Soul Friend: The Story of a Shared Spiritual Journey

The author, Jo-Anne Berthelsen, escorts the reader on a beautiful journey through her life experience and the joy and value of a mentor who is truly a soul friend. Jo-Anne opens heart and shares her journey with integrity and without pretence entwining many appropriate Scriptures. I felt I also came to know Jo-Anne's mentor, Joy and the wisdom that flows from her mouth. In the final chapters Jo-Anne has taken time to tell of her challenges and frustrations firstly to actually put pen to paper and then the struggles of finding a publisher, the knock backs, and finally to have her manuscripts accepted by a Christian Publisher. She does not hold back and I feel this Book would, apart from sharing the value of a trusted mentor, be invaluable advice and encouragement to any aspiring Christian Author.

4. 5 stars. I started to read this book because I know Jo-Anne Berthelsen and thought it would be interesting to read her memoir. I knew the book was about the relationship she had with her spiritual mentor Joy over many years, but I wasn't expecting it to impact me so much. I found I could only read it in small chunks because as Jo related things she was working through and learning from her mentor, I found I had to ponder them too. The role of women in ministry, overcoming a people-pleasing nature, achieving balance in your life, working out where you really fit in ministry and getting in touch with your creative side - I could relate to so much of it. It was interesting to hear about Jo's journey through all of these issues and how she navigated some difficult decisions. \\r\\n\\r\\nI liked the way that the book reached beyond denominational concerns and focused on the things Christians have in common. Joy and Jo-Anne came from different backgrounds, but they could learn from each other. I also really appreciated her honesty. She really made herself vulnerable and took some risks in what she shared, but she did it in a sensitive and respectful way. After reading the book, anyone would love to have a mentor like Joy. However, that ministry has been multiplied through Jo in the women she has also mentored and those who will learn from this book.

This was an unusual read for me as I tend to prefer fiction, but I found myself thinking about my own relationships as I read this book. I hope you will get a copy of Soul Friend, and that in reading it, you will make some discoveries about yourself, just as I did. \\r\\nAnd I also purchased a copy of this book for my Mum for her birthday. It is for all women, all ages, and in all walks of Christian life.

Soul Friend: The Story of a Shared Spiritual Journey is a memoir detailing the friendship between Jo-Anne and Joy that began when Jo-Anne was undertaking studies in ministry and needed a spiritual mentor for the year. However, the relationship has lasted many years beyond that, and in this memoir Jo-Anne details her own spiritual struggles and shares how Joy has been instrumental in encouraging and advising her. \\r\\n\\r\\nThe early chapters see Jo-Anne struggling with questions around the role of women in Christian ministry, an issue many women and churches) grapple with. Like many of us, she has also struggled with juggling too many roles at once and not wanting to burden others by stepping down. Her writing is clear and honest, and she isn't afraid to reveal things that don't always paint her in the most positive light (or perhaps she is afraid, but she doesn't let that stop her). \\r\\n\\r\\nOverall, Soul Friend encourages us to both have a spiritual mentor and to be a spiritual mentor to others, as demonstrated in the Bible by Barnabas with Saul, then Paul with Timothy and others. It is a beautiful testament to Joy and the thousands of hours she and her husband spent ministering into the lives of many others, not just Jo-Anne. I particularly liked the way Jo-Anne talked about her writing journey, and the struggle she had for others to see writing as a ministry. Recommended. \\r\\n\\r\\nThanks to Even Before Publishing for providing a free ebook for review.

Soul Friend is a beautiful story of an extraordinary friendship that developed over fifteen years between Jo-Anne and her spiritual mentor, Joy. We journey with Jo-Anne as she embarked on a new phase in her ministry including theological studies, pastoral work and five published novels. Jo-Anne recalled her initial meetings with Joy and how their friendship was a blessing in many ways. \\r\\n\\r\\nI enjoyed Jo-Anne's conversational writing style and I found Soul Friend easy to read. Jo-Anne was honest as she shared personal issues and spiritual struggles that she encountered while seeking to follow God's will for her life. Her friendship with Joy challenged her to question many of her core beliefs that formed the foundation for important decisions in her ministry work. Joy showed unconditional love, wisdom and care for Jo-Anne as they developed a trusting and authentic relationship. I was encouraged and inspired by watching their unique friendship evolve and seeing God at work in their lives. I highly recommend this book to those looking for role models on how to build and nurture mutually beneficial relationships with spiritual mentors.