Have you or someone you loved ever been challenged with mental illness? This is one book you will want to read.
Wearing pajamas and socks, a Christian for more than 13 years, I was on my way to the state mental hospital. It was there that God healed me from mental illness, and alcohol and drug abuse, which spanned more than 30 years. Physical, sexual and emotional abuse led to multiple marriage, three suicide attempts, and several stays in two psychiatric hospitals.Get your copy:
Mental illness is a reality. One woman’s overcoming journey. [Click to Tweet]
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The author
Barbara is the author of The Woman at the Well…today, her gripping and intense testimony of overcoming shame, guilt and tremendous heartbreak. Because of her turbulent background, she has a heart for the mentally and emotionally hurting wo
man.
Barbara has been involved in all aspects of women’s ministry; including authoring and teaching Bible studies, providing women’s biblical guidance; and coordinating special events and outreaches. She attended Calvary Chapel Bible College and now lives in Southern California with her son, daughter-in-law, and two granddaughters where she attends Calvary Chapel Chino Hills.
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Get to know Barbara
When you’re not writing, what do you enjoy doing? My passion is teaching the Bible study God led me to write, The Woman at the Well…today, and ministering to hurting women. Sharing how big our God is brings me tremendous joy, and peace. I also, love spending time with my granddaughters, teaching them about Jesus.
What advice, if any, do you have for others aspiring to publish a book of their own/follow their dream? I’ll be 70 in January. As long as you have breath, follow your dream. It’s great if you have a support team that will encourage you through the good times and the bad times. When things get rough, I’m glad there is at least one person I can call and ‘bounce’ off my thought and feelings.
What was the hardest thing about writing the book? Allowing the emotions to rise and put that feeling on paper. Remembering painful times and putting them in writing can be gut wrenching.
“Empty, lonely, alone, desperate, afraid, sad, unloved, un-liked, unreal. One day I will disappear, and everyone will know I really didn’t exist.”
Which part of your book was the most enjoyable to write. There is a last chapter in the book, but it is not the last chapter of my life. The story goes on. However, writing and remembering the time when I came out of the state mental hospital and realized that I was healed from mental illness, and substance abuse.
What motivated you to write on this topic? This is my journey through the depths of emotional and mental illness, before, and during the time, I became a Christian. It is full of hope
Do you plan on writing a sequel to this story? The sequel, is a Bible study. Actually, I have been teaching and training others to lead this Bible study since 1995. However, it is at the editors as we speak, and will be out in a couple of months. The only thing that is upon my heart now would be possibly to publish other Bible studies I have written and taught in the past.
What do you want readers to take away from your book?There is still somewhat of a stigma in some of the churches regarding Christians and mental illness. It is very real, and many Christians are suffering silently with it, even to the point of suicide. The Woman at the Well…today was written primarily for the hurting Christian woman. However, all women can benefit from the content.
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