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Broken on the Back Row: A Journey through Grace and Forgiveness
Sandi Patty, the most awarded female vocalist in contemporary Christian music, saw her stellar career go into a tailspin. From the agony of divorce nearly ten years ago, Sandi has moved from center stage to the back row of the church balcony and back into the spotlight. This book is the narrative of her years as an acclaimed recording artist balancing her role as mother of four children, her fall from public acclaim, and the steps she worked through with her church and pastor to find forgiveness and peace-all under the harsh glare of national media attention.
244 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2005
26 people are currently reading
160 people want to read
About the author
Sandi Patty
56 books20 followersFROM BOOK:
Sandi Patty is the most awarded Christian female vocalist in contemporary Christian music history, with 39 Dove Awards, 5 Grammy Awards, and 4 Billboard Music Awards. Her 23 albums have sold more than 11 million units, including 3 platinum and 5 gold recordings. She has regularly appeared on network television. In 2004, Sandi was inducted into the Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame.
Sandi Patty is the most awarded Christian female vocalist in contemporary Christian music history, with 39 Dove Awards, 5 Grammy Awards, and 4 Billboard Music Awards. Her 23 albums have sold more than 11 million units, including 3 platinum and 5 gold recordings. She has regularly appeared on network television. In 2004, Sandi was inducted into the Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
July 12, 2013
I read this book because I was angry. Sandi Patty was my first exposure to Christian music outside of church, and I was captivated by the contemporary expression of worship. I was young and encouraged. I would listen to the cassettes (yes, cassettes!) I had over and over and over again.
Then, I heard about her divorce. Then, her adulterous affair and marriage to a man who also dissolved his union to be with her and establish a blended family. I felt betrayed. I had held on to her music and message during difficult times in my life, and it seemed a fraud.
I can remember seeing this book in the store and feeling the anger rise again. Standing in the store, I recalled the Sandi Patty concert I went to as a teen: Sandi sharing her testimony, parading out her wonderful family. What was this book? Some materialistic attempt to make nice with the Christian community that banned her music from radio and music sales venues?
Then, I read the introduction, and I was struck by her humility. Her confession. Her honesty. Her maturity. I have copied her intro into the book info so you can read it too if you'd like. After spending 20ish minutes in the store breezing through the first few chapters, I knew I had to buy the book.
I was still angry reading it, especially at some parts. And as I'm writing this review it's all coming back to me. Even though the book seemed spot on, part of me still felt mad, hesitant, wondering... was THIS the real account? or another performance like I saw years ago?
And then it hit me... wasn't I also to blame. After all, I was SUPPOSED to be following Jesus, not a person. Yet, I had let someone else's faults discourage me in my walk with the Lord. Do her failures make Jesus any less real? No. Letting my faith rest in other Christian leaders who have ministered to me is dangerous... and something I must take responsibility to avoid. After all, wasn't it sin that brought us all to Jesus in the first place?
Secondly, who made me judge? Patty is claiming forgiveness and restoration to her home church fellowship... If Patty's account here is disingenous or dishonest, won't Christ straighten that out with her?
And then there is that part of the Lord's prayer, "Forgive us our tresspasses as we forgive those who tresspass against us." My idealism is still offended, but getting on in years, I know I cannot throw the first stone and will have to walk away (see John 8).
It was really the tone of this book that was convicting to me. From her account, it really does appear she has repented before the Lord, confessed to her congregation, confessed and sought forgiveness from individuals involved, and submitted to a restoration to ministry process overseen by her church.
I cannot deny that Jesus saves, restores, and heals broken people who sin, and Patty's tale of restoration is powerful and God glorifying. It also sheds the "perfect Christian" and would probably be an excellent book for a non-Christian who has made mistakes in marriage. For those of us who knew Patty's ministry before, her testimony represents an opportunity for us to practice the forgiveness we are bound by Christ to offer.
Then, I heard about her divorce. Then, her adulterous affair and marriage to a man who also dissolved his union to be with her and establish a blended family. I felt betrayed. I had held on to her music and message during difficult times in my life, and it seemed a fraud.
I can remember seeing this book in the store and feeling the anger rise again. Standing in the store, I recalled the Sandi Patty concert I went to as a teen: Sandi sharing her testimony, parading out her wonderful family. What was this book? Some materialistic attempt to make nice with the Christian community that banned her music from radio and music sales venues?
