Present Position: Doug Einfeld is an ordained minister who led a new church startup in suburban Chicago, pastored a church in Missouri, and served as a clinically trained chaplain in both hospital and hospice settings in Missouri and West Michigan. His four decades of professional pastoral experience uniquely prepared him for writing this book. He says, "I have listened to the stories of countless people as a church pastor and healthcare chaplain -- stories of sorrows and joys, personal and spiritual struggles and crises. As someone who has worked in end-of-life care, I understand that everyone has a story of their life's journey, and I know the importance of having those stories heard and affirmed. I wonder what stories my ancestors would have told me if I had been able to sit with them and listen." This book is written with a chaplain's eye for discerning such untold stories. And it is written with a pastor's heart for helping readers see the hand of God at work in their own lives and for encouraging them in their own faith journeys. Educational background: Einfeld earned a B.A. in history from Calvin University, an M.Div. from Calvin Theological Seminary, and a Th.M. from Calvin Theological Seminary. During the past five years, as he began a post-retirement career in genealogical research and writing, he took Calvin University's course, Writing Memoir. He attended the 2023 Scriptoria Writers Workshop in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and he will attend it again in 2024. He also attended the 2024 Festival of Faith and Writing at Calvin University. Qualifications: Einfeld has a familial bond with the Jewish historical experience recounted in this book. This flesh-and-blood connection enables him to view that experience from a uniquely personalized vantage point. And it enhances his ability to provide an engaging and heartfelt encounter for readers. He says, "I have a curious, inquisitive, investigative mind. I enjoy doing research, seeking to uncover hidden realities. I am a longtime student of history, particularly the history of my Christian heritage. This work is a “passion project” for me. It reflects my hunger for discovering genealogical and historical truth, for ascertaining the behind-the-scenes experiences of those who lived my Jewish ancestral story. And it is the fruit of an extensive research effort through which I have consulted more than 150 reference works. My investigation has given me a fresh perspective on the old and often overly familiar biblical story, and it has enriched my understanding of the broader historical context in which it took place. This has helped me discern some of the distortions, misunderstandings, and knowledge gaps that often characterize the traditional imaging many Christians have about the biblical Jewish era. And that positions me to enrich that imaging in informative, refreshing, and inspiring ways." Target Market: Primary Audience: Demographics: Evangelical Christians (1 in 3 Americans), both church-attending and de-churched (the 40 million US adults who used to go to church, but no longer do). Both men and women, aged 45 and older. College-educated; professionals and leaders; middle and upper middle class. Psychographics: Intellectually curious about the roots and foundations of their Christian faith. Desire to dig deeper and increase their knowledge of the contextual setting of the biblical account. Desire a better understanding of their Judeo-Christian religious heritage. Desire to be inspired in their own faith journey and to be reassured of the enduring faithfulness of God in the face of calamity and in dealing with personal struggles with faith/doubt. Concerned about the perceived decline and unraveling of traditional Christianity in our post-Christendom world. They feel a sense of disconnection, unmooring, and discontinuity with biblical-historical Christian roots. Desire to be inspired by a more authentic, real-world, contextually-based perspective on the person and mission of Jesus. Wish to have gaps in their knowledge of biblical-era history filled. What happened during the intertestamental period? What is important to know about the setting into which Jesus was born and conducted his ministry? Why did first-century Jews respond to Jesus the way they did? Why did Christianity ultimately fail to effectively take root among the Jewish people? Secondary Audience: Demographics: Non-evangelical Christians, religiously unaffiliated, and non-Christians. Both men and women, aged 45 and older. College-educated; professionals and leaders; middle and upper middle class. Psychographics: A general strong interest in history. Specific interests in biblical-era history, Jewish history, and/or Western history. Enjoy reading biography/memoir (30% of US adults). A general strong interest in genealogy and family history -- either in a broad sense, or more specifically related to their own ancestral origins and/or family heritages rooted in Judeo-Christian history.

If you are a publisher interested in this manuscript, please contact us at info@writersedgeservice.com for contact information.

Showing Authors 1 - 25 of 2263