First Service: Following God's Calling and Finding Life's Purpose (Hardcover)

by Andrea Jaeger (Author) "As with many Americans, I was a child of determined immigrants seeking freedom and a better life in a new country with countless opportunities..." (more)
Key Phrases: tennis earnings, tennis training, children with cancer, New York, Los Angeles, Silver Lining Foundation (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

The autobiography of a former top tennis player who dedicated her life, and the entirety of her immense fortune, to helping children with cancer.

About the Author
Andrea Jaeger is a former #2 ranked female tennis player turned philanthropist. An active Christian (nondenominational), she co-founded The Silver Lining Foundation, based in Aspen, Colorado, which she has run for more than a decade. She also operates the Little Star Program, headquartered in Durango, Colorado, which gives money and provides programs to children afflicted with a variety of hardships and diseases.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: HCI (April 13, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 075730169X
• ISBN-13: 978-0757301698
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #936,817 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars First Service -- Finding a Purpose to Life, April 5, 2004

By A Customer

This book by Andrea Jaeger is ideal for anyone who wants to get insight into finding out what is important in life. Andrea was a great tennis player but she has found joy and purpose off the court -- helping others and being close to her faith. She tells her story in a way that makes it clear how others, too, can find joy. The book is also excitng to read as you learn about miracle after miracle that has helped her build a beauitful ranch in Aspen, CO, where children with cancer go to have great days of peace and joy. Andrea rocks! This book is a perfect gift for anyone you love.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Inspirational Autobiography of a Former Tennis Champ, May 16, 2004

By	FaithfulReader.com (New York, New York) - See all my reviews

In the early 1980s, Andrea Jaeger was a household name, even among people who had little or no interest in tennis, the sport that catapulted her into the limelight. One of the youngest players ever to turn pro, Jaeger at 14 was everywhere --- in newspapers and magazines, on television. Her signature long, blonde pigtails made her immediately recognizable. She was the media darling of the tennis world.

Her career was cut short by an injury, prompting her to pursue a dream she had had since childhood --- not all that long ago, at the time --- to work with children. After spending several years acquiring business skills and other related experience, Jaeger and a friend moved to Aspen, Colorado, where they eventually set up a foundation and started a ministry to reach out to cancer-stricken children at a place now known as the Silver Lining Ranch. Jaeger's entire $1.4 million in lifetime earnings provided the seed money for the organization.

That's the straightforward account of what happened. In FIRST SERVICE, Jaeger fills in the details, the often remarkable, behind-the-scenes story of a woman whose childlike faith in God never questioned that He would bring to pass the hopes and dreams she held out for the future --- a future she always knew would not find its center in professional tennis. In her telling of the story of her life, her faith and her ministry, Jaeger clearly demonstrates that what was once considered to be her youthful exuberance is instead who she really is, because her energy, excitement and enthusiasm for life is every bit as much a part of her personality today, at the age of 38, as it was when she was a celebrity teenager.

Throughout her life, as well as the pages of the book, God plays the dominant role. From an early age, Jaeger sensed the presence of God even though she did not grow up in a strong faith environment. Many of her experiences with God have been nothing short of mystical; as a child, she had a vision of the Children's Crusade long before she ever knew anything about the actual event in history. Her narrative is sprinkled with accounts of dreams and visions that are bound to make believers shiver with supernatural delight and skeptics question her grounding in reality. But much of what she saw in those dreams and visions has come to pass and has contributed to the success of the ranch, so the skeptics may have to look elsewhere for something to disbelieve.

True to her nature, which apparently is an extraordinarily generous one, Jaeger is donating all of her proceeds from sales of FIRST SERVICE to help hurting children. In addition to the Silver Lining Ranch, Jaeger and the Silver Lining Foundation (www.silverliningfoundation.org) support children's charities in the U.S. and around the world.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great example of Loving your Neighbor., November 4, 2004

By	Arthur K. Dugan - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Arthur K. Dugan, an avid reader.

Andrea Jaeger's book " FIRST SERVICE " is one of the finest I have ever read on personal spirituality and I have read many. Her life of service to God through the giving of all her great amount of money to develop a place for children with cancer called The Silver Foundation. As I read through her book she reminds me of dedicated people like Mother Teresa in her work with the poor. I will read the book again and highly recommend it to others and how each of us needs to be aware of the less fortunate.