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SPRING 2007
Hi Everyone,
Well, I’ve had a pretty exciting year so far. I
got an unexpected announcement from my
publisher! Penerbit Buku dan Majalah Rohani ANDI,
an organization based in Indonesia, has
officially signed the contracts for the
Indonesian-language editions of The Winds of
Sonoma and In the Shade of the
Jacaranda. Most
of you know that Shade
won the Excellence in Media 2007 Silver Angel
Award.
I have spent
much of the past few months researching my next
novel, the working title is Called. As I
have mentioned before, I connected with The
Center for Ministry to Muslims and a man named
Harry Morin. Through that relationship, an
opportunity arose to write a non-fiction book
about evangelizing Muslims. I began that
project, which means I’m now working on two
books. Some of you helped me title the
non-fiction book, Through the Eyes of Christ:
Loving Muslims into the Kingdom of God. My
agent has sent both ideas out to publishers. The
non-fiction book will be a hard sell because
neither I nor my co-author Harry has the kind of
following on the subject that publishers like to
see. The good news is I have been able to get
the interest of some people who do have a huge
following. So far Billy Graham Center and Campus
Crusade for Christ has said they will look at
the book for a possible endorsement. Natasha is
negotiating with Steeple Hill (the Christian
imprint of Harlequin of all things) for the
novel Called.
Yep, that’s us
in Michigan and I’ve got my head covered with a
scarf. When in Rome . . . Antonio and I just
returned from a trip there where I spent a week
interviewing and working with Muslims. I met
with people, visited places, and learned about
the evangelizing of Muslims from 7am to 10pm
almost every night. I will definitely say that
it isn't really what I learned about the
Muslims, it is what I learned about myself and
my relationship with Christ. Many have heard me
say that we are living on the surface of our
Christianity. I began to believe this, at least
about myself, when I started attending the
Messianic Jewish shule here in Coeur d’Alene
last year. That experience has given me a deeper
walk. But after talking to numerous Muslims who
have come to know Christ I am more clear than
ever that I hardly know Him.
Muslims who
convert to Christianity pay a huge price for
their faith. All I talked to live under
persecution by their former friends and family.
Most have no jobs because they live in a Muslim
community and are shunned. And of course there
are those who have been deported and/or killed.
As the days passed and I heard their stories I
realized that my Christianity has cost me
nothing. I don’t know Jesus like they do. They
have paid a great price to know Him. And they
love Him as you would love someone who has saved
you from certain death. Oh, I know He saved me
from sin and death. But I don't know it
experientially like they do. I know because I
have read about it in the Bible. But I have
never lived under the threat of eternal
damnation like they have. Islam is an
unforgiving religion and God is presented as
cold and unpredictable, judging you every
moment, noting your sins, waiting for your death
to exact His judgment. And there is no way to
escape Him. That is as real to them as the
assurance of salvation is to us. When they meet
Jesus, and often He comes to them personally to
overcome their fear of Allah, and they find out
that He died in their place, that God exacted
His judgment on Him, that Jesus suffered so they
will never have to, they fall on their knees and
worship Him. They worship and love Him in a way
I never can. I have never experienced what life
and death would really be . . . without Him.
Though I do understand better now, thanks to
their testimonies. I recorded most of them and
all but one involves a supernatural experience
of meeting or talking to Christ. They all tell
very similar stories though they don’t know each
other! The trip was VERY inspiring and I hope to
develop a Muslim ministry that allows me to
travel and speak on the subject to churches. If
I can’t sell my non-fiction book I am
considering self-publishing it. I believe in its
message that strongly. If I have to go that
route I’m planning to set up a non-profit and
ask for donations to support the ministry.
Don’t forget my
next fiction book comes out in June. As I
Have Loved You. It is a stand alone book and
you won’t find Angelica and Antonio there. But
you will find new characters that I hope you
come to love as you journey through their lives
with them.
Blessings,
Nikki
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2005
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