How to Multiply Barley Rolls

Isn't it exciting when something grows?

Later this year, my first solo book will hit the shelves. It is called Telling the Big Story: The Bible in 60 Minutes and gives advice, ideas and scripts for all ages and abilities to come together and present an engaging event. As well as promoting biblical literacy and helping people see the metanarrative of the Bible as a whole, it is designed to be intentionally inclusive. I do hope and pray that it will challenge churches and organisations to address areas where they can improve their inclusivity. 

The event is also remarkably doable. If your church can put on a nativity (of any sort), it can tell the story of the Bible. Probably in under an hour, too.  

I say 'solo book', but really that is unfair. This idea began with a clear prompt from God and was confirmed over and over as our church family put together the first event. We learned how to help others do it even better, and it's now written up, with input from dozens of people. Now we are at another delicious stage of writing where even more people are involved. 

The readers

My parents and others were roped in to spot errors in my manuscript. They have been successful in this, saving me future embarrassment. I will always be grateful to my dad for pointing out quite a big biblical error I made (no doubt owing to a bit of late-forties brain fog). 

The bakers

My mother-in-law Ann used to bake the most amazing bread. We call it 'granny bread' at home. I have adapted a bread recipe she gave me for barley rolls, given a theme of the feeding of the 5000 in the book. Ann has Parkinson's now, and is very frail and unwell. My husband Matthew has been sourcing barley flour online and revising the recipe in various forms to come up with the best way to bake it and honour her.

The cheerleaders

Various people have now had the chance to look over the manuscript. Sending it to others is indeed as scary as I had imagined. However, those who received and read it have responded very positively. People from different denominations and walks of life, abilities and age groups have given helpful advice as well as valuable praise to help us market to a wide audience.

The publishers

I am publishing through Kevin Mayhew, a great fit for this type of book. I was not certain at first whether to use a regular publishing house or try and self-publish, but it is important that this book is seen widely. Having a publisher also means that others are taking responsibility for editing, typesetting, producing a cover, printing and marketing in the publishing world.

So was this a solo project? I don't think it ever was, however many pages I personally wrote and rewrote. I had to listen to advice from lots of sources, learning and being challenged over and over again. There have been elements I was not able to take on myself, and parts that took a long while to resolve. People have been generous with their time and words and God has been faithful throughout, allowing me to work at a pace which works within my own limits.

I can certainly say that everything I have brought to Jesus, he has taken and multiplied. No project with Jesus is ever a solo endeavour, driven for personal interests. Instead, when we take this step, we find ourselves in a joyous adventure of trust, obedience and community. 

Lucy is a part-time biblical tutor for Spurgeon's College. Own image.