my roll as a “church leader” is to show God’s perfect love to imperfect humans. i find people do hold secrets… especially from church leadership. i need constant reminders in my life that people of all walks of life go through hard stuff and God has entrusted me with this position to be a conduit for his unconditional grace, love and acceptance. i would love a copy of the book…. a long time fan of “post secret”, i have anticipated it for some time now.

As a priest, I was thankful to Anne for writing her book, especially since I have my own daughter that I don’t want to be burdened or “turned-off” by the church. I also want other ministers I know to read this book.

I currently work in a church and have followed Anne on Twitter. I would love to read her book. I just love her heart. The fact that after all she has been through she doesn’t bash the church, that shows the Lord’s mercy, grace and love is at work in her life. It is always the hardest to forgive those that should have known better than to hurt you….the body of Christ.

I would like a copy of Anne’s book primarily to remind me of all the reasons I need to be genuine in my writing. My first book, about overcoming regret (Getting Past Your Past, 2000, Multnomah), had a chapter dedicated to secrets and authenticity and when I was promoting the book that chapter alone was 95% of what the interviewers and callers to radio shows wanted to talk about. I knew it was an important topic when I wrote the book, but it was promoting the book that showed me just how many people are hurting and isolated because they don’t feel safe to be honest and how desperate many are to escape the suffocation of constantly wearing a mask.

Now, after 10 very difficult, painful, embarrassing, yet instructive and valuable years of life, I am beginning to work on a book again. I am determined to find the authentic, free, grace-filled and unpretentious voice that lives just beneath the surface of my fear and longs to break through. I am literally given courage to see writer’s like Anne and Donald Miller so prominently in the market. I love to read authors who are real, humble and reachable, who walk into my living room and plop on my couch as my friend. I want very much to be that kind of author and think that Anne’s book, along with a few others, will really encourage me in that direction. Thank you for letting me know about it!

I loved hearing Anne speak with such ease about “uncomfortable” issues. If only we as a church could become more at ease with each others’ struggles in being human. Shame is an issue I deal with, and I know others who are similar. I would love to have this book to use with other women in our church who struggle.

I appreciate Anne’s candid honesty in this interview. Everyday I’m involved with helping build the value of the local church in my students as a Bible college instructor. We often talk about the need to “be real” as Christians about what they’re dealing with in their lives, but also how to build this as a culture in our churches – in a way that is genuine and welcoming to all who come. I would love a copy of this book, the subject being what we’re trying to build into the next generation of leaders, pastors, and those in the arts!

I grew up in a church in which almost every subject was taboo, unless it was “hellfire and damnation”. There are still so many of those subjects that I struggle talking about, I would LOVE to get past this. And that is why I want a copy of this book.
I posted a link to this post on twitter last night.

i want a copy of this book because i’m in a stage in life where i’m questioning some issues in church like is the church really a place where christians can be open and be themselves? i found out that the church mostly dont practise what they preach or rather dont preach what they should practise. they claim thr church should be open to all yet they intimidate those they see as “sinners” or “outcast”. the bible talked about wolfs in sheep’s clothing and i belief that really discribes mordern day chuch. Jesus our Lord was refered to as the friend of the sinner, do you think Jesus rode on a high and mighty horse looking down on the sinners snd telling them they would burn in hell? no. the bible says somewhere in Psalm 18 that he stooped so low to lift me up. i belief this was how Jesus did it he accepted them the way they were and concentrated on being their friend first, then teacher and master came in willingly.i wqnt this book because i want to know really is that how things should be done in the church or is it only some sort of spiritual abuse?

There is an undeniable healing power in telling the truth. What authentic, healing transparency Anne! Daily, I work with soul-wounded, brave-hearted women who are facing tough issues and won’t turn to their pastor for help. Anne speaks directly to these countless women. And I would LOVE to have her book as an additional resource.

So sorry that I missed this! I would have loved to have received a copy of this book. I am a survivor of abuse that took place within the walls of a faith community. Through facebook and twitter I discovered that there were many other survivors with similar stories. I now lead a support group for women who have struggled with the issues that surround abuse and faith. I am soundsblue on twitter and Facebook.