Then, I read the introduction, and I was struck by her humility. Her confession. Her honesty. Her maturity. I have copied her intro into the book info so you can read it too if you'd like. After spending 20ish minutes in the store breezing through the first few chapters, I knew I had to buy the book.
I was still angry reading it, especially at some parts. And as I'm writing this review it's all coming back to me. Even though the book seemed spot on, part of me still felt mad, hesitant, wondering... was THIS the real account? or another performance like I saw years ago?
And then it hit me... wasn't I also to blame. After all, I was SUPPOSED to be following Jesus, not a person. Yet, I had let someone else's faults discourage me in my walk with the Lord. Do her failures make Jesus any less real? No. Letting my faith rest in other Christian leaders who have ministered to me is dangerous... and something I must take responsibility to avoid. After all, wasn't it sin that brought us all to Jesus in the first place?
Secondly, who made me judge? Patty is claiming forgiveness and restoration to her home church fellowship... If Patty's account here is disingenous or dishonest, won't Christ straighten that out with her?
And then there is that part of the Lord's prayer, "Forgive us our tresspasses as we forgive those who tresspass against us." My idealism is still offended, but getting on in years, I know I cannot throw the first stone and will have to walk away (see John 8).
It was really the tone of this book that was convicting to me. From her account, it really does appear she has repented before the Lord, confessed to her congregation, confessed and sought forgiveness from individuals involved, and submitted to a restoration to ministry process overseen by her church.
I cannot deny that Jesus saves, restores, and heals broken people who sin, and Patty's tale of restoration is powerful and God glorifying. It also sheds the "perfect Christian" and would probably be an excellent book for a non-Christian who has made mistakes in marriage. For those of us who knew Patty's ministry before, her testimony represents an opportunity for us to practice the forgiveness we are bound by Christ to offer.
January 31, 2009
This book is so touching. It shows the path of forgiveness from the perspective of a person who was scrutinized in the public eye and the media. This book shows you that the path to forgiveness is not an easy road to pave and you must learn to walk hand-in-hand with God the Almighty Savior and Friend and Father. Sandi tells this story from the bottom of her heart.
January 29, 2008
What a testimony of God's grace and forgiveness. None of us are immune from a fall.
March 29, 2012
It was a Christian radio show (which featured Sandi Patty's life and music) that introduced me to this book. I was deeply moved and inspired when I heard parts of it, read during the show. I knew then that I had to read the book completely.
From her mostly fun childhood, early musical performances with her family, and the ascent of her career (from being a single lady to a married woman), the extremely tough times when she made a lot of impulsive decisions that caused her to fall and sin, and she and her loved ones to suffer a lot of consequences, to getting back on track, it was, indeed, a wonderful journey of grace, forgiveness, and restoration.
In the book, Sandi was appropriately sincere and open, and that's very admirable. She admitted all of her mistakes courageously, without any excuses as to why she made them, sought forgiveness from God, her church, and people involved, and went through the long and difficult path to healing and recovery.
It is a very powerful book that gives hope, encouragement, and inspiration for people who are currently going through such hardships in life. I highly recommend it.
From her mostly fun childhood, early musical performances with her family, and the ascent of her career (from being a single lady to a married woman), the extremely tough times when she made a lot of impulsive decisions that caused her to fall and sin, and she and her loved ones to suffer a lot of consequences, to getting back on track, it was, indeed, a wonderful journey of grace, forgiveness, and restoration.
In the book, Sandi was appropriately sincere and open, and that's very admirable. She admitted all of her mistakes courageously, without any excuses as to why she made them, sought forgiveness from God, her church, and people involved, and went through the long and difficult path to healing and recovery.
It is a very powerful book that gives hope, encouragement, and inspiration for people who are currently going through such hardships in life. I highly recommend it.
May 23, 2008
If you are looking for lurid details about the affair that broke up the author's first marriage, you will be greatly disappointed. This is a study in which she seeks forgiveness from God, from her parish, and from her fans. Being Catholic, this Protestant journey was rather alien to me, and frankly it seems a lot more difficult to gain forgiveness outside of Catholicism! I have the impression that this was written in part to make a sort of apology to her fans, and in part to iterate that God does forgive the truly repentant.
