KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (BNc) — The saints of the Karns church have published a 365-day devotional book entitled Listen to Our Hearts. One hundred and sixty members contributed articles intended to challenge readers to walk more closely with the Lord each day.
The contributors to this book range in age from 4 to 93, Steve Higginbotham, Karns pulpit minister, said.
“For several years now, I have felt the church needed more devotional reading material,” Higginbotham said. “Not dissertations, but brief, spiritual messages that remind us, challenge us, and encourage us to conform our lives more closely into the image of Jesus.”
The church partnered with brother Justin Hopkins, of Hopkins Publishing, to publish the book.
Higginbotham encouraged other congregations to consider undertaking such a project:
- It has the potential to create great excitement and interest within the congregation. There is great buy-in. Everyone is pleased with their contributions and anxious for others to read what they have to say.
- It will be a great encouragement to the brethren. There is often a wealth of untapped spiritual insights in the local congregation. This project will give them a chance to have a voice and contribute to spiritual growth.
- It will also be a great evangelistic tool. A book like can be used to give as gifts to visitors, friends, co-workers, and family. Also being a book written by the congregation, and not the “trained preacher,” speaks well to those who may be searching for a spiritual church family.
- It will be a way to outlive yourself through your written words. One of the older Karns contributors passed away before the book was completed. But her contribution will continue to encourage and instruct others long after she is gone.
Listen to Our Hearts will soon be available online through major distributors in book form, as well as in electronic format. To pre-order, email Higginbotham.
In existence since 1953, the Karns church has trained more than 400 men to preach the gospel through the The Southeast Institute of Biblical Studies, formerly known as East Tennessee School of Preaching and Missions.
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