63 of 64 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The stuff of Champions, December 12, 2001
This review is from: Eternal Victim, Eternal Victor (Hardcover)
One of America's most famous exgays has written a book and it is the stuff of champions. No I'm not talking about John Paulk. Start singing songs like "Speak to my heart" or "Stand" and the author of this book is one and the same as the one who penned those songs.
I had heard a lot about Pastor Donnie McClurkin's new book Eternal Victim/Eternal Victor ( Pnuema Life Publishing), but I just hadn't found the time to buy it or read it. Part of the reason was that as a former homosexual, I was a little hesitant to read it. I didn't want to read a bunch of mush or hear any apologetic side-stepping about the church's treatment of homosexuals and its refusal to approach ministry to them.
Not that I thought Donnie would do that, but it was just a feeling of not wanting to see it , if that were the case. Well, folks have always said don't judge a book by its cover.
A friend of mine in Charlotte, sent me the book as a early Christmas present. The day I received it, I was sick. My head was hurting and my nose had been running all day. On top of that as a pastor myself, it was Tuesday which meant I had to teach Bible study. With the Lord's help I made it through Bible study and decided I would, as soon as possible, get into bed and sleep it off. Donnie's book interrupted all that and actually made me feel a whole lot better, both spiritually and naturally.
My sweet wife made me a nice cup of that stuff that helps you sleep and I decided I could curl up with Eternal Victim/Eternal Victor until I fell asleep. That didn't happen. I was so captivated by the book and its message, that I ended up reading the whole book before I went to sleep. Yep, it was that good. I READ THE WHOLE THING YA'LL!
Pastor Donnie showed extraordinary writing skills. The book, about 165 pages, flowed smoothly and was easy reading. By that, I mean that it didn't get bogged down in unnecessary details. The print size was important too, because some books are just a turn off. There is just too much staring back at you when you open it. I love to read, but that night God knows , I wasn't in a "novel" frame of mind.
Eternal Victim/Eternal Victor is important because it is probably one of the first books by an African American male on homosexuality/sexual violation. It flows in the part testimony/part teacher vein. It helps you to understand some of the darkness invading a child's innocent life, while at the same time telling those who have been similarly affected how to overcome it.
I, for one, was glad that Pastor Donnie, helped shed more light on a vicious spirit IN OUR CHURCHES open and operating, but rarely confronted. He told the truth and did not make excuses for himself.
"The abnormal use of my sexuality continued until I came to realize that I was broken and that homosexuality was not God's intention...for my masculinity.", he writes. That's the kind of solid, practical advice thousands of young men and women are not getting in churches today.
The book has plenty of "transparent" moments, something critical, I feel to the success of a book like this. There is a certain identification that must occur when sharing stories like these. Truth and honesty is a must. And Donnie delivered that in humble fashion.
Go get a copy of this book. Sick or well, struggling or not, it is a blessing, a healer, and for many people Donnie may not be aware of, its a strong inspiration to get OUR stories of overcoming out and in the eye of the church.
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33 of 36 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Uncovering Hidden Truths of the Church, June 27, 2001
This review is from: Eternal Victim, Eternal Victor (Hardcover)
It is an awesome thought to know that we are not alone in our different struggles in life. I mean we KNOW that we are not the only ones to experience certain things but to actually read about it - and be able to IDENTIFY with what you are reading is truly mind-blowing as well as a deep and personal revival. Donnie McClurkin has done a marvelous job of telling his story and helping others who have gone through and are still going through to transcend from Eternal Victim to Eternal Victor. For a long time the church has been afraid/ashamed to embrace certain issues. Ergo, Donnie's approach to these "Personal Hells" is one that I believe the church has been waiting for. I fully recommend this book to everyone. Whether you have been hurt or not. Whether you are the prey or the predator. The fact is that we all have either been abused in some way or know someone who has experienced/is experiencing hell. For the abused this book will help you to rise above your past and live vicrotiously while letting go of the past. For those not abused this will help you to understand the secret struggles of others and become sensitive to wounds they might have - it also shows you how to be a genuine friend to such a person. Donnie, thank you for writing this book ---- it was way overdue.
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28 of 30 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Divine Intervention, September 14, 2002
By A Customer
This review is from: Eternal Victim, Eternal Victor (Hardcover)
I just happened to turn on the TV at the perfect time! Donnie
was speaking about his childhood abuse; I could not change the
channel. During his interview I learned about Eternal Victim/
Eternal Victor.
I ordered it and read it cover to cover right away! The book
expressed the torment I knew the man I love had been feeling
most of his life. We were estranged at the time. I prayed for
the courage to let him know that I knew of his childhood abuse.
I decided to let him know by letter and send him the
book. He called me the same day he received it.
His abuse had been something he had never been able to
tell me and I learned about it only through praying to know
and then having the Holy Spirit awaken me in the night to
tell me.
My deepest thanks to Donnie for his courage to write and to the
good Lord above for guiding Donnie to write and getting the book
in front of me. May God continue to bless and instruct him.
I have decided most of our social problems stem from abuse of
children. We do need churches to be more forthright about these
issues. Donnie McClurkin is blazing trails! Hallelujah!
Our homosexual society at least does deserve the right to know
that they are only living half the life they could and that Jesus
will heal all your hurts. Mainstream media has promoted
homosexuality without knowing, much less giving real options or
bibically based facts.
This book has changed our lives. I fully expect things to only
get better for us and all who will read it. I am a woman who
loves an abused child of yesteryear. I intend to stand with
him as his healing continues and he becomes the husband he never
thought he could be to me.
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