So Abe and Zag travel into the future—first to find the apostle John, who Zag knows is going to have a vision of the last days. There, they read some of John’s writings—what will eventually become the biblical book of Revelation. When that becomes too much to comprehend, the two decide to journey further into the future—to the year two thousand and something.
There they see the great battle that Satan is waging against the people on earth, to keep them focused on themselves and the world around them, and to trick them into following him instead of God—into becoming dwellers of earth instead of pilgrims passing through on their way to a heavenly eternal destiny.
When circumstances separate them, Abe finds himself lost in time, in an unfamiliar land, and surrounded by unbelievable evil. Will Zagzagel find him in time, or will Abe be lost forever among the dwellers of earth?
Author Karen Geisler says that while listening to an audio version of the book of Revelation one day, she was struck with “a tremendous fear” that overwhelmed her and led to an in-depth study of Revelation. “My initial fear turned into a feeling of being blessed,” Karen says. “However, as I researched current statistics to help influence the direction of this story, the realization of our sinful culture became my new fear. I have since consistently felt a sense of urgency to complete and publish this book, Pilgrims and Dwellers. I now carry a heaviness for the people that my book views as dwellers.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Karen Geisler is a retired telecommunications software specialist who lives in Florida with her husband. Born and raised in a Christian home, Karen says she always knew about Jesus, but she’d never fully grasped what He’d done for her. In her search for understanding, God allowed her to see His story through the eyes of a child, and the idea for her books was born. All three of Karen’s books—A Story Forgotten, The Plan, and Pilgrims and Dwellers—are available through Redemption Press.
Karen also brings her stories to life through presentations before private schools, special interest groups, and churches. It is her hope that through her books, readers will learn to cherish the Old Testament, come to fully appreciate what Jesus experienced on the cross for us, and as pilgrims, come to share her burden for the dwellers of this world.
FAITH NEWS SERVICE – Growing up in the home of an absent father and an emotionally abusive mother, Tom Stewart was an easy mark for a predator. Conditioned for compliance and desperate for affirmation from authority figures, Tom fell prey to a decade of sexual abuse by his Boy Scout leader in the 1970s. Unfortunately, his was not an isolated case.
The Boy Scouts of America have faced mounting abuse claims in the last several years, and by November 2020, over 92,700 claims of sexual abuse had been made by former Scouts.
Tom’s landmark lawsuit against the Boy Scouts in 2007 paved the way for others to come forward and set him on the road to forgiveness and healing. Rather than retreating into bitterness, Tom faced his past, proving that, even in the worst of circumstances, God can turn evil for good.
“The Lord has delivered me from the emotional damage of my afflictions and has redeemed them, using them for His good by equipping me to help free other victims who are still held captive by the chains of their past,” Tom says.
“The difficult circumstances I faced cultivated the compassion I needed to help others. I’ve learned how to understand the weary, the weak, and the faint because I’ve been one of them. I want to encourage those experiencing abuse not to allow the bitterness and the evil that it came from to consume them, but to overcome as victors instead of victims.”
In his new heartrending memoir from Redemption Press, Tom delivers a message of hope in the face of unthinkable hurt. On Wings like Eagles is a story of perseverance and the power of forgiveness, reminding us that by the grace of God, it is possible to rise above our brokenness.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
A native of Western Washington, Thomas Gregory Stewart has enjoyed a thirty-five-year career as a chemical engineer at the Boeing Company, where his work focuses primarily on eliminating carcinogens from the workplace. But his true calling is to advocate for how trusting in God can sustain us through life’s trials. Drawing from his own hardships and healing, Tom’s life mission is to bring hope to the hopeless.
FAITH NEWS SERVICE – The term ‘resilience’ commonly refers to accepting a new reality caused by adversity, and to harness mental, emotional, and psychological resources to recover from sources of stress.
After living and working through revolutions, military coups, civil wars and general third world day-to-day conditions, Dr Ross James believes that ‘steadfastness’ is a more accurate term to describe the people carrying out God’s purpose.
In his book, Ascent, Crest, Perspective – The Making of a Bamboo Camel, Ross documents his experiences while working as a health communication and cross-cultural training specialist during times of civil unrest in places like Seychelles, Philippines, Pakistan and Cambodia, sometimes while bombs exploded close by and safety was considered a luxury.
‘Steadfastness’ comes from the Greek noun hypomoné, meaning not to be swerved from a purpose.
A 17 foot boat caught in a menacing storm, buffeted by blustery onshore gusts as onlookers rushed to pull it onto the beach. Crashing waves were flooding the hull. They decided to turn the bow of the boat into the waves and push the craft back out to sea.
Then, in the relative calm, Ross’s friend climbed onto the craft, securing it with two anchors and bailed out excess water. As the storm pounded the coast all day, the boat rose and lifted, twisted and strained against the anchor chains, but it was safe in the midst of the storm.
Ross says, “We are all called to a purpose and designed in such a way to accomplish that purpose. We can all safely claim we are uniquely designed for some situations that others are not, and remain steadfast with Providence as our anchor.”
