From Crack to Christ: A Witness Hits Booksellers Nationwide -- Raw Memoir Recounts Remarkable Redemptive Journey of Former Prostitute, Convict
New York (PRWEB) March 3, 2009 -- "He should've killed me when he had the chance!" When April Cofield Essix delivers those chilling words in her motivational speeches, folks sit up and take notice. Within the last year alone, more than 2,000 people have heard that statement, and it has changed their lives.
A former notorious Long Island career prostitute, crack addict and prison inmate, Ms. Essix is an authority on being hooked on a destructive lifestyle. She speaks boldly about the behavior that almost took her life and the one power on earth strong enough to help her live through it. From Crack to Christ: A Witness is the written testimony of her life, and, for readers, a voice that speaks from experience of a pandemic that has gripped millions across the nation for decades.
"This book will set captives free," said Ms. Essix, a self-professed servant of God. "It gives hope to the hopeless and faith to the faithless. If people feel like they're a hostage to drugs, prostitution, depression, hardships, or whatever, it helps them realize things about themselves that even they didn't know."
From Crack to Christ: A Witness, a powerful memoir insightfully co-authored with candid commentary by Robin Carmon Marshall, chronicles the improbable redemptive journey of Ms. Essix who, with God's help, decided 14 years ago that enough was enough - and has been clean ever since. As director of the prison ministry at Memorial Presbyterian Church in Roosevelt, N.Y., for the past 11 years, Ms. Essix dedicates her life to reaching back and pulling others out of the same sordid depths from which she climbed. She has no apprehension about sharing her past life to the world.
"I can't be ashamed," said Ms. Essix. "I'm called to tell everyone that God loves us and we do overcome. Real people do real things, and unfortunately a lot of it is bad. So I can't get real with people unless I'm real with myself first.
Ms. Marshall, a close friend of Ms. Essix from church, wrote From Crack to Christ: A Witness after years of keeping painstakingly detailed journals transcribed from Ms. Essix's spoken recollections, personal tours of old drug and prostitution haunts, and independent research.
"I have to say that this was a God-ordained assignment," Ms. Marshall said. "This was not something that was planned. I was in school fulltime and a wife and mother, so I didn't have time for anything extra, especially writing a book. But I just couldn't get April's story out of my head."
Part of the book's appeal is that the story is told in first person alternately from the points of view of Ms. Essix or Ms. Marshall. "I thought that if I'm thinking something in particular, then others must be too. So if the reader doesn't always identify with April, then they might identify with some things I'm saying."
Reader response so far has been overwhelming and deeply emotional. "This book was written for the lost, the least, and the last and their family members," Ms. Marshall said.
Robin Carmon Marshall contributed to writing this press release.
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This press release has been reprinted from PRWEB per the terms and conditions of the copyright notice.
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Understanding the Gospel of Matthew and Why it Matters - Part 6
Matthew 2:16-18Herod Kills the Children16 Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men.17 Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah:18 "A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.
Existence of God: Facts and Figures Does God Exist?
Existence of God: facts and figures Does God exist?If you are a theist..
Free Online Christian Conference Brings God's Word "Home"
The Hem of His Garment Bible Study Online Ministry hosts its first ever free Christian conference. What's so unique about this event? People from across the globe can join in for free without ever leaving home.
The Coming Out of God
It is ironic that in a world of God worshippers, none of them would recognize God if they seen him/her, eyeball to eyeball. In fact in our present state of evolution if we did recognize him, we would probably stick him up on a cross or make ceramic dolls in his image. As a race we don't like to see our gods in person. We are much more comfortable following in our ancestor's footprints with symbols of gods.
The Power of Stories and Testimonies
As I am sure you all can tell by now, I am a big believer in sharing with you stories and testimonies of God supernaturally showing Himself in any way, shape or form. I believe that these God-stories are extremely powerful and they all help us to continue to build our faith up in the power of God and the fact that He does want to become very active in our lives if we are open to allowing Him to come in.
How to Hear the Voice of God
In this series I would like to take you through the Word of God to show you how we can all clearly hear the voice of God. I would also like to show you how to train yourself in hearing and being led by the voice of God.
The Search for Gods Intention
I believe in the source we refer to as 'God'. This is the powerful Universal Energy from which all that is manifests.
New Online Bible Study Lessons Unlock the Mystery to Life’s Crucial Questions
Since early times, mankind has asked why we are here, where is the world headed, and what is in store for us? Christians believe the Bible holds the key to these questions, but many have difficulty interpreting the meaning of Bible scripture. The United Church of God now offers bible study lessons that will enable individuals to clearly appreciate the valuable lessons offered in the Bible. For convenience and easy-access worldwide, the Church provides its bible study online. The bible study lessons are easy to use and understand, and they provide the biblical answers to the mysteries of life.
Sealed With the Holy Spirit
At the moment of salvation when we accept Jesus as our personal Lord and
Savior, three most amazing things will happen. The first is that we get
automatic forgiveness for all of our sins - all past, present and future
sins that we will ever commit.
The Story of Joshua and Caleb
The story of Joshua and Caleb is one of the most powerful and dramatic stories in the entire Bible. There are major lessons in this story for all Christians to grab hold of!Most Christians have heard of the story of Moses, but many Christians are not aware of the story involving these two.
Find A Church Using Church Directory
People share their feelings or belief with some one or with some group of place. Church is a place which is formed for some associated people to share their beliefs, traditions and feelings. US churches are in more number and selecting a church or find a church is not the difficult task for the people. Online church directories are available to enable the people to find a church in us church. Christian churches are available in more number in US and this US churches forms in different denominations. Church of Christ is Baptist church, Catholic Church and Pentecostal church and many other kinds of church.
Michael W. Smith Honored as Dramatic Contributor to Worship Movement on 4th of July Weekend
The International Worship Institute will crown Michael W. Smith its 2007 Cherub during One of the Summer's Largest Christian Music Events in Dallas, July 3-6.
Church Sound System and Church Sound Systems
A church sound system is a crucial thing to almost any place where people gather to worship on Sunday mornings. Church sound systems help people hear and understand better what is going on.
Growing Spiritually By Carl Marshall
The key to growing one's faith is to understand faith and how it works: How Faith Works, by Dr. Frederick K. C. Price, is a book I strongly recommend. Visit for more information.
Gods 4 Avenues to Reach the Lost During the Tribulation
If the Church is raptured off the face of the earth before the 7 year Tribulation starts, then how does God go about getting anyone saved during the 7 year Tribulation if there is no Church or main body of believers left to preach the gospel? The Bible says that a great multitude of people will get saved during the Tribulation.God is going to reach the lost during this horrific time through 4 basic avenues.
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