Keep Praying.... and We'll Keep You Posted!

I've enjoyed getting feedback from a new editor, Katrina Ryder. She has worked through most of the Bible study and given us good feedback. It's encouraging to have someone look at what has become a heart and soul investment, and then hear them say, "I really want to see this published so that anyone can read this! I'm with you to help in whatever way you need."

That's what we want too! So, thank you to those who are praying us through this process. It continues to be a process, and we're anticipating enjoying the journey along with the challenges. We know God is moving us forward, and publishing will happen in His time.

Katrina has been able to give us ideas for improving the organization of the text in ways that will make the Bible study more readable.  She's also given us suggestions and thoughts regarding future planning and marketing. One suggestion was that I attend a writer's conference. Literary agents come to these conferences along with representatives from publishing houses. They teach classes as well as meet with writers to consider new ideas and proposals. We found that one of these conferences is the Write-to-Publish Conference held in Wheaton, IL. Wheaton is not far from where we stay. So, I'll be attending that conference from 8-11 June.

This week I've been working on revamping a proposal I'd written some time ago, to fit the specifications required for this conference. I've also worked through our first chapter, applying certain ideas to improve its readability. Over the next few weeks, I'll be working on creating "elevator speeches" and "One-pages" to use at the conference as I have opportunities to speak with people from the publishing industry.

Writing, publishing, and journalism are all new territories for us. It's rewarding to see God opening doors. We're confident that when He closes doors, there's another plan. Your prayers are valuable.

• Pray that as we address the manuscript with fresh ideas, God would help us to communicate the gospel message clearly, and improve the readability of this Bible study.  
• Please also pray for us as we prepare and attend the Write-to-Publish Conference. We're asking God to direct us to the right people, and show us the next step from here.  

You know, in the midst of all this excitement in the Bible study chapter of our lives, we also became grandparents of another Seghers boy! Dylan Matthew was born on 4 May 2016. We love taking every opportunity to get to know this new little guy and have so enjoyed watching his big brother tenderly getting acquainted. What a blessing it is, that God continues to grow our family. 

Redeeming Sexual Love is all about relationships and reestablishing patterns of connection in the relationships of our lives. Sometimes we haven't been very good at connecting. And keeping right priorities is aways a challenge. But this week God reminded us once again, He created each new little life, every one of us, a human being to connect with others, and grow. And as we learn to listen and be there, for even the least of these, we reflect His image in a way that is fresh, alive and new. So, as excited as I get about seeing our Bible study project develop and move forward, I'm so thankful for this family, our practice field for growing relationships.  They have stuck with us through the learning process, and we're blessed by the privilege we have to be part of their lives. 

Sharing Our Journey

Since coming to the USA in December, we have continued to seek direction. We have always said when we publish Redeeming Sexual Love; we want to publish well. In my mind, this means it has to meet two criteria. We need to be comfortable that God has paved the way to publish, and not something we've forced along. And we need to believe it is ready, and something He can use to encourage and help other couples and families, clearly communicating the truths He used to help us.

Coming to this place, we've recognized we need help, new eyes, to work through Redeeming Sexual Love and give us feedback. Over the past four years, we've done the study many times; those who do the study with us, give positive feedback. You can read their responses on the RSL- Bible Study Participant Survey to the right.  Because a few people communicated the study was challenging to work through without our presence, we've been in contact with several people who have experience in journalism and editing to figure out how to address our dilemma. 

Each of these individuals gave valuable feedback. We've recently given the manuscript to someone with experience in content editing. She will be looking specifically at the structure of the study, help us with clarity and flow.  We're excited about this; and hopeful her fresh perspective we will add the personal touch it needs. 

We've also spoken to another journalist who suggested we find a greater volume of people willing to work through Redeeming Sexual Love on their own as pilot studies. So we're asking volunteers to participate in this way.  Before we make the investment of sending something to print or make it available as an e-book, we'd like these volunteers to go through it and give us feedback the readability, of what we hope will be the final manuscript.  

If you are prepared to study through Redeeming Sexual Love on your own, willing to work through it with others, or maybe know someone else who would be, please be in touch with us. Creating this Bible study has been exciting for Greg and me. Though we believe publishing will happen one day, Greg and I have decided, it's more about the path toward publishing than arriving at a finished product. Writing this Bible study has been a process; as rubbed shoulders with others, and shared our journey, concepts solidified and chapters were written. And it seems like God continues to motivate and direct us as we reach out to join hands with other people.

So, if you're interested in helping us to pilot Redeeming Sexual Love, join us in the journey! You can leave a message in the Contact Us space to the right of this screen, or send us an email and we'll get back to you. Also, if you are able to support this project financiall, ZEMA will accept donations earmarked "Seghers Bible study." This can also be done on ZEMA's website at the following link: http://tinyurl.com/jpxjzjp