March 8, 2008
This was a great book. You can feel her sorrow of recovering and repairing her family from adultery and public apologies. I find it ironic that many Christian stations won't play her music but yet find nothing wrong regarding Amy Grant's divorce and remarriage, priorities mixed up?? Very good book in God's Grace and Forgiveness as well as healing through God.
April 7, 2012
I so deeply appreciate the honesty of a woman I have such deep respect for. Her story is familiar in that we all mess up and have to reconcile our poor choices alongside the blessings and gifts of our faith. Well worth a read as her music is well worth a listen!
September 19, 2013
This was not a book I would have picked up ... but was our book club read for the month, so I dutifully began to skim through it. Just a few pages in, I was already wiping tears from my face, and feeling a refreshment of God's grace in my own life. I was thoroughly blessed by the book!
October 16, 2008
nobody's perfect!
July 24, 2018
How we all fall short of Gods grace and how brave she is on telling her story.
April 8, 2016
I really enjoyed this book. It was well written and interesting. Sometimes artists and musicians who write autobiographies or memoirs or to tell us their story struggle with the delivery since they may not necessarily be "authors," but this book isn't like that as well. Sandy is an accomplished author as well as a very talented musician and artist. As a huge Sandy Patti fan, I loved this book. But I think it would be equally enjoyable for anyone. It's a beautiful testament to God's grace and mercy and a reminder to us that we are all sinners in need of God's grace, and that God's love can find us when we inevitably find ourselves "broken on the back row." Sandy is the real deal. I highly recommend it.
February 27, 2013
From beginning to end, I found this story filled with the Grace of God. So much so that I didn't want to put it down.
I liked that Sandi respected her first husband by including none of the specific details of their break-up, but instead included details of things she learned about a wounded heart during her counseling experiences. I also liked the inclusion of her Pastor's suggestions for restoring a person to wholeness.
I liked that Sandi respected her first husband by including none of the specific details of their break-up, but instead included details of things she learned about a wounded heart during her counseling experiences. I also liked the inclusion of her Pastor's suggestions for restoring a person to wholeness.
September 5, 2016
*the description of this book is not correct!
This is the second time I read this book. First time was 10 yrs ago after getting this book from a Women of Faith conference. Really appreciate Sandi's honest and candid sharing in the book about her fall. The messages have not changed- 1. sin doesn't just hurt the sinner; it has the potential to hurt a lot of other people too. 2. God is the God of second chances.
This is the second time I read this book. First time was 10 yrs ago after getting this book from a Women of Faith conference. Really appreciate Sandi's honest and candid sharing in the book about her fall. The messages have not changed- 1. sin doesn't just hurt the sinner; it has the potential to hurt a lot of other people too. 2. God is the God of second chances.
November 28, 2017
It was very interesting to read Sandi Patty's story. She is certainly a courageous woman. I'm not so sure she *owed* the world (or her church) an explanation of her deeply personal struggles. We're *all* sinners. I think she's incredibly brave to have bared her soul to so many. It's not our job to judge, but to love and forgive. I enjoyed the book and have a great deal of respect for Sandi. I stand in awe of her incredible talent.
March 24, 2013
"Sandi Patty was a woman who sought after God with her whole heart, who loved her family and her friends. And when she got the chance, she sang about it."
Sandi Patty was one of my favorite Christian artists when I was a teenager. Her book was an amazing story about forgiveness, grace and second chances. Sandi is honest and real about her life. I found it to be very inspirational.
Sandi Patty was one of my favorite Christian artists when I was a teenager. Her book was an amazing story about forgiveness, grace and second chances. Sandi is honest and real about her life. I found it to be very inspirational.
March 23, 2016
great book. have been listening to Sandi's music since I was 7. Here, the singer talks about growing up in a musical family, building her own career, choices she made and making her way back to god and her church. accountability, humility and forgiveness are the dominant themes of this book. Highly recommend.
November 26, 2010
Helpful, transparent. Sandi Patti speaks about her affair while on the road singing gospel, and how deceptive and how needy she felt. Shared with T. Explains the value of restorative counseling and forgiveness within the church.
Read
August 29, 2016I actually read the hardcover version of this but the audio cassette version is the only version in the GoodReads database for some reason.
January 26, 2011
She still has one of the most gorgeous voices ever. I'm glad the Christian community has finally forgiven her, and she is no longer "black-balled" by the radio stations.
