Meet Woman of Faith Author Rhonda Tibbs

RUBY:  Describe what your faith means to you. 

Tibbs:  I was baptized by my own choice when I was ten years old in a little creek by a Baptist country preacher, and the moment I was raised from submersion the world appeared brighter, as if I had stepped into a clearer, more colorful dimension. I am a child of God, and I am loved.

RUBY:  Tell a favorite Bible verse, and why it is your favorite.
Tibbs:  Isaiah 40:31: 

“- but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” At the darkest time in my life, when I was physically and emotionally exhausted, this passage gave me the hope I needed. I was reminded I didn’t have to struggle alone and took my troubles to God who lifted me and gave me the strength to keep putting one foot in front of the other and change my life. (As a writer, I particularly love the phrase: “They will soar on wings like eagles.”)

RUBY:  Which woman in the Bible do you most admire, and why? 

Tibbs:   Luke 10:39 Mary who decided to sit among the men and listen to Jesus teach, rather than work in the kitchen with her sister Martha. For a woman of that day to go against tradition and join a group of men in order to sit at the feet of Jesus so she might listen to his teachings inspires me. Given the customs of that time, she was undoubtedly welcomed by few of those men (if any) except Jesus.

RUBY:  Tell the title of a hymn or Christian song which means the most to you, and why. 

Tibbs:  “How Great Thou Art” As the goose bumps raise on my skin, the passion of the lyrics and swelling music make me feel like bowing my head, lifting my hands to heaven, crying and laughing all at once.

RUBY:  Does your spirituality play a part in your writing? 

Tibbs:  Yes. 

RUBY:  How so? 

Tibbs:  When I sat down to write my first two novels, I believed I was creating a spiritual journey for the main characters, in that they were processing the burdens laid on them by circumstances beyond their control when they were just children. Only in looking back at my writing did I understand I was chronicling my own emotional journey, my passage from broken to healing and then whole. Once I realized what I had done, I added a scene to my first novel, Angel’s Blues, where a secondary character points out the role that others had played in God’s plan. In my second book, Song of the Snowman, I struggled for weeks with different endings that never felt right. Finally, one day I sat down and started over again, and the ending flowed so easily I believe it was a gift.

RUBY:  What would you like your readers to take with them from your writing?

Tibbs:   I would wish for the reader to close the book feeling satisfied that they just read a good story.

RUBY:  Tell us about your novels.
Tibbs:  My first two novels, Angel’s Blues and Song of the Snowman are connected. Angel’s Blues chronicles the struggle of Michael O’Mara to overcome a childhood of serious abuse. Song of the Snowman is about Michael’s son Brian, whose history is not so different from his father’s. Both of these books are highly emotional, but ultimately healing journeys of boys growing into men learning to embrace their own strengths and allow God to fully heal them.  My third novel, Purdie Magee, is more lighthearted, but still a journey of self-discovery as Purdie sheds the dysfunction of her birth family, falls in love, and begins a brand new life.     

RUBY:  How may we contact you in order to make a further connection?  

Tibbs:
roo2020@att.net

Facebook: Rhonda D. Tibbs

Twitter: @RTibbs

Connect with Debbie Rakers

RUBY: How long have you attended Troy United Methodist Church?

Debbie:  27 years

RUBY: What drew you to this church?

Debbie:  I was looking for people to talk to. I went to another church that no one spoke or introduced themselves, and I had gone there for about 2 years. And when I walked in the doors here for the first time, a very special lady came up and introduced herself and made me feel like this was home. I will be forever grateful to her, because it was here that I found Jesus Christ as my Savior and Lord.

RUBY: Which service do you typically attend?

Debbie:  I usually go to the 10:30 service, but I attend a Sunday school class at 9:15 am, and I listen to and sing the first few songs of the 9:00 am service before going to my class.

RUBY: Share a favorite Bible verse and/or inspirational song, and why this is a favorite.

Debbie:  My cousin from California sang beautiful Christian songs, and when we were out there on a visit in 1991, my uncle gave us a tape of her singing. My daughter, my niece and I sang those songs all the way home. One of them was “The Battle Belongs to the Lord.”

I also love the song “How Great Thou Art” and each time I hear it now I cry, because we played it at my mom’s funeral as she had requested, and I still miss her.

A Bible verse that inspires me is Phil 4:13 – I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

RUBY: Tell us about your involvement at Troy UMC and/or the community.

Debbie:  Along with Heather Walker, I have been involved with the Methodist Missionaries for Christ (M&M’s 4 Christ) which is what they named themselves . They were the 5^th and 6^th graders, and they love to do mission work for the Lord. It was changed this year, but I know that we will be doing many more things because God is still in control and though it involves a wider range in ages (K-12^th grades), they continue to ask about it and want to remain strong in it. We will be taking them again to the Midwest Mission Distribution Center in Chatham in June. I have been on quite a few mission trips in the past, and I am currently serving on the Mission team. I also help out with the junior high on Wednesday nights. I truly love the brothers and sisters in Christ that I have come to know over the years and the new ones I meet every day. When we had vacation bible school in the evenings, I helped out there. I have been a part of the United Methodist Women.

RUBY: What's the best piece of advice anyone has ever given you?

Debbie:  From the Bible … Trust in the Lord with all you heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.

RUBY: What was your favorite game you played as a child, and why?

Debbie:  I think that would be Scrabble… still love to play that game because it helps keep your mind thinking.

RUBY: Tell us about your family.

Debbie:  I am married to Doren Rakers. We have known each other since high school, and after taking many different paths and going through many different struggles we both ended up in Troy and made the choice to marry making Christ the center of our marriage for nearly 14 years now. God has been so good to us.

My daughter Cassie and her husband Billy have given us 3 wonderful grandchildren - Simone, Sophie and Britton. Doren’s daughter Pam and husband Dave have given us a beautiful granddaughter - Isla. They live in Colorado. His son Doug and wife Rowan who currently are in Ft. Irwin, California have also given us 3 fantastic grandchildren - Aiden, Chloe and Lucas.

RUBY: How may we contact you in order to make a further connection?

My email is dordeb55@aol.com

My cell number is 618-830-2813. I do accept texts, but don’t like to have texting conversations.

My home number is 618-667-3261.

I do have a Facebook page.

I try to check my email and facebook every day, but sometimes just don’t have the time, so calling is best for immediate response.