The Calling of Emily Evans

I don't understand why this book is listed as a children's book. I was in my 20's when it came out, and I've loved it ever since. This is a story of a young adult who goes to Bible college and feels the call to preach. She is given a church in an isolated town, and this is the story of that adventure. It is based on true Deaconesses of the Mennonite Church. I think anyone would like this, including older grandmas who love the Lord. It's refreshing and the historical details at the end of the book are very enlightening. I'm on my 3rd copy, since I keep loaning it out and it doesn't come back. :D

The Calling of Emily Evans is a tender and touching story. Young Emily gets her calling to become a pastor while in Bible School. While her father doesn't want her to go off by herself to minister to a new community, Emily's mind is made up. This is her calling and it is what she's going to do. Emily does not have an easy time trying to build her congregation. She is met by challenges but faces them head on. She never gives up. She is very determined to make her church successful and doesn't want anyone to know when time are hard for her.The Calling is a wonderful story. Ms. Oke writes about characters the reader finds themselves caring about. From Emily to Big John the characters are wonderfully written. The plot is good and the development of the characters is excellent. This book is great! It is a tender,touching story that will warm your heart. Definitely worth reading and recommending to someone! Read today!!

This is my favorite Janette Oke book! I read this entire book in one Saturday afternoon. I think it is a wonderful story of courage, determination to follow God's will, and unselfishness. Although I disagree with the book's philosphy that women are only pastors because men don't answer their calling, I think it is an inspiration to all women to follow God's calling and leading in their life- no matter what it brings.

This book is about a woman who is called by God to set up a church. She has many problems along the way, including poor attendance, a low food supply, and a difficulty convincing people that God is indeed real and needed in every single life. She does NOT step out of the boundaries of the Bible. Emily simply sets up a church and teaches because there is no preacher in the area. She doesn't preach, only tries to help people see the importance of a faith in God and tries to help them understand the Bible and how important it is. This is a wonderful book that helped me understand things more clearly and get things sorted out in my own faith. I thank Janette Oke for writing such a great book.

As a woman who is called to God's service, this book has been tremendously helpful to me and is very dear to my heart. Janette Oke tells the story of Emily Evans with detail and emotion, a heart-warming story about a woman's place in the eyes of God.

I thouroly enjoyed reading this book! When I first read the description I thought that maybe she was stepping out of the lines of the Bible. I thought I would read it and see what hapend. It turned out that she was right on. In this book Emily Evans feels that God is calling her to start a church for Him. So she finds herself in a strange city, trying to set a church up in an old billard hall! She faces many hardships thourgh the two years written about. Thourgh the book though Emily made it clear that she was just wanting to start the church, and that when she married she would turn the preaching over to her husband! This was a great piece of Christian fiction, and I am glad that she showed what it is like serving the Lord!