Prayers from the Pews

Book Review by
Valerie Inman

Jada Swanson, a friend and fellow pastor’s wife in Washington State, introduced me to the book “Prayers from the Pews” by Teri Lynne Underwood. After reading it, I have figured out what is wrong with church – it’s me, and not only me, but all of us who call ourselves Christians and neglect the God-given gift of prayer.  

If I didn’t know better, I’d think Teri Lynne Underwood has been hiding in my closet, peeping out from under my bed, watching and listening to the thoughts of my heart. This book is amazing in speaking the things that have been on my heart a long time about church, how we do church and why we do church.

The book challenges you to get honest with yourself and with God about what is wrong with our churches today. This book points out the fact that too many of us are talking more than praying, sitting in pews more than kneeling, worshipping ourselves more than worshipping God.

I believe every person who calls himself a Christian needs to read this book and then put into action the call of revival and prayer. Every church needs to use this book for a Bible study class. If I could afford to buy this book in bulk to hand out to everyone I know – I would.  

My copy will soon be dog-eared, highlighted, written-in and worn-out from using it. It has discussion questions and a reading plan for the Book of Acts. My favorite chapter was Chapter 3 – “The Weakest Link.” She had to be peering into my heart and soul because she has me nailed in that chapter. At times I am indeed the weakest link in my church.  

My family and I are planning to use it as a family Bible study and Bible reading. I challenge you to do the same, but be warned, fellow readers – get this book, but you will need steel-toed boots, as well as full body armor.

Valerie Inman is wife of Billy Inman, pastor of Diaz Baptist Church, Newport.

The Reason

Book Review by
Valerie Inman

This book first caught my eye because of the front cover. It’s not often I pass through the book section and see a cover with a white church and large wooden cross being struck by lightning. 

When I turned it over to the back to read the description, the question at the top of the book jumped out at me: “When facing the impossible, will you believe?”

Growing up, I was blessed to have a grandmother, Sue Dell Free, who repeatedly told me throughout my life to “trust God and only believe.” That is the central theme of this book – “only believe.” 

Written in a style very similar to Frank Peretti, Sirls tells the story of a blind pastor and a small-town congregation that has to keep their faith in the midst of adversity. 

It is about relationships with others and with God. Through an unlikely collection of characters that at first seemed to have nothing in common, a believable and loveable community of friends is brought together as they face their individual trials. Their faith is tested to the limit, and the test is heartbreaking as they struggle to understand.

The story centers around the cross that is struck by lightning and how to fix it; a carpenter named Kenneth and the amazing things that happen whenever he is around; a young oncologist named Macey Lewis and a little boy named Alex, who is her patient, and Alex’s best friend, Charlie. There are too many characters to mention, but they all come to life and seem to jump off the pages as you read this book. The story is so believable that you feel you know them all personally.

I will be sharing this book with friends and encouraging others to purchase it. This story will challenge your faith, your beliefs and how you live them out in your life and the lives around you. This is a story of the fight to hold on to your faith in the midst of the impossible. 

Valerie Inman is wife of Billy Inman, pastor of Diaz Baptist Church, Newport.

Is Jesus awakening the Muslim world?

Book Review by
LaVeta Sergeant

Tom Doyle is an e3Partners missionary to the Middle East and Central Asia where he has encountered many Muslims who have experienced dreams and visions of Jesus. Stories of Muslims who have come to faith in Jesus in this book come from Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Iran, Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Israel, Gaza and the West Bank. All the people whose stories are shared are either known personally by Doyle or by his family’s close friends in the area. He says Muslims in literally dozens of countries and in countless Muslim cultures are experiencing this phenomenon of people having dreams and visions of Jesus.  

Dreams and visions are not unusual experiences in Islam, and so when Muslims have dreams of Jesus, they believe it to be purposeful and meaningful. 

Even at great risk, they usually seek out someone they think might be a believer to help them find the meaning of the experience. Their description of their dream or vision includes a feeling of being greatly loved. 

When a Muslim wants to become a Christian, he is usually asked a question that most of us never even consider – Are you willing to die for Jesus? It is a serious question they need to think about, and they answer affirmatively without hesitation.  

Before ending the book, Doyle challenges us to put away our fear of Muslims and let God help us reach out to them. He presents some ideas about how we can do that.

It is Doyle’s hope that this book will be encouraging to many Christians who are praying for Muslims but have no way of knowing how wonderfully God is answering their prayers. It is also his hope and prayer that Muslims will pick up this book and see how many other Muslims are learning the truth about Jesus and coming to Him.

‘Hungry for More’

Book Review by
LaVeta Sergeant

Kandy Persall and her husband Mark spent a total of 20 years in Asia with the International Mission Board (IMB) and are still working with the IMB in a different capacity. My husband Bill and I were privileged to work several years in Taiwan with them. 

Each chapter of Persall’s book, “Hungry for More: Feasting through the Word,” has a Bible-reading assignment followed by anecdotes taken from her diary during her time as a missionary in Taiwan. Devotional thoughts are given on certain topics related to God’s Word, and the chapter ends with an appropriate prayer.

Some of the 28 chapter titles include” The Life in the Word,” “The Revelation of the Word,” “The Provision of the Word,” “Viewing Others through the Word,” “Discernment of the Word,” “Waiting on the Word” and “Purification and the Word.”

To get the full benefit of these studies, one must have a Bible in hand, for there are many verses referred to in each chapter. I teach a Bible study on Sunday mornings in a Chinese church, and when I have to be gone, I have my substitute teach one of the chapters of “Hungry for More.”

Persall has said, “My heart for the book is twofold. First that it will find its way into the hands of everyone who is ‘Hungry for More,’ and secondly, that it will create a deep hunger for His Spirit in the multitudes of those that don’t have a spiritual hunger yet.”

Persall continues to struggle with what little bites we Americans take when we open the Bible, and prays that “Hungry for More” will increase the appetite of many.

The Search Committee

Book Review by
Valerie Inman

As a pastor’s wife, I’ve sat through many a search committee meeting as my husband “interviewed” as a candidate for pastor. I understand all too well the concerns, nerves and anticipation of the outcome of the “interview.” However, I’ve never really given any thought to what the search committee members must go through on their side – until now. 

While “The Search Committee” is a fictional account of what a search committee goes through – it has given me some insight into the process. “The Search Committee” is a book that I could not put down, anxiously anticipating what happens next. 

It’s the story of a small town Southern church that throws seven wildly different people together in the church van to search for their next pastor. The seven characters seem to be as different as day and night – but in the end, they find they have more in common than they realized as they travel the roads together in search of the “perfect” pastor. They also find that the perfect pastor is sometimes closer than you think. 

I’m not sure if I laughed more or cried more when reading this book, but I do know my perception of search committees has forever been changed. I highly recommend that everyone read this book, but especially if you are serving or may serve on a search committee.