That’s why Ross describes his collection of stories as The Making of a Bamboo Camel. Bamboo first attracted his attention in the Seychelles. Although simple and vulnerable in many ways, it is versatile. Parts of bamboo were fashioned into all sorts of handicrafts, hats, fabrics, fish traps, ashtrays, bags, mats, and chairs and other furniture. Poles were used as scaffolding on construction projects and worked into housing material for walls and floors.
Bamboo is stable in tough conditions, it can bend with great flexibility, and only break under severe forces. Unlike other plant life, bamboo requires little outside management or tending.
And the maligned camel is a bit ugly because it can’t make up its mind whether it’s a horse or giraffe. And can be cantankerous when provoked. Admire the animal, though, for its design and tolerance in tough environments. A study of a camel’s physiology reveals design features that protect it from harsh sun and blowing sand, and conserve body fluids to avoid water loss and dehydration.
Another fascinating fact. There are 99 names for God in Islam. According to Somalis, the camel ambles, head held high with noble dignity and a self-satisfied smirk on its face because only to the camel has God’s one hundredth name been revealed.
Versatility and steadfastness in tough environments made it possible for Ross and his family to venture into places others did not want to go. Sometimes those places were physical locations or situations; sometimes they were conceptual places, ideas and methods others were yet to recognize or understand. There were times of simply plodding through deserts of discouragement and frustration, yearning for oases of emotional refreshment, but always with confidence that Providence was at work.
The clear message from this book is that life is not about survival but about arrival. Not whether you get there but what you have become by the time you do.
Like the boat rising above stormy waters, we are each designed to fulfill a specific purpose and we are anchored in the promises of Providence, the Living God, as Abraham was, to keep us steadfast, with an unshakeable core, not swerving from our purpose.
In Ascent, Crest, Perspective – Ross says, “Let go. Let God. Providence is working for our good in all things.”
FAITH NEWS SERVICE – According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, more than twenty million Americans, ages twelve and older, suffered from a substance use disorder related to their use of alcohol or illicit drugs in 2018. Tens of thousands of Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous groups meet every day worldwide.** Recovery from any substance is often sought but hard to achieve and maintain.
As Mark Twain once quipped about the difficulty of stopping cigarettes, “It’s easy. Done it thousands of times.”
After a traumatic experience with family member, Britni Boyce promised herself she would steer clear from illicit drugs. At age fourteen, however, she began smoking marijuana, which was the launching point of a ten-year drug addiction. Boyce advanced to stronger drugs and found herself in bondage to opiates and other substances before hitting rock bottom and deciding to stop. She wrote Recovery in Jesus’s Hands to encourage others struggling with addiction.
“My own testimony shows that true freedom from addiction is given through the grace of God; He is the provider of true freedom,” Boyce said. “I want readers to know they are worthy of a new life free from addiction and that God will take them to higher levels in life than they ever dreamed.”
Boyce has remained clean from drugs since she decided to give her life over to the Lord. With the help of Jesus, she reinvented herself—entered rehab, moved to a new state, and earned multiple degrees with honors. Recovery in Jesus’s Hands outlines the steps to living in freedom versus living in sobriety and uses the Bible as a blueprint.
“The most well-known recovery path teaches abstinence and sobriety and living consciously sober day by day, which is a miserable place to be,” Boyce said. “Freedom means we can live fully recovered, never thinking about resuming drugs and alcohol again.”
Recovery in Jesus’s Hands is directed to those in active addiction or recovery.
Britni Boyce is a recovery advocate and works with multiple non-profits throughout Arkansas, sharing her expertise as well as her own personal story of addiction, recovery, and freedom. Passionate about recovery, she previously worked as a recovery coach before going back to graduate school, where she is now completing a master’s degree in social work from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. She earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from John Brown University.. Britni enjoys new experiences and keeping her life as one big adventure—eyes continually focused on the Lord.
FAITH NEWS SERVICE – “Evangelism is not walking the walk or talking the talk, but walking the walk and talking the talk,” says veteran evangelist Greg Piper. In his new release, Sharing the Good News (Redemption Press 2021), he provides a clear and compelling how-to for sharing the gospel.
Piper, founder and president of a Denver-based evangelism mission has been active in gospel ministry since his conversion to Christ in 1984.
“The message of the gospel can be summarized by the answers to three questions: Why do I have to be saved, what did God do to save me, and what must I do to be saved?” Piper says,
Written to motivate, encourage, and assist beginners as well as veterans in sharing the gospel, Sharing the Good News outlines what the Bible teaches about evangelism and evangelism principles lived out by Christ and used by his apostles. Out of his many years of ministry, Piper outlines effective ways and methods of evangelizing, and he includes personal stories of failures and successes, as well as how to refute common objections.
Ray Prigodich, retired missions professor at Denver Seminary and academic dean of Donetsk Christian University in Ukraine, says Piper writes “not merely as a theoretician, but as a seasoned practitioner. He carefully explains the nature of evangelism, the essence of the gospel, and the importance of being spiritually grounded when sharing the gospel.”
