Overview

How might believers get back to offering the gifts of suffering-faith, perseverance, empathy, and hope-to those living in a literal world of hurt? People used to seek support from the Church when life got hard. But instead of providing a place for people to suffer well together, many churches today focus more on big growth, how-to programs, and positive news. If we come to value comfort over depth, chasing after more safe, predictable lives, we risk diminishing our light and His hope. In Holy Disturbance, author Karen Sjoblom aims to reacquaint people of faith with the gifts of suffering by weaving historical and current-day narratives around Reverend Addison Groff's timeless prayer, ""Disturb Us, O Lord."" Focused on equipping and encouraging pastors, leaders, volunteers, and congregants, Sjoblom invites the Church and Her people to move toward deeper faith and community-especially within our storms. Study how and why we've drifted from being suffering servants Read dozens of stories from congregants, leaders, and pastors about grief, recovery, hurt, and growth within the Church Soak in reflection questions, meaningful practices, and leadership wisdom to map a new course for your church and community-and a renewed thirst for God Suffering engenders messier lives but richer, deeper connections...and this is what the Church was built for. Holy Disturbance is part love letter and part wake-up call to the Church and Her people-to recognize the gifts that come from our seasons of struggle, and to share our hard-won lessons and His hope with a hurting world.

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Over a forty-year career, Karen Sjoblom has written about healthcare, science, technology, and education for myriad clients such as American Express, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Scottsdale Institute, and Thermo Fisher Scientific, among others. Further, as a divorced mom living near Portland, Oregon, she and a friend co-founded and ran Eve's Daughters-a nonprofit for single moms and their children-for nine years. In addition to Holy Disturbance, she's published Gone for Good: Lessons from a Midlife Exodus; One: Single Mothering, Full Circle from her time with Eve's Daughters; two parenting books with New Leaf Press as part of the Mom2Mom series; plus a patient and family handbook on living with Lou Gehrig's disease. She also has edited several books by multiple authors. Since 2007, she has written extensively on matters of life and faith and loves to talk about hope, grief, resilience, re-creation, and God's wily ways of disentangling His people from the aftereffects of abuse, trauma, and addiction. Her heart's desire is to help others see the beauty of their scars and stories so they can remember where they came from, celebrate the redemption of their worst wounds, know in their bones that God is for them, and get excited about where they're headed next. She lives in southern Indiana.For information about speaking engagements, small group facilitation, story work, or creative writing seminars, visit www.karensjoblom.com or email holydisturbance@gmail.com.

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