Sean C. Morgan
Marriages disintegrate. Financial problems and death pressure families. Failure stalks its victims in many different ways.
Through all of these challenges, it is possible to live with an unshakeable faith.
That is what Kevin Hill, pastor at Holley Christian Church asserts in his recently self-published book, “Unshakeable: Standing Strong When Things Go Wrong.”
He wrote the book with his senior pastor coach, Nelson Searcy of Florida, with help from Jennifer Dykes Henson. Searcy told Hill he had this idea for a book and asked Hill if he wanted to participate.
The book provides a basic biblical response to several common problems in life, and his church is giving it away to visitors.
“I wanted to do something to give away to first-time guests,Hill said. A lot of the time, people come to church during troubling times and transitions in life.
“I wanted to have something that would address common things everybody faces, Hill said, whether it’s failure, marriage issues, doubt, death or problems with a career.
It is a faith-based book focusing on how faith can help people through these tough situations, he said. The book is designed like a “Choose Your Own Adventure” book, with the reader moving through the book to where he or she needs help.
“What do you do when you face failure,” Hill asks. Step one is to face the resulting emotions. Step two is to use it to get closer to God, and step three is to learn from the source of the failure.
Hill points to Peter’s failure when Jesus told Peter he would deny Jesus three times before the rooster crowed. Peter failed as predicted.
The source of Peter’s failure was improper pride, Hill said.
After failure, one should explore and learn God’s new plan for life, Hill said.
In marriage, Hill urges men and women to set aside time for each other and to see the best in each other, to avoid looking at the flaws in the spouse and look at all of the best things. He suggests surrendering the fight to be right and set a spiritual direction for the marriage.
“Marriage is tough,” Hill said, and couples may feel alone in their struggles as they look at other marriages and think no one else fights or struggles the same way.
The chapter on marriage provides basic pastoral advice, he said.
In every area, “your best bet is to have a foundation of faith,” Hill said. Jesus says people will face difficulties.
And Hill believes embracing the emotions is important instead of acting as if nothing is wrong – when a loved one dies, for example.
“That’s not healthy,” he said. The Bible indicates there is a time to dance, a time to cry, a time to mourn, a time to laugh.
The book is meant to be a simple read, Hill said.
Searcy has several book credits under his belt, Hill said, and Dykes Henson has helped him with each of them. The two of them are discussing another book, a sort of “next steps” book.
“This is the Oregon edition of the book,” Hill said. “It’s not a book we wanted to sell.”
The book is available free at the church’s website, holleychurch.org in addition to given freely at church.
The church paid the costs of publishing, Hill said. “The people here are almost more excited than I am.”
That includes 42 individuals or families, he said, “overwhelming support from the folks here that are part of the church.”
Hill grew up on a small ranch in Emmett, Idaho. Shortly before the seventh grade, he was given a devotional book called “Be Cool,” which had a profound influence on his life.
He had grown up in the church, but relied on his parents faith rather than his own, Hill said. “As I was reading these devotions, I realized my need for God.”
One night, he told God he wanted to follow Him. Easter was near, and he was baptized on Easter Sunday.
His life was a series of highs and lows, and he turned his back on God. He had felt God’s call to be a pastor, he said, and had graduated from Bible College and served several years as a youth pastor, associate pastor and pastor of evangelism. After experiencing some deep wounds, he walked away from God and His church.
“God never stopped loving me even when I doubted his very existence and through the loving intervention of a Godly Christian man, God drew me back to Him.”
The call to be a pastor had never been rescinded, Hill said, and God “opened the door” for his family to move to Sweet Home and Holley Church in 2001.
“I still have my ups and downs, but God has promised never to leave or forsake me,” Hill said. “He is faithful.”
Hill is the recipient of the National Church Growth Award for recognition as an outstanding student in the field of evangelism and church growth.
Sarcy is the founding and lead pastor of The Journey Church in Boca Raton, Fla. He is the author of numerous books on church leadership.
For more information contact Holley Church at (541) 367-6030.