Endorsements
Endorsements of
Mending the Soul: Understanding and Healing Abuse
By Steven R. Tracy, Zondervan, 2005
Endorsements from Christian leaders:
Mending the Soul is by far the best book I've seen for integrating biblical foundations and scientific research as it describes abuse and its effects, reaching it height in the comprehensive model for healing abuse emotionally, relationally, and spiritually. Pastors, counselors, and teachers alike will relish this excellent resource."
Gerry Breshears, Ph.D., professor of theology, Western Seminary, Portland, Oregon; past president of the Evangelical Theological Society
"Steve Tracy has made an enormous contribution to our understanding of the biblical, social, and psychological dimensions of abuse and its impact on our society and the church. As a pastor who deals often with the effects of abuse, I am deeply indebted to him for providing this useful instrument to help heal and mend souls."
Wayne R. Lehsten, pastor of counseling and marriage ministries, Scottsdale Bible Church, Scottsdale, Arizona
"Steven Tracy deals honestly and profoundly with the troubling and long-neglected issue of abuse in this much-needed work. It demonstrates biblical fidelity and pastoral concern while raising awareness of the problem—especially for the church—and showing the path to healing."
Dr. Kenneth Magnuson, associate professor of Christian ethics, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Kentucky
"With the biblical wisdom of a theologian and the counseling insights of a therapist, Steve Tracy has crafted an invaluable resource for those concerned with abuse in all its forms. Tracy offers a scripturally anchored model of abuse recovery that includes practical suggestions and copious real-life examples. Chapter 9 by itself (on rebuilding intimacy with God) is worth the price of the book. This volume deserves to be read and reread by every pastor, counselor, and serious people helper."
Sandra D. Wilson, Ph.D., seminary professor, spiritual director, and author of Released from Shame and Into Abba's Arms
"As part of my work at the Institute for Prison Ministries, I am privileged to regularly teach at the local county jail. It has become quite common, unfortunately, to hear stories of men and women who are survivors of an abusive relationship, be it in their family of 'origin, in an intimate relationship, in the workplace, church, or correctional facility. Their stories are heartbreaking, but the real tragedy is that they often believe they are responsible for the abuse and that they somehow deserve it. Their lives are broken, marred by violence, addiction, rejection, and alienation from their Creator. As a society, we tend to marginalize groups that are different from us (such as the incarcerated) to create space between them and us and thus not have to feel the pain they experience. If they are not us, then we can feel better about us and attribute the pain of their lives to whatever defines them, be it ethnicity, criminal background, gender, socio-economic status, nationality, or something else ... A high percentage of those currently incarcerated once sat in our Sunday schools, attended our Christian colleges and youth groups, and worshiped the Savior we serve. “They” are us.
"Dr. Tracy’s review and understanding of current research in the social sciences is impressive, but it is his thorough understanding of Scripture and ability to communicate that understanding that makes this book an absolute “must” for every Christian educator’s shelf.Whether you are ministering on a college campus, in the board room of a non-profit, in the local church, or even in a correctional setting, this topic is one you are bound to face and one that requires a great deal of compassion, empathy, and skill. Abuse tears the soul, Dr. Tracy states, and as Christian educators, we are given the unique responsibility to minister God’s healing and mending. In order to do that effectively without inflicting more harm, we must be better equipped. In this reviewer’s opinion, this book stands heads above others that are currently available on this topic in helping to equip us to minister to the abuse victim as well as the perpetrator."
Brenda Ratcliff, Institute for Prison Ministries, Billy Graham Center, Wheaton College, Wheaton, IL [(from a book review in The Christian Education Journal 5 [2008]: 463-466)
Endorsements from medical and mental health professionals:
"Steven Tracy's book on abuse skillfully weaves together sound theology, insightful biblical exegesis, and the best of psychological findings about the horrors of abuse and the road to recovery. Featuring many case examples from his extensive work with survivors, the book stands as a substantial challenge to the church: Stop recictimizing survivors and begin facilitating their healing."
James R. Beck, author and professor of counseling, Denver Seminary
"Steven Tracy does a masterful job weaving victim’s experience with adept biblical exegesis and sound trauma psychological understanding. Placing the work on reconciliation squarely on the shoulders of those who abuse, the book provides healing salve to victims. Dr. Tracy reviews the nature and effects of abuse, including such sensitive issues of perversion, shame, and powerlessness. Dr. Tracy tackles head-on traits associated with abusers and abusive families. Finally, he provides hope as he outlines how victims can rebuild relationship with God, with themselves, and with others."
