Church Girl - by Sarita T Lyons (Paperback)

I’ve read the book, and it’s fire!!! Sarita Lyons shares her story and eloquently pushes women towards true healing and inner peace. And she pushes the church, as a whole, to look for the forgotten women to remind them that they are treasured by God. As a black woman reading Church Girl, I can tell you, it feels wonderful to see and be seen. No matter what color or gender God created you to be, this book is also a Biblical manual for dealing with hurts of various kinds, embracing the healing offered in Christ and learning how to rest- really rest. Professors, use it in your syllabus. Book clubs, this is for your next read. Pastors, please read for insight. Women’s ministry leaders, this really can be your next book study. This book is a blessing to the Body! If you read this book, you’ll feel cherished, be crying, feel rebuked, be laughing, but most ultimately feel and be called to live for Jesus and His church — no matter what may come your way.

The most important way to overcome the world is with the true lens of Christ! This book helps us as women to not look at what is in front of us as truth, or with a natural eye, but beckons our souls to call to the deep and see thing with a spiritual lens! It’s the only way to overcome what the world tries to pawn off to us as good vs the truth of what’s God!

Thank you Dr. Sarita, Waterbook, and NetGalley for this ARC in return for an honest review. All opinions are my own. Dr. Lyons masterfully weaves scriptural insights, showcasing how the Gospel offers a roadmap for navigating life as God intended. The book's strength lies in its compassionate and insightful exploration of identity, purpose, trauma, rest, and the challenges of being a Christian Black woman in today's society. Each chapter addresses specific issues, offering hope and guidance through Scripture. Dr. Lyons strikes a beautiful balance between scholarly depth and relatable, conversational language, making the reader feel as if she's engaging in a heartfelt conversation with a close friend. "Church Girl" serves as a powerful reminder of God's love, offering encouragement, rebuke, and edification. It gives voice to the unspoken questions, pain, and concerns many Black women face, resonating with a diverse audience – from faithful churchgoers to those who have drifted or left the church entirely. I was deeply inspired by the book's message. It ignited a renewed sense of my identity in Christ, underscored the importance of rest, and ignited a passion to reach out to women who have strayed from the church. It also empowered me to boldly share the Gospel in our post-modern world. "Church Girl" is a must-read for everyone, regardless of race, gender, or background. It should be a mandatory addition to seminary curricula and utilized in Bible studies and discipleship programs across churches. This book will undoubtedly leave you feeling loved, challenged to prioritize what truly matters, and empowered to follow Jesus wholeheartedly.

The book cover and title made me proud to purchase this book and I expected to be inspired but , I am more than inspired. I felt encouraged and commissioned as I read and cried, read and cried. Church Girl will have you unpacking bags that were packed, hidden and weighing you down. This book opened my eyes to why my life happened the way it did. Unpack those bags, get set free and unchained. Dr. Sarita Lyons released this God inspired book at the right time. I thought my life meant nothing , felt alone and unseen and thought my church hurt was insignificant. But God uses EVERYTHING. God can see me and Dr. Sarita Lyons called me out within each page. Let’s join together in this Church Girl Movement! Church girls are seen and they matter! Get your life and share this book with others so they can get their lives too!

This book is an amazing read. I purchased the book because it appealed to me as a black woman of the faith and because I love Dr. Sarita's social media content so I knew a book was going to be a deeper dive into what she shares there. I would recommend this book to any woman of faith, no matter her race or even her history in the faith. Dr. Sarita did a phenomenal job sharing her story and bringing us into every season with her. From the nostalgic music references to the intimate details of her testimony that has challenged me to be more locked into my faith in Jesus and determined to see a people set free from deception. This book has exceeded my expectations. I've read a lot of books but honestly this one encouraged me to get to know God more, take responsibility and accountability for the dreams the Lord has given me as a believer, as well as sparked a personal revival in my heart. Every page was full of opportunities to search my heart to see if I was completely in the faith or in my own world trying to attach Christ to it. I've learned that I needed what was released in the chapters of this book, more than I realized. Dr. Sarita's research alone challenged me as a believer to not only study to show myself approved, but also not to be afraid to combine my educational background to further spread the gospel. I appreciated the way she honored black women of the faith, from women born centuries ago, all the way up to those we connect with in our families and the local church. One of my favorite stories in the Bible is about the daughters of Zelophehad but I hadn't looked at the perspective of their justice cry changing the law for any case like theirs, to follow. I was encouraged as a woman to not stifle my justice cry but with humility, honor and boldness speak up for a generation. I think this book will appeal to a variety of people specifically because of the topics addressed, they can be informative at minimum to men and women outside of the African American race. I believe Knowing how certain things affect black women can be a tool in ministry and can help individuals relate better as we humble ourselves in our approaches. I don't think the words in this book are mutually exclusive to black women. I've known white women who have been abused and misled in the local church which has caused years of trauma. I think this book will help Christians identify others experiences and champion the healing the body needs in order to function as a healthy organism. There's so many good things to say about this book, but I don't want to spoil it for anyone or exhaust readers with my review. I highly recommend reading this book!