The Devil in Pew Number Seven [Paperback]

From the back of the book:

Rebecca never felt safe as a child.

In 1969, her father, Robert Nichols, moved with his family to Sellerstown, North Carolina, to serve as a pastor. There he found a small community eager to welcome him.....with one exception. Glaring at him from pew number seven was a man obsessed with controlling the church and determined to get rid of anyone who stood in his way.

What [The Nichols] couldn't ignore was the strategy of terror their tormentor unleashed, more devastating and violent than they could have ever imagined. Refusing to be driven away, Rebecca's father stood his ground until one night when an armed man walked into the family's kitchen.....and Rebecca's life was shattered.

If anyone had reason to harbor hatred and seek personal revenge, it would be Rebecca. Yet The Devil in Pew Number Seven tells a different story. It is the amazing, true saga of relentless persecution, one family's faith and courage in the face of it, and a daughter whose parents taught her the power of forgiveness.

My thoughts on this book:

This is a powerful story of unimaginable horror and loss endured by a little girl and the grace that allows her to live with the after affects.

It is also a powerful example of parents who plant the Word and character of God into their childrens' hearts - and the fruit it bears. The fact that Rebecca and Daniel grew to be adults who, although deeply affected by the events of their childhood, held no bitterness or hatred toward those who stole from them their security and, in one way or another, their parents, is a testimony to the example and teaching of Pastor and Mrs. Nichols.

The story is written with a command of language, containing beautiful passages and phrases such as
"Maple and oak trees shed their summer gowns without embarrassment....." [p 23] and "Sometime after the sun traded places with the moon on that chilly December evening,....." [p 75]. These kinds of 'word pictures' make reading this hard tale much easier, giving respite from the terror, violence, and heartbreak.

The theme of this biography can be summed up in the this phrase, which Rebecca repeats often..."Forgiveness is the language of Heaven".

Rebecca's parents effectively taught her (and their whole community) by example that "forgiveness should be a way of life, even when it is humanly inconcievable to do so." [p 88]

Near the end of the book, Ms. Alonzo includes a 'teaching' on forgiveness. Not only are her words scriptually sound, by by this point, the reader recognises the authority and integrity from which she speaks. She also offers encouragement to those who ask "Why does God allow horrible things to happen to His followers?" She does not pretend to know the answer to this ages-old question, instead she exhorts us that "When we don't understand, we must trust the God of all and remember that things have an unseen purpose that will work out for good somehow if we keep our eyes on Him and not on all of the questions." [p272] Rebecca also declares, from her deep pain and loss..."Yes, life is hard, but God is good" [p241]

I was inspired by this story - inspired to speak 'the language of heaven', to make forgiveness a way of life, and to encourage my adult children to take teachable moments with THEIR children, to plant the seeds that will set them free to forgive - from a young age.

I recieved this book from Tyndale Media Center in return for my honest review.

Great Read.Everyone should read this book. Most of us in this world really have nothing to complain about. I only wish my faith was as strong as that family.

It is a wonderful book about forgiveness. It is terrible what selfishness will make us into. I would recomment this book to but it is a hard read.