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| Charles Green and his late wife, Barbara |
But it's not just survival the book's offering - readers are shown who is the Light of Victory, how they can receive deliverance, and how they can live victoriously through any of life's battles.
Most readers acquainted with this blog and with the Latter Rain Movement will be aware that Pastor Green founded Word of Faith Temple in New Orleans in 1953 and pastored it for 57 years. It was for many years the largest church in the city. Today, it is known as LifeGate Church in Metairie, Louisiana and is pastored by his son, Michael.
Green, who is 94 and living in Texas, is one of the few remaining pioneers of the Latter Rain revival that began in 1948. Others include Hugh Layzell, Kayy Gordon, Ernest Gentile, Donald Murphy, and Anne Morrow [ UPDATE: since this item was posted, Brother Charles, Donald Murphy, and Hugh Layzell have gone to be with the Lord.]
He is still actively involved in ministry, preaching both in the United States and abroad (he even speaks in Light of Victory about his "next book"). And it's ministry that prompted the writing of this important book.
Green suffered terribly in 1961 when, out of nowhere, he was seized by inexplicable - and almost paralyzing - fear. For seven months, he slept little and was tormented by anxiety and depression. Initially, his only relief came in times of prayer and when he was preaching.
He writes, "What was happening to me seemed horrible at the time. Now I realize it led to great victory. It totally changed me as a person, and it changed my perspective on ministry."
It's important to note that this suffering was not brought on by sin in Green's life. That may be how some wind up in deep anxiety (and they, too, can be helped by this book), but that was not true in his case.
Though he could not see it until after the seven-month ordeal, the causes were "my work ethic and my past teachings that brought condemnation into my life and ministry."
His work ethic would certainly have burned out most people. Even in childhood, he was as industrious as anyone I've heard about. When reading his full slate of activities as a student and later as a busy pastor, I was astounded.
Add to that grind the legalistic church teachings that provoked perfectionism in him, and you have a recipe for burnout that can leave a person vulnerable to the attack of the enemy of their soul.
The powerful deliverance that he experienced is told authentically - readers will be delighted to see how more than survival can be achieved; real healing and victory are available.
Instinctively, you know that Jesus has the remedy. But, not everyone knows how to help sufferers out of the darkness of despair into the healing, freeing light of God. Charles Green even admits that prior to his experience, he would tell folks, "Don't worry about it. Forget it, and just act as if it were not there. It will soon go away."
Sometimes it does; sometimes, tragically, it doesn't. Brother Green knows experientially how relief and healing can be grasped. He will take you step-by-step, showing you clearly and understandably - without psychological and theological jargon - where the light is. And even if you are not a sufferer, this material will show you how best to help those who are.
Click here to listen to Charles Green being interviewed about his book by Steve Strang and the late Dr. Steve Greene.
Click here to listen to Charles Green being interviewed about his book by Steve Strang and the late Dr. Steve Greene.
Charles Green is featured in three other posts on this blog:
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