Growing Up Pentecostal

Very rarely are words absent from my fingertips, hindering my ability to write a review on an excellent book. Today, however, I am having such a dilemma because this book has almost left me speechless. In fact, I had just gotten the kids off to school and settled in to finish its last two chapters, when an alarm set on "snooze" in the next room began obnoxiously sounding off. That alarm yelled out its insufferable collage of squeaks and horns for 42 entire minutes, and I didn't even care. I was NOT going to put that book down NOW! In his true story,Growing Up Pentecostal, J. Stephen Conn effortlessly carries his readers down the captivating, hilarious, and tenderly emotional road that is/was his life. Mr. Conn bravely and honestly lays his whole heart wide open for the world to see. He lets his readers watch as he candidly examines the deepest crevices of his thought life while growing up as a preacher's kid, and lets us know what he's learned along the way. It leaves the reader with a fresh and renewed awareness that every single one of us, even preachers and their kids, are all still very human. We simply share a bond that includes desperately needing Jesus for every breath, every heartbeat, every second of every day, and in every circumstance of life that comes along. Having not grown up in church one single day in my childhood, this book gave me a delightful look at the people I always perceived to be the "lucky" ones. I was so very lonely in my love for Jesus when I was a child. Mr. Conn, your book is a wonderful gift to any pair of hands that hold it. Through your story, you prove that anything can be accomplished when one surrenders the reigns to Jesus and lets Him do the steering. You taught me to take risks- to jump right out there, unafraid- and let the will of God be done in my life. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for writing your life's story. Carrie Lynn Jones Author of It All Began... When Jesus Gave Me Sneakers

Having had a grandfather who was a Church of God minister, I can relate to a lot of what the author experienced. Tales of dress codes, and strict modes of behavior were the norm for Pentecostals of old. The author speaks in a me-to-you tone; you get the idea that he is narrating a life that was at once typical Pentecostal yet special because of his own unique experiences. I can relate to his experience of "being horrified" of the Holy Ghost. The way He was spoken of in some Pentecostal and Charismatic circles, you'd think He was ready to "get you" at any moment. A very moving, heartfelt story that makes for an entertaining read even if you did not grow up in this branch of Christianity. And if you didn't, this book will be a real eye opener! Highly recommended!

J Stephen Conn has written a vivid, captivating account of his "growing up" years in Cleveland TN (even though he was born in Missouri---in the family of a pastor, author, educator, and denominational executive, all rolled into one man. This brilliant retelling kept me spellbound for a couple of hours for several reasons: First, I lived in TN--in that very same city, only a few blocks away from the places he describes--and know several of the people that he mentions in this great story. Second, Conn writes with a warmth and brilliance that will capture anyone's heart. It's better than the "Waltons" of the 1970s fame, and funnier too. Finally, J Stephen Conn has written about himself in very lucid, candid, and honest terms. He is neither overly critical, nor overly praising of himself. That is refreshing for any author, and even moreso for his readers. This is a tremendous book.

For the first 17 chapters, I just could not put down Stephen Conn's new book, "Growing Up Pentecostal"! My emotions were "reeling" between laughter, shock, sorrow, and disbelief. Stephen Conn's style is a combination of history, humor, biography, and religious documentation. I was completely "in the dark" about the Pentecostal religion; thus, as the story unfolded, I became completely lost in this superb book. I often found myself laughing out loud, especially concerning the various childhood "clubs" that Conn describes. I found myself in awe of this incredible family and their ability to find "wealth" of spirit, regardless of financial burdens. The last few chapters were not as satisfactory for me because I felt such sorrow for this young man who seemed so desperate to find meaning in his religion and to believe that his religion was the one true religion. I seemed to read between the lines that this was an extremely strict and confining experience. But, I was glad to vicariously experience these fanatical extremes via a book rather than via my own religious upbringing. I think that "Growing Up Pentecostal" is an extremely valuable book to document fundamentalism, to document another time in America, and to document a way of life for a Pentecostal minister and his children, especially Stephen. Accolades are deserved by Stephen Conn for his fine writing abilities, his humorous tales, his painfully truthful presentation, and his sense of self. I highly recommend "Growing Up Pentecostal".

Although I am not a Pentecostal, I read this book out of curiosity because I have Pentecostal friends. I was so caught up in the story that I could hardly put the book down. In fact, I read it twice in a week. The book opens the door to an amazing world and is highly entertaining. I expected "Growing Up Pentecostal" to either try to convince the reader of the merits of the Pentecostal faith or to be an expose showing the shortcomings of Pentecostalism. It did neither. Instead, it is a brilliantly written "coming of age" story which sometimes had me laughing and at other times close to tears. Mr. Conn tells his story with an almost brutal honesty, especially when he talks of his own doubts and of his relationship with his father. Although he is (or was) a preacher, Mr. Conn does not preach or try to persuade in this book. He simply shares an amazing tale that kept my rapt attention from the first page to the very end.