Live Bookstore Broadcast Launches Sharing Your Catholic Faith Story
The Live Broadcast Book Launch of Sharing Your Catholic Faith Story June 17, featured Editor Lisa Nicholas, Author Nancy Ward, General Manager of KATH 910AM Dave Palmer and Sacred Heart Books and Gifts Store Manager Nikki White, as well as Contributing Authors Bill Alexander and Rob Brull, not shown here. (Photo by Phil Ward)
Sacred Heart Books and Gifts was all abuzz with Dave Palmer, general manager of KATH AM, setting up recording equipment near one of the front windows. The store’s manager, Nikki White, came out of the kitchen with a tray of meat, cheese, crackers and rugelach and set it on a counter next to the cash register.
Author Nancy Ward gives Dave Palmer an evangelization quote from Saint John Paul II. (Photo by Phil Ward)
We arrived with the extra supply of Sharing Your Catholic Faith Story: Tools, Tips, and Testimonies Nikki had requested and would need after the ones on display were gone. The bookstore staff welcomed the three of us – author, photographer and editor – with enthusiasm, as did Dave Palmer. We set up a large poster of the book cover near the table where we’d soon sit for the interviews. One of the contributing authors, Bill Alexander emerged from the stacks, ready to share his story. Then Rob Brull, the other contributing author that volunteered to speak, arrived. Some women from St. Michel’s Church came together, followed by two members of the Dallas/Ft. Worth Catholic Writers, which meets at the store once a month.
The four segments of the hour-long broadcasts went rapidly, with Nikki reporting on the latest Sacred Heart news – a raffle and their 40th-anniversary event later in the month. The first segment ended with my answer to Dave’s question, “What exactly is a faith story?” because many Catholics don’t know that each of us is living our unique faith story. (The answer is on the recording.)
The second segment was on why Catholics need to evangelize. I put forth Saint John Paul II’s teaching that “The most effective way to evangelize is through our personal witness.”
Dave Palmer learns all about Mitey Editing from Editor Lisa Nicholas. (Photo by Phil Ward)
How we created the book
Lisa joined us to discuss how we got together and created the book. Together we shared how we met at the 2012 Catholic Marketing Network/Catholic Writers Guild Conference in the Dallas area. One of the fruits of that conference was the start of the DFW Catholic Writers, where we became friends and writing colleagues over the years. Dave was interested in hearing about her writing, graphics and editing services, Mitey Editing, and learned that Lisa named it for the widow’s mite as her way of giving back through her many talents.
The next segment began with dialog on conversion and whether it’s a one-time event or a continual process. Bill Alexander illustrated my answer by sharing from his story in Sharing Your Catholic Faith Story, Saved by Don Quixote,” and the results of his conversion in the process of reconciling his relationship with his father.
Nancy Ward watches Dave Palmer react to Contributing Author Bill Alexander’s story, “Saved by Don Quixote.” (Photo by Lisa Nicholas)
Faith is private? False!
“Why is it critically important for Catholics to be able to honestly tell their own stories of coming home to the Catholic Church?” was the opening question of the last segment. From my experience as an introvert, I asserted that we have to get over the false idea that our faith is private. “Your faith is personal, but it is not private. God gave us our unique life story to build his kingdom by sharing it with others.”
Dave Palmer interviews Contributing Author Rob Brull about his story, “Catholic Answers” with Nikki White and Nancy Ward. (Photo by Phil Ward)
Dave brought Rob Brull to the table to talk about his renewal testimony: “God’s Catholic Answers.” Catholic radio gradually brought him back to Catholicism and into a full life in the Church and a volunteer spokesman for KATH.
It was a full show and, yes, we ran over almost ten minutes into the next scheduled show, but Dave, as general manager of the station, has that privilege. That gave us a minute to thank everyone.
All that was left was the thrill of signing books!
© 2019 Nancy HC Ward
