When you write a book, everyone has the same question “What’s it about?” Marketing expert Rob Eager says this isn’t usually (or ever!) the real question. The real question is “What’s in it for me?” In other words, why should I plunk down $10 or $12 or $15 on something you wrote? Yes, it sounds a little self-centered, but it also sounds pretty true, don’t you think? Frankly, that’s the way I think before I spend my money.
I thought it might be fun for you to eavesdrop on an email I received a few weeks ago which provides an insight into 1) why I wrote Seek and 2) what’s in it for you or for someone you know. The email came from Anne Watson. I met Anne at the Proverbs 31 She Speaks conference this summer. She attended a seminar I gave and, as it turns out, Seek was an answer to her prayers for the women she leads at Preston Trail Community Church in Frisco, Texas.
I hope you are inspired as I was as I let you take a peek into a personal email to me from Anne (with her permission, of course!)…..
I didn’t grow up in church. Ever. Not even Christmas and Easter. We just didn’t go. I knew there was a God and I talked to Him but that was the extent of it. I had a couple of brief stints in Catholicism via middle school and getting married in a Catholic church but nothing ever really clicked. I knew I wanted to know more but I had no idea how to find it. I church hopped one summer with a friend; we went to every denomination to try to figure out ‘what religion we were’ to no avail. It was overwhelming and confusing so I gave up.
Six years ago I tried another church in South Carolina. Only about 300 members and in a funky temporary building that made it look like a cult. SCARY! I dragged a friend with me and what we found was a pastor that was 1) in jeans 2) spiked hair 3) very self-deprecating and funny 4) rock music (in church?!?) and 5) a lesson about the bible I could understand! I was hooked!
We were so incredibly fortunate to get into a small group with that pastor and his wife on Sunday nights. I am pretty sure I annoyed the heck out of him every single Sunday asking him every single question I ever had. I would always start by saying, “I know this is a dumb question but….” He was SO patient. I really, horribly, monopolized the group! I was certain they would kick me out soon! But they never did. So much grace! 😉
So fast forward 6 years and through a turn of events, a chance meeting with Beth Moore (totally God-Driven) and a plot the way only Jesus can do it, I am now the Women’s Ministry Director for my church of 3000. 6 years!! It’s just nuts to me to look back on it. I have such a long way to go but I know that it all started in Sunday evening small group where I had the unique opportunity to ask the questions.
That is what your book represents to me. Not everyone can have the pastors attention the way I did. But it was invaluable time and grew my faith like a rocket! Your book is sitting at the feet of the pastor asking every question that comes to mind. I can hardly imagine where each woman touched by this book will be 6 years from this study. If God can do for them what he did for me, just THINK of it! It truly boggles the mind!
Yes, think of it.
Think of them.
The women just like Anne who want to know God but need a place to start. It might even be you. Or someone you know, care about, or rub shoulders with every week.
Who knows? Maybe I wrote Seek so you would read this blog and become the very instrument God uses to launch another human being into a journey of meeting Him. Pretty cool, don’t you think?
So…why did I write the book?
I wrote it for you.
I wrote it for her.
So you, and those you know, could find HIM.
