Books, books, and more books. While being a visual society, there is little that replaces the value of the printed page. However, identifying books that meet a specific need may be difficult. The following list of books contains a brief review of books that may be helpful to Women's Ministries leaders. Periodically, members of the Women's Ministries General Council will add to this list of books.

Unless otherwise noted, all of the books reflect our denomination's Wesleyan/holiness tradition. The books may be purchased through Nazarene Publishing House at nph.com, other on-line sources, as well as your local Christian bookstore. Remember that your public library may have a copy or be able to obtain a copy through their inter-library loan system.

If you have a book that you would like to recommend, please send a short review along with publication information-author, publisher, date of publication, and ISBN-to womensministries@nazarene.org or mail to Women' s Ministries.

Breathe
Keri Wyatt Kent
Revell, 2005
ISBN 0-800-730-607
This book should be red by couples as they plan life together. It will help them consider the things that fill their days and prioritize them. While written for families, there is a lot of information that can help single adults in their lifestyle, too. In fact, there probably aren’t too many of us who couldn’t benefit from examining our lives and determining how we can lower the hectic-ness of them.

The Busy Mom’s Guide to Spiritual Survival
Kelli B. Trujillo
Wesleyan Publishing House, 2007
ISBN 7808980 273465
A great book for moms with young children with helps for maintaining a spiritual life while in the midst of rearing children. Because this life-stage is stress-filled for many mothers, this book offers insights, encouragement, and support for the journey. The author writes from a practical experience, spattering throughout stories of mothers who have been there and survived.

A bonus to the book is the discussion questions at the end of each chapter. This makes the book ideal for small group discussion—especially when the church provides childcare. Some chapters include a “try it” suggest that help to move the information into practice.


Chosen and Highly Favored
Diana Swoope
Beacon Hill Press, 2001
ISBN 083-411-884X
An easy-to-read and fill with interesting insights on the role of holiness women in today’s society. The book challenge readers to become the women God designed them to be.

Cooking with Hot Flashes
Martha Bolton
Bethany House, 2005
ISBN 0-7642-0002-X
In a society that values youth, Martha Bolton provides a comical look at life as women “mature.” A great gift for any woman as she transitions from one live stage to another. Bolton reminds the readers there is more than one way to view life—and her suggestion is to laugh and enjoy it.


Daily Wisdom for Mothers
Michelle Medlock Adams
Barbour, 2004
ISBN 1- 5931-0175-9
This daily devotional thought book will speak to many mothers as they find their lives reflected in the writings. Short and often thought provoking, this makes a great gift for mothers—especially those in active parenting days when time for devotional thoughts is at a premium.

Forgiven and Set Free: A Post-Abortion Bible Study for Women
Linda Cochrane
Baker Book House Company, 1999
ISBN 080-105-723-X
There are few resources available for women who have had an abortion. Help is a vital part of the recovery process. This Bible study shows God’s healing grace. It requires good knowledge of the books of the Bible, therefore, some users will require assistance as they work through this study.

From Eve to Esther
Nell Mohney
Dimensions, 2001
ISBN 068-709-6227
A good resource for an Old Testament study of women. For lesser know women without much detailed information, the author uses her imagination to create a “story.” The author draws “lessons” for each life and includes a section for further biblical study and life application.

Grieving the Child I Never Knew
Kathe Wunnenberg
Zondervan, 2001
ISBN 031-022-7771
The loss of an unborn child is a loss that many ado not understand, causing many women to grieve their loss without support. This book offers help as the author draws from personal experience to write devotional-type chapters addressing various aspects of the grieving process.

Holding the World by the Hand
Gigi Schweikert
Howard, 2005
ISBN 1-5822-9418-6
A great gift for new mothers and those with young children. The author uses personal stories to remind mothers of their importance in the formation of their children. The easy-to-read and short stories make it a tool for busy mothers who only find short segments of quiet time.

In Search of Authentic Faith
Steve Rabey
Waterbrook Press, 2001
ISBN 157-856-319-4
This book does a great job of analyzing what is and what is not working with young adults today.

Listening Inside Out
David and Rhonda Kyncl
Beacon Hill Press, 2008
ISBN 978-0-8341-2369-4
This book is designed to facilitate intergenerational conversations strategies are developed to involve young adults in ministry. A study guide for this book can be found at http://clt.nazarene.org/.

Loving Your Body
Deborah Newman
Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 2002
ISN 1-58997-005-5
The media presentation the female body is an unrealistic expectation. Models are frequently young or pictures have been “touched-up” to eliminate flaws. Because of the deception of the media, many women have a poor body image. This book discusses many of the myths and misrepresentations to assist readers in understand that God accepts us and wants us to see ourselves as He does. Designed for group use, each chapter includes discussion questions, making this a great tool for use as an outreach ministry.

Mom…and Loving It!
Laurie Lovejoy Hilliard & Sharon Lovejoy Aut
Bethany House, 2005
ISBN 0-7642-0039-9
This book is written by two busy mothers so they have a good writing perspective. The suggestions and information is practical and real-to-life. They also include stories of other mothers, covering the various staging of mothering—from young children to teens. Each chapter has a section for application as well as questions to use with small groups or others.

Mom, Dad…I’m Pregnant
Jayne E. Schooler
NavPress, 2004
ISBN 1-576-834-824
The author writes from personal experience, making the book a great companion for those facing the unplanned pregnancy of a child—regardless of age. The author also addresses the father and how his rights, role, and responsibilities are often overlooked. She also writes about grandparents parenting grandchildren. There are questions at the end of each chapter to assist with personal application.

