Ciska's Book Chest

I am an eclectic reader with preferences for crime/thriller/suspense, historical fiction, literature and contemporary fiction. For more books and other bookish posts visit my blog at Ciska's Book Chest

The Devil in Pew Number Seven

The Devil In Pew Number Seven - Rebecca Nichols Alonzo, Bob DeMoss Becky Alonzo never felt safe as a child. Although she lived next door to the church her father pastored, the devil lived across the street. This tormented man terrorized her family with rifle shots and ten bombings. When these violent acts didn't scare them away, he went even further. During dinner one evening, seven-year-old Becky and her younger brother watched as their parents were gunned down. Today Becky speaks about betrayal and the power of forgiveness. She is a graduate of Missouri State University and has been involved in ministry, including a church plant, youth outreach, and missions, for thirteen years. She and her husband, along with their two children, live in Franklin, Tennessee.Visit Rebecca's website at www.BeckyAlonzo.comIn 1969, Rebecca Alonzo’s family moved to Sellerstown, North Carolina, where her father would serve as a pastor. There he found a community eager to welcome him . . . with one exception. Glaring at him from pew number seven was a man obsessed with controlling the church. Determined to get rid of anyone who stood in his way, he unleashed a plan of terror more devastating than the Nichols family could have ever imagined. Refusing to be driven away, Rebecca’s father stood his ground until one night when an armed man walked into the family’s kitchen . . . And Rebecca’s life was shattered. If anyone had a reason to harbor hatred and seek revenge, it would be Rebecca. Yet The Devil in Pew Number Seven tells a different story. It is the amazing true saga of relentless persecution, one family’s faith and courage in the face of it, and a daughter whose parents taught her the power of forgiveness.Let me start with saying that I am not a religious person but was very curious about this story. Reason is that I lost my father at age 7 and some of my family who do believe made an effort in bringing God as a support for my grief. This never worked out for me but when I read the summary of this book it made me curious how it worked out for Rebecca.Her story is harsh, being bombed and shot at while you are in your bed and should dream of Little Ponies instead of lying awake in fear is awful. I actually just read the part of how she dreamed to be picked up at night by Mr. Watts and fell asleep after, when my partner entered the room I totally jumped. Throughout the story there is a line of how God takes a place in their lives and how they survive all these things with finding the right bible verses for their situations. It only got disturbing for the not religion person at the last chapter when Rebecca explains how she managed to survive there is one part that was calling out to the religious reader, inclining everybody reading the book is religious. But that where only 3 pages of a a very intense story not just about surviving on religion but also the love given by parents.