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In this day and age, this is a common feeling we have. Trekking is an invitation to deep spiritual and cultural transformation. While the standard and superficial practices of North American contemporary church are being soundly rejected in this cultural moment, Gene Maynard takes you on a journey into ancient, contemplative Christian spirituality to help you retrieve the powerfully transformative practices and rhythms that have always been the hallmark of Christian faith.

You will travel with him over the ancient El Camino de Santiago pilgrimage where, with the help of these contemplative Christian practices, he verified their power to transform interior life and surrounding culture. Immersing yourself in the first two sections of the book, you will find interior, spiritual practices that, for centuries, have been healing profoundly the deep, interior places within us that have been marked by wounds, losses, sins, and rejections. You’ll explore and be challenged by practices such as lectio divina, contemplation, and the Jesus Prayer. As you linger with these practices, you will begin to make progress on the way that leads to a deeper life with Jesus. With your soul awakening, you will find in the last section of Trekking spiritual practices that show you how to bring the healing you are experiencing back into your community. These exterior practices, such as simplicity, community, joy, and living life for others will amaze you at their power to make your community and world a better place at a moment in history when a better place is desperately needed.

Filled with his own experiences in spiritual awakening, Gene hopes to give people a way to find inner peace. Weaving together stories from ancient pilgrims who hungered for a deeper life with Jesus with powerful encounters with God from his own life, you will find interior ways and rhythms that lead to your own spiritual growth and transformation. Grab this book today!

ATS ALUM CONTINUES MINISTRY OF GRACE CHURCH AND PUBLISHES A BOOK

Grace Church is pleased to announce The Rev. Wes Olds (ATS ’02) as the new Lead Pastor of Grace Church, a multi-site congregation in Southwest Florida (egracechurch.com). Wes succeeds his friend and mentor, Rev. Dr. Jorge Acevedo (AC ’84, ATS ’88), who stepped away from the role at Grace Church after 27 years to pursue a new calling of coaching, speaking, and writing. Prior to this transition, Wes served with Jorge for 17 years at Grace Church, most recently as the campus pastor for the original congregation located in Cape Coral.

Wes is a 2002 graduate of Asbury Theological Seminary and plans to continue to lead Grace Church in the Wesleyan-Methodist way of making more and maturing disciples of Jesus.

Earlier in 2023, Wes’ new book, Confronting the Thief Within: How I Quit Earning God’s Love and Embraced My Real Identity was released by Invite Resources. Wes was joined in this project by his former counselor Bonnie Crandall (ATS ’96), MA, LPCC (ret).

With courageous vulnerability, Wes tells the story of how God healed him from people pleasing, anger, breakdown, and burnout – and shows how you can live a life of true freedom, peace, and joy by reclaiming your identity as a child of God and person of worth.

The Rev. Dr. Maxie Dunnam, President Emeritus of Asbury Theological Seminary, gave this endorsement:

Wow! Fortunately I had the time when I began this book; I spent the day with it. As I read I thought of two of my favorite authors, Henri Nouwen and Brennan Manning. I commend Bonnie and Wes for such a winsome partnership. Here is thoughtful content expressed in a convincing and creative way, including deep emotion. Like me you will have difficulty putting it down. 

https://www.inviteresources.com/store/view/confronting-the-thief-within-paperback/