Author Bio
Greg Piper, a graduate of Moody Bible Institute and Denver Seminary, has been active in gospel ministry since his conversion to Christ in 1984. He served as a missionary-evangelist for twelve years in Germany and three in Israel, and he has shared the gospel as an itinerant minister in India, Russia, Tanzania, Italy, and Greece. The founder and president of a Denver-based evangelism mission, he currently resides in Naperville, Illinois, with his wife, Ludmila.
FAITH NEWS SERVICE – Maybe not the future in terms of schooling, but the future in terms of the eternal.
Cindy Driggers has worked joyfully in elementary school education for over thirty years. From brick-and-mortar school setting to Sunday school, she has been able to reach the hearts of young students and teach them about their faith.
A child’s faith is important, and while most might think that it’s the parent’s responsibility to teach their child about faith, the foundation can certainly be guided in Sunday school.
Sunday school is important to a child’s foundation of faith and grows with them whether they realize it or not. Perhaps you may remember Bible verses or Bible stories from when you were in Sunday school, or maybe kids’ songs are rushing to your mind after all these years. No doubt you remember your teachers talking about Jesus.
In her thirty years’ experience, Driggers recalls that “children often ask hard questions about sin and about Jesus.” And often, parents and teachers and educators share the gospel in an abstract way, limiting a child’s understanding of how they can really know Jesus.
The interactive, whimsical but realistic children’s book The Bracelet offers a meaningful connection between children and understanding matters of faith. Children follow the story of two girls, Sara and Grace, who have conversations about Grace’s bracelet and how the different colored beads mean something very special about the faith journey and knowing Jesus.
Children ages five to nine will learn the importance of Bible verses, such as Romans 3:23 and 6:23, 1 John 1:9, and Matthew 28:19–20, in a way that deepens their understanding of a seemingly difficult concept. Driggers breaks it down in the simplest way, by explaining what each colored bead of the bracelet means, and how children can share the gospel with their friends too.
“My desire to spread the gospel of Jesus in a child friendly way, and in a way that would help a child truly understand what sin is and why they need Jesus,” Driggers says.
For parents of young and elementary school children and educators in both school and faith settings, this book brings the gospel alive in a simple, engaging way. Children will also be able to make their own bracelet to wear and share with others.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
For over thirty years, author and teacher Cindy Driggers has worked with elementary-aged children, in the classroom, in Sunday school, and as a reading specialist. She understands how children think and what kind of questions they have about deeper topics, like Jesus and the gospel. Currently, she teaches fourth grade Sunday school and enjoys helping children learn and grow. She lives in Columbia, South Carolina, with her husband, Daryl. They have two grown sons. Her hobbies include reading, aerobics, and going on walks with her dogs.
FAITH NEWS SERVICE – Author, speaker, and health advocate Christine Trimpe knows the struggle with health all too well. A few years ago, she was obese, but then she lost a hundred pounds. And with what started as a way to process her emotions, difficulties, and struggles, Christine began to study the Gospel of Luke. What she found there changed her life forever! Through her blog posts, “Countdown to Christmas through the Book of Luke,” Christine realized she had hit a core need in people struggling to find joy in their circumstances.
The positive responses were overwhelming, and she felt God nudging her to take all she had written and publish a book. Seeking Joy through the Gospel of Luke is a twenty-five-day Christmas advent devotional beginning December 1, going through the twenty-four chapters of Luke’s gospel, plus an encouraging message from Trimpe on day twenty-five. Her hope is for readers to live in the joy of the Lord despite their circumstances—seek, and you will find. Seeking Joy through the Gospel of Luke releases October 2021, in time for the Advent season.
Now instead of feeling toxic all the time, Christine describes how her mood changed “from chronic exhaustion to complete joy!”
“Everywhere in every chapter of Luke, I kept running across the word ‘joy’ or forms of it—rejoice, joyful—even during the worst moments of Jesus’s life,” Christine says. “There are so many things to be thankful for, so many joy-filled moments, that I began to understand the joy of the Lord, and I couldn’t keep quiet about this life-changing gift!”
Her joy has proven to be contagious, and now Trimpe serves as a health and wellness coach through her ministry Joy-Fueled Living, helping others heal from obesity and chronic health issues of body, mind, and spirit. “I’m hoping to help anyone who is sick and tired of being sick and tired,” says Trimpe. “I can use my story and experience to show people a better way—a way that actually works, a way where people can feel hope again and experience pure joy!”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Christine Trimpe is an author, speaker, joy seeker, and weight-loss warrior. After losing over a hundred pounds in her joy-filled journey of healing, God instilled a passion within her to inspire, motivate, and encourage women to pursue healthy, holy living— body, mind, and spirit. Christine speaks and writes for women all over the world, sharing the freedom Christ offers when we choose the path of surrender and sacrifice. Seeking Joy through the Gospel of Luke is Christine’s debut book, a twenty-five-day Christmas advent encouraging readers to live in the joy of the Lord despite their circumstances, realizing that joy can be sought after and found if they just look for it. Her transformation story and Bible and Beans blog can be found at ChristineTrimpe.com, and you can email her at Christine@christinetrimpe.com for speaking inquiries.