Mom, Does God Know We’re in Wyoming?
C. Ellen Watts
Pleasant World, 2006
ISBN141-410-524X
Moms are incredibly busy people--a fact not always recognized by non-mothers and forgotten by those whose active mothering days are completed. This collection of stories reminds busy mothers that God understands and cares--always.  Though the life experiences of the author, other moms learned how God uses everyday events to teach and encourage them. Great reading for moms with little time to read.

Real Sex: The Naked Truth about Chastity
Lauren F. Winner
Brazos Press, 2005
ISBN 1-58743-069-X
The author challenges the Church community to understand that sexual purity is also a community matter. Winner writes about the difficulty and importance of sexual chastity. She also confronts cultural lies about sex and challenges how we talk about sex in the church.  She seeks to answer questions such as “how far is too far? What does chastity have to do with loving my neighbor? How does my sexual behavior form habits and expectations?

While Winner may have started out to write a book about sexuality for single adults, the end product is a book that challenges every reader to understand what it means to be Christian sexual beings in today’s world. She calls the readers, regardless of marital status, to pursue chastity as a conversion and amendment of life.

Set Free
Jan Coates
Bethany House, 2005
ISBN 0-7642-0040-2
For women who have experience some type of abuse in their lives, this book offers hope, encouragement, support, and tools for gaining freedom from the memories and effects of those traumatic experiences. Sharing stories of survivors, the author helps readers to relinquish the painful memories, discover their work and value in Jesus Christ, and begin to life a healed life.  The book includes a list of resources for obtaining help and resources.  There are also discussion questions that make the book easier to apply to one's life and/or as a guide for a survivor’s group.

Seven Things He’ll Never Tell You…
Kevin Lemann
Tyndale House, 2007
ISBN 9781414312088
Written by a man for women, it helps women to understand better the men in their lives.  It also helps to celebrate and appreciate the differences between the genders.  The explanations about how men think, react, and behave should help women to understand and cope with the challenges of marriage, rearing boys, and relating to all the men in their lives.  A great read—and highly recommend.

Shepherding a Woman’s Heart
Beverly White Hislop
Moody Publishers, 2003
ISBN 0-8024-3354-5
The value of this “new model for effective ministry to women” is the emphasis on relationships and meeting women at their point of needs. Great insights on listening and role modeling.

Stick a Geranium in Your Hat and Be Happy!
Barbara Johnson
Word Publishing, 2004
ISBN 0-8499-4479-1
The author helps you look for “life’s little sparkles” even in the midst of life’s most crippling sorrows. Though pain is inevitable, we can choose to pick the flowers instead of the weeds.

Twentysomething
Margaret Feinberg
W Publishing Group, 2004
ISBN -8499-4444-9
The book is written for twentysomethings as a tool on the journey into adulthood. However, the book is a great source of information regarding the experiences of twentysomethings. It’s a great read for ministry leaders as they reach out to people in this decade of their lives.

Unveiling Depression in Women
Archibald Hart and Catherine Hart Weber
Revell, 2002
ISBN 0-8007-5749-1
Many of us experience time of feeling depressed. Sometimes this is short-lived, and other times, it is diagnosed as depression. Since this is more common in women, we often desire information to help understand what is happening, the causes, and coping skills. The Hart father/daughter team provided a resource that draws from the father’s education and professional experience with the daughter’s insights. They encourage a holistic approach of counseling, health care, faith, and medication when necessary. This book is a great resource for every woman—as a tool for personal use or helping others.

When the Soul Listens
Jan Johnson
NavPress, 1999
ISBN 157-683-1132
Here is another excellent book on spiritual formation. The book is not a series of formulas to help you do contemplative prayer. However, if the reader is experiencing a spiritual drought, this book will help.

A Woman and Her Relationships
Rosemary Flaaten
Beacon Hill Press, 2007
ISBN 978-0-8341-2338-0
The author challenges the readers to take an honest look at their relationship with God. Sharing insights from personal experiences and other women, the readers are provided tool to enrich and strengthen their relationship with God.

Women Mentoring Women
Vickie Kraft
Moody Press, 1992
ISBN 0-8024-9565-6
This book contains information to begin Women’s Ministries in general and a specific aspect of the ministries through “Heart-to-Heart, a mentoring program. Included in the book are surveys, program ideas, tools for developing a purpose and mission statement, and other resources. Many of the ideas for “tested” for use in a variety of church sizes. A good resource to aid in developing, improving, and evaluating Women’s Ministries.

You Still Here, Lord?
Karon Phillips Goodman
Barbour, 2004
ISBN 1-5931-0127-6
In a conversational and easy-to-read style, the author challenges readers to completely rest in god’s love, learning to trust and invite God into all aspects of life. This is a good read for women wanting to take their relationship with God to a deeper level.

Yupe. Nope. Maybe.
Stephen James and David Thomas
Tyndale, 2007
978-1-4143-1207-1
In an easy-to-read style and filled with stories, the author discuss the communication differences between men and women with the goal of helping women understand the men in their lives and to improve communications.  This should be a "must read" as part of pre-marital counseling and for couples to re-read periodically throughout their marriage.

Now if their wives would write a book for men on how women communicate, couples would have tools to understand and celebrate their differences.