Author Spotlight

Ginger Hertenstein Conley

My book, What to Say When You Pray: step into Bible stories; step out with bold prayers and courageous faith, draws from both personal experience and biblical stories. It is a true story. Each week when I prayed for an ill friend, instead of simply relying on myself, I sat with my Bible in hand, looking for healing of all kinds—emotional, mental, spiritual, and physical. I was amazed to discover that people in the Bible had the same problems we have and offer us direction, encouragement, and hope. I did not start out to write a book. For example, the story of Daniel encourages us because he was living and working in a nation that did not believe in God, and constant threats to his life and lifestyle surrounded him. Yet he remained strong in his daily habit of prayer. His personal habits supported him: He was committed to excellence in his job; trusted God by maintaining his own spiritual and cultural habits; depended on his three friends who were also exiled as he was; and he was devoted to prayer, even at the cost of persecution. Prayer helped him realize he could depend on God, and through it he gained the courage to trust God.

I was invited to join some people who decided to pray every Thursday at 7 a.m. for their relative who had stage four cancer. In my prayer time, I wrote a little devotional each week along with my prayer and sent it to the woman who invited me as an encouragement, as it was her sister who was ill. After a year, we learned her cancer was gone. I had 52 weeks of topics, and she was well! So, thinking these devotions and prayers might be helpful to others, with the family's permission I made a book out of them.

Right now, I am working on a book using the same format of What to Say When You Pray which will be on the topic of overcoming fear and anxiety. I also speak at churches, conferences, and retreats on topics of faith, community, and leadership (and other topics, of course, as asked!) People don't always know exactly how to approach God because God can seem so big, distant, and intimidating that they aren't comfortable with how to speak to Him. They think that there might be a protocol for speaking to God that they don't know—for instance, they might think they can only pray for "God's will." But prayer is actually conversation with God. Personally, in prayer I am honest with God, telling God everything I think and feel, even if I am full of fear, anger, anxiety, and distress. I address Jesus, and perhaps talk to him as if he is sitting beside me. I read the Bible and keep reading until something resonates with my emotional/mental state. Then I just stop and ponder it, as if Jesus is speaking directly to my need. Sometimes I ask for the Holy Spirit to open my eyes to what I need to hear. It really does give you peace.

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About the Author: Ginger Hertenstein Conley pastored First Presbyterian Church, Duncanville, Texas, a church known for being actively involved in their city. She and the church organized citywide Bible storytelling festivals; developed and led several Community Conversations on revitalizing the city; and established a community chorus, with the result of being discovered online and invited to sing at New York's Carnegie Hall. She received numerous awards for her work, including Duncanville Woman of the Year 2018, Champion of the City 2022, and was given the Key to the City 2023. She now writes, and also speaks at churches, conferences, and retreats. She holds a Doctor of Ministry from Fuller Seminary.