God is Here is for the wanders, the observers, the doodlers, and the questioners. It was born out of the global pandemic when, separated from our communities, we stopped and looked more closely at the world in our own backyards. It is designed to help children and adults think about how we can know God better through observation and appreciation of God's creation. The book is written on two levels: first, it is a lyrical poem full of alliteration and rhymes about a child that uses the five senses to encounter God while sitting on a picnic blanket at the edge of a small stream. Whimsical drawings help to highlight what the child hears, smells, feels, tastes, and sees. In addition, on each page is a sidebar with a point for theological reflection on that element of creation that is designed for adults or older children. With the theological touchpoint is also a series of discussion questions that adults can use to engage children in deeper thought about each element. The questions will encourage adults and children to connect on topics of spirituality, creation care, faith, and God. The style of questioning will also set a template for future conversations as children encounter other elements of creation in their lives. While designed for a Christian audience, the book will also resonate with all families that acknowledge a creator God. With more and more Millennial and Gen "Z" adults with small children classifying themselves as "spiritual but not religious" or disconnecting from faith communities, this book fills a void in teaching how to think theologically that may not be learned as easily outside of faith communities. Thus, the audience would be traditional outlets like church libraries and religious schools, but also a wider general audience that believes in a creator God, while maybe not directly associated with faith communities.
Blackwell, Sarah B.: - Born in South Carolina and raised in Missouri, Sarah returned south for college and graduated from Furman University with degrees in Mathematics and History. After over a decade of teaching and coaching elementary, middle, and high school students, she spent several years at home teaching her young children. During this time, she discerned a call to ministry and entered Gardner-Webb School of Divinity. She graduated with a Masters of Divinity in December of 2020 with a concentration in Christian education. She currently writes as a monthly columnist for Word&Way magazine. She also teaches in the religion department at Wingate University in Wingate, NC. Areas of ministry in which she is passionate about include spiritual formation for all ages, with a special focus on young adults, as well as outreach to marginalized groups such as refugees. She serves on the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina's Spiritual Formation Team. She lives in Matthews, NC with her husband and two sons. Her family is active in the ministry of Providence Baptist Church in Charlotte, NC where she has served as a deacon. For fun, you can find her outdoors hiking, biking, running, kayaking, or playing tennis. She also loves watching sports, reading in her hammock, and musical theater. Her writings, including a small group study entitled "Personify Faith," can be found at www.proximitytolove.org
Lodato, Natalie: - "A native Charlottean, Natalie has always loved, and gotten in trouble for, drawing in class. She graduated from Wake Forest University with a degree in Analytical Finance and how to pursue a career that is not your calling. After years of working as an Analyst at Bank of America, she stayed home with her children, redefining her purpose. Natalie is a self-taught artist and enjoys hand-lettering and painting watercolor illustrations. Her mission is to create and encourage others through mediums of word and art. She loves to share and evoke the meaning behind our beautiful natural world, conjuring the spirit behind the everyday mundane. Her favorite subjects are animal and plant life, and she loves to research what she paints. Natalie lives in Matthews, NC with her family and is active in Providence Baptist Church in Charlotte, NC. If you ever need her - she is probably out wandering the woods, finding oddities of nature, chasing sunsets, and generally looking upward. She finds daily solace in yoga, music, meditation, art, and walking her dog barefoot. Follow her journey on Instagram @stitchesandpurlshandmade"
