ACE #443: From the Test to the Testimony

Robert and Charliese Lewis Ministries Inc. Releases From the Test to the Testimony: An Anthology of Women’s Faith Stories

Three-Year Project Comes to Life

LEXINGTON, Ky., Nov. 1, 2018 – Charliese Brown Lewis never thought she would finish a project after two years of letting it sit on the shelf literally.

From the Test to the Testimony: An Anthology of Women's Faith Stories chronicles the journeys of seven different women of various ages who depended on their faith in God to see them through the most difficult circumstances. Each woman tells a very specific story that takes her from the test to the testimony.

“Three years ago, I was led to some very specific women to ask them to share a reflection story for a special project I had in mind,” Lewis said. “These stories were very personal, so I had to deal with them with care because I was asking these women to revisit some tough places, both emotionally and spiritually, from their pasts.” 

Lewis admits that life got in the way of moving the project forward initially, but she also had to recall some painful memories of her own in order to be transparent for other women who could be going through a similar situation. 

“The stories are personal, intimate, and real,” she said. “As an editor and a writer I had to replay their situations and my own throughout the entire process from draft to finished product. There is a true fight for each of us to move from struggle to triumph primarily through our faith.” 

This collection deals with many issues common to the everyday woman from managing chronic illness, depression, and suicidal thoughts to finding purpose, peace, and the power of forgiveness.

Lewis stated, “I wanted to make sure that the stories would be read, but also that the readers could truly relate to the issues that we each dealt with. At the end of each story is a series of questions to assist the readers in self-reflection with hopes of helping them heal or, at least, encouraging them to get help to heal.” 

Contributors include Stephanie Chisley, Doris Coffey, Ashley Edwards, Marietta Finkley, La’Tonsia Howard, Jacques Watkins and Lewis. 

From the Test to the Testimony: An Anthology of Women’s Faith Stories is available on Amazon as an e-book (preorder) and a paperback (Nov.30). It is the company’s first independently published book.

Paperback cover price: $12.99; E-book: $5.99

CHARLIESE BROWN LEWIS is an educator, writer, and speaker.  She is the editor and co-author of The ‘After Church’ Experience blog and president of Robert and Charliese Lewis Ministries Inc., which she co-founded with her husband. Charliese and her family reside in Kentucky.