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Baaad Sheep: When God's People Let You Down
by Ellen Gillette / 10-session book-workbook
Softcover:
8.5 x 11", spiral
Page Count: 155 pp.
List
Price: $14.95 USD
$11.96
(20% off)
50+: $9.72 (35% off list)
ISBN 10: 0-9792089-3-9
ISBN 13: 978-0-9792089-3-5 |
Excerpt:
““As a teenager, I was molested by a trusted family
friend in our church. Over the years, I’ve suf-fered
from the gossip mill that routinely operates among congregations
of all shapes and sizes. I’ve sought help and counsel
from pastors and left wondering why I’d bothered. I
know what it’s like to have someone at church say,
‘I’ll be there for you’ and then disappear.
I know what it’s like to have Christian friends forsake
me based on rumor or assumption—or even based on accurate
information…to walk into church and not feel safe,
shadowing my husband David so that no one is able to catch
me alone and inflict more pain. I know what it’s like
to watch people be publicly affirmed as pillars of the congregation
who have knowingly hurt me and my loved ones. It was at
just such a point during a Sunday morning service that David
turned to me and said simply, ‘I think we need to be
somewhere else. ’Unfortunately, “somewhere else”
can easily become nowhere at all....
“If you fall into the category of ‘formerly churched,’
my prayer is that this study will encourage you to make
the effort to step back into the fray. Strictly speaking,
church attendance is an obedience issue not to be treated
lightly (see Hebrews10:25), but more than that, it’s
a ‘God thing.’ Church isn’t full of perfect
people, but it is full of people God wants us to learn to
love. With all the potential for hurt in the church, you’ve
got to admit it does make the perfect classroom!”
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About the Author
A Christian since her teenaged years “a
long, loooong time ago,” Ellen Gillette has
been writing professionally for almost two decades, primarily
as a weekly newspaper columnist, but also for both Christian
and secular magazines. Raised in the mountains of North
Carolina, she spent most of her life on the southeast coast
of Florida. A former homeschooler, foreign missionary, and
classroom teacher, Ellen serves in her local church, has
a “real job” with another church, is a community
theater enthusiast, and helps raise goats and grandchildren
with David, her husband of thirty years, in Lillington,
North Carolina.
What the Reviewers are saying about Baaad
Sheep ...
“Are you ready to be
challenged to be more honest, loving, patient, forgiving,
and quicker to ask for forgiveness? If so, Ellen Gillette’s
study guide about recovering from disappointment in God’s
family is for you. Her insight, humor, and obvious experience
in learning to love and forgive come through on every page.
As her pastor, I can also tell you she lives out what she
encourages others to do.”
—Dr. Ken Dalton, Pastor
Crossroads Church, Lillington, NC
“The pure and grace-filled
message of scripture illumines case studies of events that
happen in every congregation. Instead of pat answers, readers
will discover a firm foundation for exploration, discussion
and healing. This workbook will be a healing balm for individuals
who have been hurt by the all too self-centered actions
of other church members. It will be an eye-opening guide
of self-discovery for all who wish to be more Christ-like,
especially in their relationships with other brothers and
sisters in Christ. It is hard to read a page and not recall
a similar incident in your own experience, but instead of
incrimination there is a solid path provided to transform
the church and maybe even yourself!”
—Dr. William C. Goodnight, Pastor
Lillington Presbyterian Church, Lillington, NC
“In Baaad Sheep,
Ellen Gillette has addressed an issue within the Church
that is more than needed. Jesus prayed just before he went
to the cross that we, the body of Christ, might be one.
We haven't 'arrived'yet, obviously. Baaad Sheep is
not just a book to read through once, but one to use time
and time again as a manual in working through issues, hurts,
conflicts and my favorite, forgiveness. Ellen has not only
skillfully written this excellent book, but she has walked
this out in life, by being a gooood sheep.”
—Doug Easterday, Pastor & Speaker
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Baaad Sheep
