In Every Pew Sits a Broken Heart: Hope for the Hurting »

Ruth Graham has written six books including bestselling, In Every Pew Sits a Broken Heart (Zondervan 2004) and award-winning, Step into the Bible (Zonderkidz 2007). Ruth is an experienced conference speaker and Bible teacher known for her honesty and authenticity.

As founder and President of Ruth Graham and Friends, Ruth seeks to minister God's grace and comfort to those who are hurting and feel alone as well as to equip those who desire to help those who are hurting.

Ruth is the third child of Ruth and Billy Graham. She worked in publishing for 13 years as an acquisitions editor and for five years as donor relations coordinator for Samaritan's Purse. She spent one year as Major Gifts Officer at Mary Baldwin College where in 2000 she graduated cum laude and received the Outstanding Adult Student award. She has an honorary doctorate of Humane Letters from Eastern University.

Ruth has three grown children and six grandchildren. She and her husband, Greg, and his three sons live near Charlottesville, Virginia.

Stacy Mattingly is co-author of Unlikely Angel with Ashley Smith; Prisoners of Hope: The Story of Our Captivity and Freedom in Afghanistan with Dayna Curry and Heather Mercer; and two books with Ruth Graham: In Every Pew Sits a Broken Heart and Legacy of Love.

Offers help and hope to those who wonder if they have out-sinned God's grace or if their life circumstances have set them aside from being used by God, with practical help to every believer and church leader who sits side by side each Sunday with the broken and hurting. Foreword by Billy Graham.

Publishers Weekly

By turns memoir, Bible study and self-help book, Graham's platform as the daughter of beloved evangelist Billy Graham gives her the credentials to spin this competent tale of brokenness. But she offers more than a famous lineage: "I am qualified to write this book because I am flawed," she writes. She shares her struggles parenting three children through out-of-wedlock pregnancies, drug use and bulimia; her battle with depression and flirtation with suicide, and her disappointment over her two divorces. "I know what it's like to sit in the pew with a broken heart," says Graham. It's her vulnerability in the memoir portions that lend credence to the fairly basic application items at the end of the chapters. (Advice to those experiencing suffering: "seek godly counsel" and "maintain your daily devotional times with God.") Graham finds solace for the brokenhearted through scripture, looking at the lives of Jeremiah, Elijah and other biblical examples. Unlike many inspirational books of this ilk, there's no fairytale ending. Graham admits she is in the midst of a third faltering marriage, but says she's grateful God accepts her as she is-"hurting, wounded, broken." In true Graham fashion, the book concludes with an altar call. Weary Christians disappointed with the way their lives have turned out should find this a heartening read. (Aug.) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

Foreword   Billy Graham
In My Pew Sat a Broken Heart: Seeing God in the Ruins     11
How Could This Be Happening to Me?: The Shock of Brokenness     22
Is God Really in Control?: Trusting God to Carry Us in Hard Times     58
No One Knows - Should I Keep It That Way?: The Impulse of Isolation     94
Do I Have What It Takes to Forgive?: The Ongoing Struggle of Forgiveness     135
How Do I Make Peace with God?: Choosing to Trust Him     175
How Do I Live in Transition?: Learning to Be Still during Times of Uncertainty     204
I Don't Want Stamina - I Want Out!: Aborting God's Healing Work     244
Have I Outsinned God's Grace?: Experiencing God's Healing Embrace     267
Who Am I?: Learning to Be Authentic     291
More Trials? When Will Life Get Easier?: Trusting God in the Dark     327
How Do I Keep On Trusting God?: More Lessons in Letting Go     353
Great Is Thy Faithfulness: Learning the Language of Heaven     379
Welcome Home     408
Acknowledgments     414