Customer Reviews

Holy Roller: Finding Redemption and the Holy Ghost in a Forgotten Texas Church

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Many of us who belong to a church have chosen churches where we feel comfortable.

In this timely and timeless book, Julie shows us how she chose a different way.

When you read her stories of her pastor and the people who attend her black Pentecostal church, and the ways crack and extreme poverty ravaged the South Dallas neighborhods where her church resides, you will realize that Christianity is bigger than you have imagined.

You'll understand a bit better the power of the Holy Spirit and the necessity of interacting with people who are different from you.

Julie is honest about her own flaws and the failings of black Pentecostalism, even as she fully embraces her church.

Even though she is so transparent she doesn't marinate in gloom; you hear joy in her voice, so you don't feel dragged down. In that way, this book is helpful to anyone who has attended a church for many years and struggles with the inevitable disappointments along the way.

Too often we overlook or dismiss what we might learn from believers in other traditions because we have a superiority complex about our own church. Holy Roller is a deep book, one one you'll want to share with other believers or even non-believers who are interested black culture, because it's not a preachy book.

I hope you'll suspend any biases you may have against Pentecostalism just long enough to read this book. I should note that I'm not a Pentecostal; I'm white and my church tradition is far different from Pentecostalism. But this book changed me and I think it will change you, too, for the better.

Thank you, Julie.

Although I was very excited to receive this book, it didn't catch my interest. I read through the first 5 chapters or so before deciding to give up. The subject matter was interesting, but the writing style didn't appeal to me. Even as the author was revealing her own, very personal issues and doubts with Christianity, it felt very impersonal. Others might disagree, but this book was just not for me.

"Holy Roller", is one of those great,rare books that you won't want to put down; then will be disappointed with, that it had to come to an end with the last page. Of course, the story must continue...a next book maybe?

This is a beautifully written journey about discovering truth. It's honest, transparent,took courage to write, and is important to read. The truth isn't always easy to swallow, but it is what it is. Real Truth is found in the Bible and will support everything you will find written on these pages of, "Holy Roller". The Holy Spirit is working in miraculous ways TODAY, and spiriual warfare is REAL and through Christ we are victorious! Glory to God!

Thank you, Julie for telling your story, and for sharing the truth of God's Holiness. The world, especially Christians today, need to be awaken to the truths held in this book. A MUST READ for anyone who seeks real truth about the power, love, deliverance and redemption of our Lord Jesus Christ. You have encouraged me greatly. Thank you! Cindy Sweeney

Dallas reporter Julie Lyons was researching an article in the South Dallas slum involving former crack drug addicts claiming they had been miraculously healed at The Body of Christ Assembly Church. She finds the dilapidated church in an off the main road street of the ghetto. The minister especially welcomed anyone in search of God whether they were possessed, criminals, addicts, hookers or the homeless. Instead of telling them to leave, he prayed for their souls. Her article on the church became the front page of the Dallas Times Herald while Jule a middle class white female with a typical Christian upbringing found the Pentecostal Black church healing as she accepts and welcomes "the Holy Ghost and fire."

The best part of this memoir focuses on the impoverished flock and the co-pastors Fredrick Eddington Sr., a former drug addict with schizophrenic tendencies, and his wife Diane, who though legally blind sees life as a war between holy living and hell. The individual portraits clearly show Julie Lyons cares about the congregation and the pastors yet still enables the reader to see deep into the demons that haunt them as well as her own. Although the well written memory goes deep into the soul of each person featured, it lacks a sense of neighborhood beyond the vivid description of decay; there is no major look at the impact of the impact of abject poverty, which eats at the souls of the core flocks on causing sinning. Still this is a fascinating look at a Black Pentecostal Church trying to deliver redemption to its flock.

Harriet Klausner

Holy Roller by Julie Lyons is an intriguing look at Black Pentecostal Christians by a woman who calls herself one in everything except one small factor: she's white. Lyons was working as reporter for a newspaper in Dallas when she promised her editors a story about churches in the ghetto who were claiming to heal crack users of their addiction. The story led her onto a personal journey of faith and recovery from her own sin, including that of same-sex attraction. The book tracks her membership at a small church in South Dallas through its battles with the city council, countering demons in Botswana, and seeing their community changed by the power of the Holy Spirit. Lyons' story suffers from a lack of continuity, the story didn't seem to flow smoothly, jumping from subject from chapter to chapter, and readers looking for the miracles promised on the dust jacket will be a bit disappointed because the focus is more on Lyons and her church than those who were changed by it. It's still a compelling story about how God can use the least of those to change the world. The transformation of Lyons is incredible, and her stories of demon oppression will unsettle those Christians who deny the forces of evil at work in the world. It's definitely a great read that will make readers think hard about their own faith and church.

Julie Lyons definitely doesn't hold back her tongue. From her distaste of black eyes peas and fried chicken, to her distate of demonic forces that tries to rip God's people to shreds. I really enjoyed how Lyons defined her moment of speaking prophcy.

I admit, I didn't like when she mentioned some differences among blacks and whites and how her take of blacks seemed demeaning, but that was my own subjective feelings and it didn't detract from the story at all, and she admits she get along and understand Black Pentecostals than White Evangelists anyway.

I learned a few things from this book:

*Love does cover a multitude of sins.

*Loving Christ considers all races.

*There is more to church than just paying tithes and evangelizing using words.

I've been waiting to read this book since I first learned that Julie "Bible Girl" Lyons had left her job at The Dallas Observer in order to work on it. When I saw it at the bookstore last week, I read it and bought it (in that order), started telling people about it, and just ordered several more from Amazon to give to friends and acquaintances and to pass a copy around the office. It's "must reading" for those of us who live or work in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

But no matter where you live: Buy it, read it...and prepare for God to do something in your life (like give it a good shaking)!!

Great book, the church in Dallas changed the surroundings of the ghetto. I looked up the church online and Julie and her husband are still in the church. God can do amazing things when one believes.

This is what Pentecostalism was in the beginning and should still be now: people's lives being changed and empowered to follow God.

The author explores the life and history of a local Black Pentecostal Church in one of Texas' rougher areas. This book was well written and covers the following topics:

-Race

-Gender

-Homosexuality

-Pentecostal theology and practice

-Family dynamics

-Church planting

-Sex abuse by clergy

-Missionary work

-Exorcism

The only reason that I gave it 4 stars is because I believe it could (and should) have had another 100 pages or so. Very good read. Great for those that are skeptical of the Pentecostal movement.

This is a great story for every whitebread person from a small town to understand what life is really like for the inner-city poor. I grew up with Julie but had lost touch with her. It is very interesting where she ended up, and how I too became very involved with a shelter on the West side of Chicago that helps mostly recovering addicts from the African American community here. How much more rewarding our lives are for having been involved with these folks than staying in our safe suburbs. I like the book because it is truthful about the problems faced by the people, and the reactions of Julie and Larry as they learned and grew in their faith. I hope readers will be inspired to cross that line out of their own comfort zone, as a Christian you just can't lose.