Our Hearts' True Home: Fourteen Warm, Inspiring Stories of Women Discovering the Ancient Christian Faith [Paperback]

Virginia H. Nieuwsma (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 1996

"Our Heart's True Home" presents fourteen warm, inspiring stories of women coming into the Orthodox Christian faith. These women come from a wide variety of backgrounds, yet ther's a common thread: no matter how they struggled, their journeys are infused with the love and mercy of God.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Our Hearts' True Home features fourteen warm, inspiring stories of women discovering the ancient Christian faith. These women come from a wide variety of backgrounds, yet there's a common thread: no matter how they struggled, their journeys are infused with the love and mercy of God. Wherever a woman might be in her spiritual life, she will find someone to identify with in these pages. If she has always been Orthodox, the struggles, triumphs and joys of these women will touch and inspire readers with a new appreciation of their faith. Our Hearts' True Home is highly recommended for women's church study groups, and for anyone seeking inspirational stories showcasing the Christian search for God and meaning in today's secular world. -- Midwest Book Review

Product Details

• Paperback: 178 pages
• Publisher: Conciliar Press (June 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1888212020
• ISBN-13: 978-1888212020
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,011,283 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars inspiring, informative, May 22, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Our Hearts' True Home: Fourteen Warm, Inspiring Stories of Women Discovering the Ancient Christian Faith (Paperback)

One walks through these pages on solid (not rigid) ground. Feeling close kinship with people of the past 2000 years of history, people who have suffered in ways we pampered Americans can only imagine, gives one hope -- for surely our utopia cannot last. I was particularly blessed by realizing that the majority of churches of today, with their health/wealth doctrines, and glaring, frantic self-promotions, are not the sole choices in the American supermarket of Christian religions.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Yes, it is inspiring--and not just for the ladies!, October 3, 2005

By 

P. M Simon "El Simon Asombroso" (New Mexico) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Our Hearts' True Home: Fourteen Warm, Inspiring Stories of Women Discovering the Ancient Christian Faith (Paperback)

"Our Heart's True Home" is just as warm and inspiring as the title proclaims. Unfortunately, the pinkish cover and the female-oriented subtitle may be a bit off-putting to men. Unfortunately, because the contents are heartfelt accounts the can inspire folk of either gender!

The chapters of "Our Heart's True Home" are honestly told chapters of how over a dozen people left new age practices, Judaism, Catholicism, and various Protestant denominations and found peace and joy in the Holy Orthodox Church.

My wife read this book when we were getting disenchanted with our mainstream Protestant denomination, and found it not only moving but also a reality check of what life is like for the Orthodox. In many ways, this is the great value of this book. Being Orthodox involves a lot more commitment of time, lifestyle, and physical effort than other Christian communions. The curious and the seekers will find the foretaste valuable.

Well, my wife badgered me into reading this opus and I found it relevant and enjoyable as well, so I recommend it for women AND men.

No, this isn't a book of theology or a real apologetic, and readers should not expect that. I'm also taking one star off because this book is not really of much interested for the incurious or even for most 'cradle Orthodox'.

However, at least in America, Orthodoxy is moving from a Church of mainly immigrants, to a church combining third-generation Americans and increasing numbers of converts. This book is for those joining those ranks.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good book, read it!, June 14, 2009

By 

M. Crawford "M. Crawford" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Our Hearts' True Home: Fourteen Warm, Inspiring Stories of Women Discovering the Ancient Christian Faith (Paperback)

I thought the book was good. Too short, maybe, and a LOT of women whose husbands are now Orthodox priests. As a converting woman, who knows my husband is not likely to become Orthodox (much less a priest!) I would have appreciated more in the way of stories with a little conflict(?) or struggle in the move-because I know I am getting some!

One EXCELLENT thing I noticed and notice while learning more about the church is that 'heresy' or no, other church denominations and experiences are pretty much valued and respected. All of these women had spiritual experiences that THEY valued before coming into orthodoxy and which led them to it-usually by taking the next step in the positive path they had already begun as Christians. I thought it very respectful and positive-for all that they did leave their former churches, and sometimes not in the best of circumstances. Still, they were part of a journey, and I found that the journey was honored.