January 8, 2013
Sandi Patty has long been my favorite singer and reading the many stories of her life and how she realized that even when most of the world walked out on her God drew her closer to Him.
October 9, 2013
Real life, real Christianity.
Read
February 5, 2017Good book about God's forgiveness
May 4, 2017
It is great book.
It was a great book. You will enjoy it. You will want to to read more books of her. She love her family and her career.
It was a great book. You will enjoy it. You will want to to read more books of her. She love her family and her career.
July 17, 2017
Liked this book very much. She is one of my favorite Christian artists. Her honesty and her life story is very touching. Thank you Sandi.
December 30, 2022
What a beautiful book. Sandi makes such a compelling argument for her faith and the beauty of the God of Second Chances.
Having grown up with her music, I was aware of the scandal her divorce and affair had on the industry, but she had already made her return to the music scene by the time I really knew anything else about her. Sandi is such an excellent story teller, and the book will leave you laughing, crying, and hurting right along with her. It’s refreshing to see such vulnerability, though, as she admits, it didn’t come easily or naturally. It’s also refreshing to see someone so hurt by other members of the body of Christ be so resilient and strong through her acknowledgment and acceptance of her action and be so willing to take criticism that so often was not at all Christ-like.
The reconciliation section might seem a bit off putting to non-Christians, and it seems a bit harsh, admittedly. I kept asking myself if a man would’ve been made to do the same things in the same situation. But ultimately, the process proved healthy for Sandi and her family, and that is what matters most.
It really was a beautiful book, and my respect for this great artist has greatened!
Having grown up with her music, I was aware of the scandal her divorce and affair had on the industry, but she had already made her return to the music scene by the time I really knew anything else about her. Sandi is such an excellent story teller, and the book will leave you laughing, crying, and hurting right along with her. It’s refreshing to see such vulnerability, though, as she admits, it didn’t come easily or naturally. It’s also refreshing to see someone so hurt by other members of the body of Christ be so resilient and strong through her acknowledgment and acceptance of her action and be so willing to take criticism that so often was not at all Christ-like.
The reconciliation section might seem a bit off putting to non-Christians, and it seems a bit harsh, admittedly. I kept asking myself if a man would’ve been made to do the same things in the same situation. But ultimately, the process proved healthy for Sandi and her family, and that is what matters most.
It really was a beautiful book, and my respect for this great artist has greatened!
March 1, 2025
A much loved hero to me growing up, I was still young when the story of Sandi Patty’s divorce came out. I still listened to her music, but noticed she did not have much new music coming out anymore. As an adult, it is terribly sad to read this story that really is not anyone’s business. Hopefully her story will help others who are on the brink of an affair to stop and think of the consequences. I also hope it is a reminder to the body of Christ that Jesus died for every sinner, even those we found broken at the foot of the pedestal we once enjoyed.
February 28, 2025
Sandi Patty, a woman with a spectacular voice, writes about her life and the difficult times that led to her being "Broken On The Back Row".
Recording artist Sandi Patty gives us a brutally honest look at her life: the good, the bad, and the ugly. With an incredible openness she tells us of how her unhappiness during much of her career led to personal disasters and eventually to God's redeeming grace.
Any fan of this lady will enjoy this book.
Recording artist Sandi Patty gives us a brutally honest look at her life: the good, the bad, and the ugly. With an incredible openness she tells us of how her unhappiness during much of her career led to personal disasters and eventually to God's redeeming grace.
Any fan of this lady will enjoy this book.
June 8, 2019
Sandy blesses me through through the love God gives to us all.
Beautifully written Sandy wants you to see the love and forgiveness of our heavenly father. Let this book minister to your heart as it did mine. I will read again.
Beautifully written Sandy wants you to see the love and forgiveness of our heavenly father. Let this book minister to your heart as it did mine. I will read again.
November 10, 2020
Sandi Patty’s humility, transparency, faith, and desire to renew her relationship wirth the Lord and with family and friends was truly awe-inspiring for me. For an amazing picture of how God works to redeem us, even when we’re broken in the back row, I highly recommend this book.
August 5, 2018
Wonderful story of forgiveness and redemption. Throughout this book, I found inspiration to receive and give forgiveness and learned a bit about helping others who need grace.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews