Up Pops the Devil | The Amen Sisters
REVIEWS of UP POPS THE DEVIL
Armchair Interviews
"As I read this book I could feel the characters’ struggles because I had similar ones. To relive my conversion again through Preacher’s story was magnificent. I would absolutely recommend this book to everyone."
REVIEWS of THE AMEN SISTERS
Lauretta Huff at Faithful Reader’s Word of Mouth (May 2006) gives The Amen Sisters 5 stars!
Bahiyah Woman magazine (BWM) and Faithwebbin
“If you are looking for a juicy novel, this definitely fits the bill. Kudos to Angela for a courageous novel!”
Romance in Color
“Powerful! Soul searching! Spiritually provoking! Angela Benson
has again produced a powerful rendition of love, forgiveness,
God’s grace and mercy in Amen Sisters!”
Affaire de Coeur magazine
“The love that develops between the lines of the page-turning novel will jump off the page and into your heart.”
Urban-Reviews
“This novel not only shows what happens when these women try to
come forward with their stories, but also shows the lack of support the
church gives these women.”
RAWSISTAZ
“. . . a rich, multifaceted work of Christian Fiction that is
both timely and realistic. The characters create the pulse of the
story, and they are well balanced…not the “perfect
people” often seen in this genre. ”
Armchair Interviews
“Benson writes a powerful and compelling novel with characters
you will either care deeply about or want to see fall fast and hard.
”
Fallen Angel Reviews
“. . .Kudos to Ms. Benson for dealing with one of the last
remaining taboo topics in today’s church in such a
straightforward and compassionate manner. ”
Book Buzz at APOOO Bookclub
“. . .a bold and gritty look at sexual abuse in the church. . .”
Mini-review at Photography and More
“This book also boldly confronts the abuse of power by some who are in leadership roles in the Church.”
The Amen Diaries. . . from the hearts of those who read The Amen Sisters
With this page,
I’m sharing with you some of the dear thoughts and prayers
readers of The Amen Sisters have shared with me. As an author who seeks
to serve the Kingdom of God with her writing, I cannot tell you how
encouraging these notes have been for me.
I present them to
you unedited (I did remove spoilers and identifying information)
because I want to share them with you as they were shared with me. May
your hearts be encouraged and your lives enriched as you read these
notes. If you find yourself distracted by typos or grammatical errors,
take a moment and ask the Lord to clear your heart. You’ll miss a
blessing if you focus on the wrong thing.
God bless every
person who poured out their hearts and their thoughts! If you’re
reading this and The Amen Sisters has been encouraging to you, please
share your experience by emailing me.
“When we get
together, I want to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be
encouraged by yours.” (Romans 1:12, New Living Translation)
I just finished
reading your book a few minutes ago. Great story, which held my
interest . Thank you for writing a book which gives insight into the
real issues and problems that occur in our churches, with other
Christians, and our Pastors. It was very helpful to see the real
interest and processes that Pastor Thomas took and used to help resolve
the problems encountered by his members. An uncaring and less sensitive
Pastor can do much harm to his members if he doesn’t care or know
how to resolve his own personal conflicts and those involving his
members. I think you book provided valuable methods for showing how
church and personal conflicts should be resolved. Thanks again for a
great book and I look forward to your next book which I hope will
continue to show us how to deal with real life issues within the Body
of Christ.
I am reading
“The Amen Sisters” at this time and I can hardly put it
down! It is so very well written! You can feel the characters’s
emotions. It brings so many issues to light; real issues. It validates
the pain that so many women and men go through and shows the way God
would want us to resolve these situations his way, not ours. If I
could, I would read it sun up to sun down. I will give it to someone as
a gift this year. The scripture shared throughout this book by mention
and example are tools of God that we can use throughout our lives.
Thank you for the
powerful wisdom and awe inspiring insight of undaunting truth in the
“Amen Sisters” I was deeply touched, being so by having
been in similar situations as one of the characters! I was surprised to
learn that I wasn’t alone in this particular experience and the
advice was the pat on the back I *REALLY* needed. It was quite easy to
put myself in the characters shoes and for so long many among myself
have been at a lost for words to discribe to others and their familes
the same situations dealt with in the book and how to overcome it! I
just want to thank you for you bold wisdom and for bringing this topic
to surface. Thank you for all the right words.
Thank you so much
for writing the Amen Sisters. I have been where your characters
were–been under a cult-like church, with a pastor that took
advantage of me (and many other women) and I got pregnant twice. That
was one of the worse seasons of my life and I felt just like the girl
in your book did that no one believed. Thanks for helping me sort
through some things I had never dealt with concerning that whole season
of my life. God bless you!!!
I just finished
reading The Amen Sisters today and it was such a blessing. It was very
refreshing to read a book that had such a clear message of love and
forgiveness. It was so true to life. I would love to see “The
Amen Sisters” as a movie. I appreciate you and I thank God for
the awesome gift the He has given you. Continue to walk in God’s
divine purpose for your life and you will be sure to prosper. Your
sister in Christ…
I just purchased
your book (Amen Sisters) on Tuesday of this week, read the book the
same day and finished early this morning. Your characters were so
vividly portrayed in your book until I am still thinking about the
sobering experience and encounters this book bought me. You are such a
probing, creative writer. It was amazing to see how you carried the
reader from one character to another, engaging us to stick with the
people and their life-changing events. Although, I rarely purchase a
fictional book, this one took me to the top because the events were
actually things that are still happening in Christian circles. If you
are ever speaking in my area, I will be there! Thanks for writing such
an aspiring story. I have recommended the book to several sisters
already and will continue. This book has mystery, joy, saddness, truth
and courage.
I was greatly moved
by reading the AMEN Sisters - it really prepared me for some news I was
about to hear that was going on at my church. When men of God stray it
does have far reaching consequences and unless you are anchored in the
Lord you can be destroyed - nevertheless the anchored can still be
devasted. Thank you for such a timely book.
Hi Angela, I feel
like I already know you or at least you are one of the girls. One of my
spiritual sisters gave me your book The Amen Sisters for my birthday
last year. Once I started reading your book I couldn’t wait to
pick it up again. I have a 9 year old son and keeping up with him and
his homework keeps me pretty busy during the week. Nevertheless, I
started during the week either Monday or Tuesday, by Saturday I was
telling my son I was not moving until I finished it. Saturday is his
day for cartoons so I layed across my bed and the burst of “oh
my’s” caused my son to come and see what was the matter. I
was very much surprised by your ending. [spoiler deleted] Reflecting on
the story from the ending to the beginning. I felt your ending was very
happy indeed. [spoiler deleted] In short, I loved your book, as well as
your creativity in putting the story together in scripture, prayer, as
well as the reality of life. Although, it wasn’t until a talked
to my freind Carole after we both had finished, that I realized the
simularities in my own life.
First I must
apoligize for not thanking you sooner for sending me the book
“Amen Sisters.” The book arrived at a time, I needed my
spirits lifted. I was diagnosed with breast cancer at that time. I had
surgery, and the tumor is gone. I had radiation treatments, and if it
is God’s will, there will be no reoccurance of the cancer. The
book was so good, I could hardly put it down. It only took me two days
to read Amen Sisters. My friends and co-workers have all purchased your
book. Everyone that read the book loves it!! Again I want to thank you
for the wonderful gift. I will always keep you in my prayers, and I
will remember your kindness forever.
I just finished
reading “Amen Sisters”. It was very good. I enjoy Christian
fiction because, it shows that we have real lives and have problems
like everyone else. and we're not churchy all the time.
I have been out of
the church of my youth and also where i was employed for 1 year 8months
and 13 days. My pain lessens by the day and God has placed positive
persons in my life in the last few months who help me restore my faith
as I plan for the future. Yes I obtained another job but not another
church. Fear is what has kept me from making that kind of commitment
again (40+ years is a long time) but I know, believe and must trust God
for another home where I can again share my ministry skills and be
blessed as I bless others. Your article alone was so needed thus
I’m sure the book will be a further blessing. Blessings to anyone
who takes a stand however the wind blows. Peace my Sister.
I would like to
learn more about how to reach a family member involved in this type of
abusive church senario. My little sister may be involved and has been
for over 20 years now. Her group has a “mission” or church
in Ghana but she lives in [identifying information deleted] and works
two jobs to send all of her money to fund the church. Many young women
go to Ghana and don’t come back. Prayer is my hope to reach her.
The last two posts actually refer to an article I wrote when the
hardcover of The Amen Sisters was first released, Helping a Friend
after the Trauma of an Abusive Church. You can read it HERE.
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