Missionary Shares Gospel in Cannibalistic Areas

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RecklessAbandonAuthor David Sitton inspiring others to live with Reckless Abandon

For immediate release: Is Jesus simply not worth the risk to many of us? In Reckless Abandon: A modern-day Gospel pioneer’s exploits among the most difficult to reach peoples, author David Sitton inspires and encourages readers through his own story of working in cannibalistic areas of Papua New Guinea to risk their lives for the gospel. “If we, as gospel ambassadors, are unwilling to suffer even as much as soldiers and firemen, could the reason be that we don’t treasure Christ enough or value the gospel enough to sacrifice significantly for its advancement into unreached regions?” asks Sitton in his new book.

Sitton was barely a man when he left surfing and partying to live in Papua New Guinea, a faraway, perilous land. Leaving Texas with a Bible, a suitcase and a surfboard, he took the gospel to people who had never heard the name of Jesus. For thirty-four years God has used him to help train missionaries, spread the gospel and establish dozens of churches in remote regions. Through this book, experience the amazing things God did as David recklessly abandoned his will to the will of God.

Sitton and his wife Tommie founded The Center for Pioneer Church Planting, which began in January, 2006. This missionary training program is dedicated to recruiting, training and launching pioneer church planters into the far-flung regions where Christ is still unknown. Published by Ambassador International, Reckless Abandon will be available online and in stores by mid-September. Learn more at recklessabandonthebook.com.

 

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New Biography Reveals Darker Side of Amish Culture

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Basketful-of-Broken-Dishes-book-cover

Author Naomi Stutzman Shares Her Family’s Struggle Between Religious Bondage and Freedom in Faith

For immediate release: Simon refuses to submit to Amish authority. Community leaders demand that his wife must obey their rules, shunning her rebel husband. Together they become a perfect team to set their family free from the bondage of Amish “religion.” For the first time, their entire story is told in the new book, A Basketful of Broken Dishes, written by Simon and Susan’s daughter Naomi. “Growing up with an Amish background, I experienced ‘shunning’ first-hand and saw the devastating effects of leaving this close-knit community,” says Naomi. “My hope with this book is to show another side to the Amish lifestyle that is often not written about.”

Popularity in Amish literature has exploded. Most “bonnet books” as they’re called, are G-rated romances, often involving an Amish character who falls for an outsider. They’re Romeo-and-Juliet-style stories of forbidden love. A Basketful of Broken Dishes is also a story of the forbidden love of an Amish couple, only this story is completely true.

A new report from Elizabethtown College found that the Amish population in America is booming, doubling in the last 20 years. Growing up with an Amish background, Naomi comes from one of the largest extended Amish families recorded in Geauga County, Ohio, and she was the only one not born Amish. The passion for her Amish family grew as she saw the great example of love her parents had toward their relatives in spite of the shunning.

Naomi and her husband live in Twinsburg Ohio; they have four children and ten grandchildren. Published by Ambassador International, A Basketful of Broken Dishes is set for a late August 2011 release. Learn more at www.NaomiMulletStutzman.com.

 

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Former Addict Helps Others Embrace Life Beyond Sobriety

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sobering truth steve SellersAlcohol Stole Author Steven Sellers’ Life, but God Gave It Back

For immediate release: Statistics show that at least eight out of ten people don’t recover from addictions. Many receive help at treatment facilities only to fall back into their old ways once they leave. That’s exactly what happened to Steven Sellers. “People leave treatment armed with information on how to remain sober, but more often than not people fail,” says Sellers. “Many addicts are under the delusion that life will get better once they’re sober, but when it doesn’t they return to the comfort of addiction.”

His new book, The Sobering Truth: One Man’s Journey from Failure to Faith, shares the good news that despite the startling reality of what happens to most addicts, every life can be restored in Christ. This book reveals Sellers’ personal battle with alcoholism and how his addiction eventually pushed out everything in his life that was important. It’s the raw truth about how addiction bred deception and how deception destroyed Sellers’ career, marriage, self-esteem,  relationships, health, finances and character.

On the destructive, dysfunctional, and lonely path of addiction, Sellers found God and through Christ’s love was restored and healed. Sellers explains how he went from being controlled by a substance to handing control over to God. Published by Ambassador International, The Sobering Truth became available at bookstores nationwide this month. 

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Author Mimi Keener Meets Michele Bachmann

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Mimi Keener and Michelle Bachman

Mimi Keener and Michele Bachmann

Mimi Keeners presents The Best of Friends to Representative Michele Bachmann on Wednesday afternoon. Mimi and Michele were both born in Waterloo, Iowa.

 

Eating Disorders Experiencing Unprecedented Growth

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Call it what it isAuthor Angela Huntley Shares Her Personal Battle, Offers Hope to Others

For immediate release: Angela Huntley can’t remember a time in her childhood when she was happy with her appearance. In fact, she hated the way she looked. This disgust with her appearance pushed her into a spiral of laxative abuse and bingeing. “I was worshipping diet, exercise, and body image,” she says. “I was putting my desire to be thin before Christ.” She writes candidly about her agonizing obsession with weight in her new book, Call It What It Is: The Truth at the Core of Eating Disorders.

In the US, up to 24 million people of all ages and genders suffer from an eating disorder such as anorexia, bulimia and binge eating disorder. Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness. Those shocking statistics from the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD) don’t surprise Angela. “It’s a serious epidemic that’s growing fast,” she says. “But I overcame it and I know others can too.”

In Call It What It Is, Huntley wants readers to ponder the question “What is lord of your life?” Addictions can come in many forms, not just eating disorders. But Angela believes these strongholds can be broken when we surrender to God.

Angela resides in Kalamazoo, Michigan with her husband Chad and four sons. She received her degree in Biblical Studies from the Riverside Bible Institute and is currently on staff at Riverside Church in Three Rivers, Michigan. Published by Ambassador International, Call It What It Is is set for a July 20, 2011 release.

 

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Young Widow Hopes to Encourage Other Caregivers

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the-call-of-a-caregiver flatAuthor Jessica Mast Writes The Call of a Caregiver to Reach New Generation of Widows

For immediate release: At the age of 23 Jessica Mast was a beaming bride. At the age of 25 she was a grieving widow, struggling with the excruciating loss of her husband Jimmy. Jimmy’s liver began to fail and for months Jessica spent every moment by his hospital bed, leading the exhausting, painful life of a caregiver. “Jimmy’s condition was often up and down, and we would go from thinking he was improving one week to thinking the worst the next week,” says Jessica. “I stayed by his side through it all and refused to give up hope for Jimmy’s healing.”

Liver failure took Jimmy’s life on his 28th birthday, leaving Jessica empty, alone and struggling to understand why. “I felt hurt and betrayed by God for not healing Jimmy, and I struggled with anger toward God for months before I finally surrendered to His comfort, compassion and love for me,” remembers Jessica. “My despair almost caused me to take my own life, and once again, Jesus saved me from destruction. Over time, Jesus healed my wounds.” Jessica hopes by sharing her story of restoration through her new book The Call of a Caregiver, she’ll help others in similar circumstances.

A 2010 study estimates that the US is home to 13.6 million widows, the third highest of any country in the world. But often resources are geared towards older widows. However, recent wars have created a new generation of young caregivers and widows that Jessica hopes to encourage through The Call of a Caregiver. 

 

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