Brother Word [Paperback]

Derek Jackson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 20, 2006

Derek Jackson's second compelling novel takes readers intothe world of a faith-healer and the lives of those hetouches.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

From an early age, Chance Howard has known he possesses a special gift. He was perfectly content not using it and investing all of his energy in being a husband to the woman of his dreams, Mona Harris. Mona believes in the gift of healing and forgoes medical attention to cure her liver cancer, yet she eventually dies. His mother-in-law blames him for her death and runs Chance out of their hometown, Ruston, Louisiana. After leaving, he wanders around the country for two years, stopping in small southern towns, healing the sick. When he visits Columbia, South Carolina, he heals Reverend Smallwood of a heart attack, restores Lynn Harper's eyesight, and cures seven-year-old Eddie Everett from deafness and the inability to walk. Lynn reaches out to Chance, and they forge a friendship. When a local reporter begins investigating Chance's mysterious appearance, he returns home to avoid the attention. With Lynn's urging, Chance decides to stop running from his blessing and share his gift. A reading treat. Lillian Lewis
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

About the Author

Derek Jackson is a freelance graphic designer.

Product Details

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Walk Worthy Press (April 20, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446693499
• ISBN-13: 978-0446693493
• Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 1 x 8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,976,443 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars (RAW Rating: 4.5) - Inspiring testimony of faith..., June 2, 2006

By 

The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers (RAWSISTAZ.com and BlackBookReviews.net) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Brother Word (Paperback)

Christian author Derek Jackson has written his second novel, BROTHER WORD, an inspiring story of faith and the power of healing through God's Word. Chance Howard has been blessed with the gift of healing, yet isn't quite healed himself. Shortly after his wife's death, he leaves the town he grew up in and starts to criss-cross across the South, visiting various churches. Following the guidance of God, he lays hands on those afflicted then silently disappears, without introducing himself. After several incidents, one in which he heals a pastor who has a heart attack mid-sermon and another where a crippled deaf child is cured from a life-time disease, the word gets out and he is nicknamed "Brother Word" by the locals.

Lynn Harper has always believed in the teachings of the church and lived her life accordingly. She is the Outreach Director at the Faith Community Church and works hard to minister to others. When she is in an accident and loses her sight, she begins to question things, yet she falls back onto her faith, praying for understanding and healing. After several months and what is believed may be a permanent loss of her vision, she goes to a revival seeking recovery. Shortly afterwards, she encounters Chance and regains her vision.

Newspaper reporter Travis Everett is getting pretty desperate for a career-making story. When he hears tidbits abojut the mysterious healer, especially after his nephew is healed and a blind woman regains her vision, he jumps on it. With the monkey of success urging him forward, Everett decides to spin the story into one that will have the town waiting on his follow-up and also move him to the front-page spot he needs to secure his job. What he doesn't count on is how much effort he'll have to expend to get to the truth, and then once he does, is it really the story he wants to print?

BROTHER WORD is a remarkable story which lauds the power of having faith and how God can not only heal, but bless others with the gift of healing; if only we believe. It also shows that even those who know the Word sometimes have trouble fully committing to it, may question it or fail to reach out for healing when they need it. Through the characters mentioned above and several others, the reader is allotted a message that will renew faith and touch souls. Jackson's writing is strong, evokes emotions, and leaves the reader looking forward to his future works. I enjoyed how he delivered the story without being preachy or becoming repetitious and will definitely be going back to read his debut novel, A Man Inspired.

Reviewed by Tee C. Royal

of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Standing in The Need of Prayer, September 26, 2006

By 

Marian E. "www.bettmarr.com" (Central Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Brother Word (Paperback)

In "Brother Word," Derek Jackson delivers a warm message of faith. Through a tragic event, Chance Howard discovers that God has bestowed the gift of healing upon him. But Chance is grief-stricken and mourning the loss of his dearly loved wife. He does anything but appreciate this gift. In spite of himself, Chance roamed the countryside for two years praying over those in need of healing. The big question here is can Chance come to terms with himself and embrace his gift wholeheartedly or will he abandon God and lose himself in the process?

I am thankful that I read this book for review. If not, I would have never known what a heartwarming and engaging story this turned out to be. Derek Jackson begins the introductions with a series of disconnected chapters. Meaning the characters are unrelated in any fashion and there is not even the benefit of the theory of "Six Degrees of Separation" to relate the characters. This technique is one that has never grown on me. I am like, "Am I supposed to remember all these people or even give a care?" With the memory of his wife's death as fresh in his mind as the day that it occurred, Chance at times was far too whiny for my taste. I felt that I could lay hands on him...right upside his head! Travis Everett is a reporter who seemed to have less than love for God and his job. It takes a threat from his superior to get the fire beneath him burning. To get ahead in his profession, Travis gets it in his head that he has to reveal the identity of the mystery man that is going around town healing people. Travis wants to spin the story to make Chance look like a villain out to defraud the naive, but he passes up the perfect opportunity to tarnish Chance's image to meet a deadline. "What's up with that?"

I must admit by the time little Eddie demonstrates his new God given abilities to his doubting uncle Travis I was all choked up. I also enjoyed the many quotes from scripture and their application. Overall Mr. Jackson has done well and I look forward to reading more of his work.

Marian E.

APOOO BookClub

3.0 out of 5 stars Nice to Read, January 6, 2007

By 

Marlene Banks-Benn - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Brother Word (Paperback)

BROTHER WORD is a good story with a relavant topic. Its good to read stories by men that have a little emotinal depth. Chance was written with a believeable character. There could have been more description and definitely a little more romantic chemistry thing going on but it was still a good nice story to read that held me till the end. Healing is a dynamic topic in our modern society and worthy of more attention then we give it. It was handled in a realistic way. Nice Work!