Patricia Warford, PsyD, Licensed Psychologist
Dr. Warford has worked with victims of domestic violence since 1992 and with men who have been abusive since 2003. She has been qualified in state and federal courts as an expert on domestic violence. She has served as a member of the (Oregon) Governor’s Council on Domestic Violence and the Yamhill County Domestic Violence Task Force.
"Mending the Soul integrates very well the biblical-theological-psychological understanding of abuse. It is a pragmatic, insightful, candid evaluation of the problem and contains specific recommendations for healing psychologically, emotionally, and spiritually."
Ralph Earle, Ph.D., family therapist, psychologist, author, and past national President of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy"As a family physician for thirty years, I saw the faces of many of my patients as I read the pages of Dr. Tracy's book—patients who presented with difficult sets of cryptic symptoms—and realizes what their real diagnosis was. I will have multiple copies of the is book on hand to help patients suffering from these issues and I'll be recommending it for all my colleagues, including residents and medical students, for whom this should be required reading to sensitize them to this devastating problem."
Jacqueline Chadwick, M.D., vice dean of academic affairs, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Phoenix Campus; former Chairman of the board of directors, Phoenix Seminary; former president (and first female president) of the Arizona Medical Association.
Endorsements from lay people and abuse survivors:
"The minute my friend told me Mending the Soul was available I ordered it from Amazon. It arrived early evening yesterday. I picked it up around 10 o'clock last night and didn't put it down until 4:30 this morning. It is a PHENOMENAL work... an answer to my deepest heart cries (since our children's abuse in 1989.) It far exceeds what I've petitioned the Lord for all these years. Thank you for your obedience to Him in doing the difficult work, staying the course and delivering the most instructive and informative, Biblically sound and completely honest piece I've encountered. I pray that it will land in the hands of all whom the Lord sovereignly selects, its truths penetrating into their very shoe leather, to redeem and restore the souls of those impacted by one of the enemy's darkest deeds. If I had the means I'd be passing Mending the Soul out on street corners!"
Parent of sexual abuse victims
"I am a Christian survivor of incest. I have read many books on dealing with and healing incest issues. This is the first book I have read that presents material for Christians, and it has had a profound effect on the issues I have faced. Not only does it address the nature of abuse, it also addresses the aftereffects of abuse: shame and powerlessness. In my opinion, the most important section of the book is The Healing Path. It gave me hope and explained the steps needed for the survivor to know God can indeed heal the soul. Other books address the mental and emotional aftereffects of incest. This book addresses the most important part of abuse: the damage it does to the soul. As a believer in God, it gave me a path to follow to heal my soul. For anyone raised in a church and felt abandoned by God because of incest, this is a must read."
Incest survivor
"I have read many different books on abuse, from both the abused point of view, and the counselor's point of view. This is the most thorough, concise and "user friendly" book I've ever run across. It's thorough and concise in that it gives strong teaching in not only what abuse looks like, but how to unlock the damage done. It's "user friendly," in that it provides several "real life" illustrations that more clearly define the teaching that's being done. I would HIGHLY recommend this book to both abuse victims, and their counselors. I learned more from this book than I've ever learned from any other given resource. If you are an abuse victim, or one working with an abuse victim, this book is a DEFINITE "must have." I recommend that you read it slowly, and carefully. It's RICH in content."
Endorsements of:
Marriage at the Crossroads:
Couples in Conversation About Discipleship,
Gender Roles, Decision Making and Intimacy
by Aida Besancon Spencer, William David Spencer,
Celestia Tracy, and Steven R Tracy
InterVarsity Press, 2009
"At last we've been given a sane, nuanced, thoughtful conversation around differing viewpoints on gender issues in marriage. This book will help all Christians come to a deeper appreciation of the miracle of marriage as God intended it. The glory of marriage--in spite of the pitfalls--shines through virtually every page."
-Alice P. Mathews, Ph.D., Lois W. Bennett Distinguished Emerita Professor of Educational Ministries and Women's Ministries, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
"This dialogue between professional scholar-ministers who are also couples living in exemplary marriages is incredibly helpful because they show theologically and personally the similarities and differences between complementarians and egalitarians. Because they dialogue respectfully as friends, the clear presentation of their similarities and differences is all the more helpful. It's a must-read for scholars who want to explore theology and exegesis, pastors and counselors who want to do better marital counseling, and people who need examples for more Christ-honoring marriages."
-Gerry Breshears, professor of theology, Western Seminary, Portland, Oregon, former President of the Evangelical Theological Society
