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.

Breathe
Keri Wyatt Kent
Revell, 2005
ISBN 0-800-730-607
This book should be read 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” suggestion that help to put the information into practice.


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.

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 style and short stories make it a tool for busy mothers who only find moments of quiet time.

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 and strategies are developed to involve young adults in ministry. A study guide for this book can be found at http://clt.nazarene.org/.

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.

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 worth and value in Jesus Christ, and begin to live 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 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.

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 to develop coping skills. The Hart father/daughter team provides 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.

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.

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.