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Soon and Very Soon
Soon is not just a promised destination, but also the beginning of a whirlwind journey.
After a ten-month courtship, everyone thought the marriage between Willie Green, the straight-laced pastor of the traditional Harvest Baptist Church, and Vanessa Morton, the dynamo preach-pastor from the contemporary Mount Pleasant Baptist Church, was too soon. Neither pastor realized that after the nuptials, all hell would break loose as they planned to combine their respective churches.
The honeymoon abruptly comes to an end as Willie tries to maintain control of his congregation, while Deacon Charley Thompson and a group of dissenters go to extreme lengths to keep their religious routine going at Harvest. Meanwhile, Vanessa struggles with the new balancing act of being a competent co-pastor and a nurturing first lady to her husband. The price of having too much too soon leads them both to deal in their own way with letting go of the way things used to be.
After a ten-month courtship, everyone thought the marriage between Willie Green, the straight-laced pastor of the traditional Harvest Baptist Church, and Vanessa Morton, the dynamo preach-pastor from the contemporary Mount Pleasant Baptist Church, was too soon. Neither pastor realized that after the nuptials, all hell would break loose as they planned to combine their respective churches.
The honeymoon abruptly comes to an end as Willie tries to maintain control of his congregation, while Deacon Charley Thompson and a group of dissenters go to extreme lengths to keep their religious routine going at Harvest. Meanwhile, Vanessa struggles with the new balancing act of being a competent co-pastor and a nurturing first lady to her husband. The price of having too much too soon leads them both to deal in their own way with letting go of the way things used to be.
- GenresChristian
322 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 2007
About the author
Sherryle Kiser Jackson
9 books14 followersSherryle Kiser Jackson is a fresh voice in Christian fiction. Her style reflects an honest commentary on her life with Christ.
Soon and Very Soon is her debut novel. She anxiously awaits the publication of her second novel, The Manual, October of this year.
Soon and Very Soon is her debut novel. She anxiously awaits the publication of her second novel, The Manual, October of this year.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
November 15, 2012
“Soon and Very Soon” by Sherryle Kiser Jackson is a diplomatically written, yet sober revelation of the difficulties of the heart involving two highly-driven and respectable leaders of faith. Ms. Jackson tells the distressing story of two extremely motivated and highly regarded leaders of their individual churches and their quick and blooming romance to each other. They fall in love and joined hand in hand with each other but discover all is not well when attempting to integrate their lives. In all of their efforts to become one, they fall short of achieving their desirable goal both in their marriage and in their calling. It is an interesting read.
August 3, 2013
Soon and Very Soon can be best described as the marriage of two people, two Christian leaders, two congregations, and two styles of serving God. I usually can get through books in a matter of a day or two, however, it took me several days to complete this book. The story is told in somewhat of a slow-paced manner, but what caused me to slow down my reading was the actual content of the book. There are so many thought-provoking ideas in this novel that it is best experienced over time.
The novel gives the reader an up close look at two pastors who have lead their own churches, but upon meeting and falling in love, decide to get married and combine their two churches. Change is hard enough, but when you have two congregations that are on complete opposite ends of the spectrum, change becomes seemingly impossible. Harvest is an old-school kind of church with a zillion traditions and rituals. Mt. Pleasant is a contemporary church where the word "new" can be added to everything from the sanctuary to the music.
To make matters more complex, church members from both churches are apprehensive about the combining of the two ministries. Unifying means consolidation and compromise, two words neither congregation can fully embrace. But they aren't the only ones struggling. The newlywed couple also must learn to coexist in every form of the term. When Harvest's most self-important deacon chooses to rebel against the unification decision, more is at stake than just two churches. The lives of everyone involved could be forever changed.
I applaud Jackson for tackling such a tough subject. When so many authors are writing feel good stories and unrealistic drama, Jackson has penned a novel about tested faith and the difference between going to church and being God's church. I believe this is a great book for book clubs who like to have deep and intense conversations about faith and religion. The book ends somewhat without complete closure; however, there is a sequel, Soon After, which I intend to read next.
The novel gives the reader an up close look at two pastors who have lead their own churches, but upon meeting and falling in love, decide to get married and combine their two churches. Change is hard enough, but when you have two congregations that are on complete opposite ends of the spectrum, change becomes seemingly impossible. Harvest is an old-school kind of church with a zillion traditions and rituals. Mt. Pleasant is a contemporary church where the word "new" can be added to everything from the sanctuary to the music.
To make matters more complex, church members from both churches are apprehensive about the combining of the two ministries. Unifying means consolidation and compromise, two words neither congregation can fully embrace. But they aren't the only ones struggling. The newlywed couple also must learn to coexist in every form of the term. When Harvest's most self-important deacon chooses to rebel against the unification decision, more is at stake than just two churches. The lives of everyone involved could be forever changed.
I applaud Jackson for tackling such a tough subject. When so many authors are writing feel good stories and unrealistic drama, Jackson has penned a novel about tested faith and the difference between going to church and being God's church. I believe this is a great book for book clubs who like to have deep and intense conversations about faith and religion. The book ends somewhat without complete closure; however, there is a sequel, Soon After, which I intend to read next.
December 23, 2009
The title and cover alone made me want to read, Soon and Very Soon by Sherryle Kieser Jackson. The reader gets in the lifestyle of a pastor and his first lady (who is also a pastor), where they plan committees, conferences, and hardly have time for one another. Do they value their marriage vows? Pastor Willie Green intentions was to marry Pastor Vanessa Morton since he was single at nearly forty years old and wanted the pastoral leadership at Harvest Baptist, who followed traditional standards—lead him to an open relationship-marriage. The ultimate goal was to see who would be chosen to become the senior pastor of Harvest Baptist Church. Vanessa was outspoken and shared her views on women preaching in the congregation, as Willie was a laid-back while shepherding his flock. Vanessa and Willie appear to be total opposites, but Willie wants Vanessa to submit to his earthly needs and wish Keisha (Vanessa’s sister) single-self get out of the way. In addition, when do you break ties with members in your congregation and those constantly coming to you with problems, inside and outside of the church?
I believe the reader’s expectations can be high based on the title and/or cover, yet I felt this story took awhile for the progression of the storyline or plot, and barely enough spunk to keep the reader intrigued or inviting them to read pass the imaginary scenes. Yet, the visualizations were there in which I could imagine being in this Baptist Church with some comical or overly holy and thou characteristics from the pastor’s board. The book is well-written, yet needed intriguing, mind-boggling, or entertaining plots to keep the reader turning the pages to be emotionally struck or moved by the character’s emotions, or stories. The ultimate message is to find out who you are, not overshadowing or shadowing someone else dreams and ministry, you have to discover the calling and talents God has instilled in you.
Adrienna Turner
AAMBC Book Reviewer
I believe the reader’s expectations can be high based on the title and/or cover, yet I felt this story took awhile for the progression of the storyline or plot, and barely enough spunk to keep the reader intrigued or inviting them to read pass the imaginary scenes. Yet, the visualizations were there in which I could imagine being in this Baptist Church with some comical or overly holy and thou characteristics from the pastor’s board. The book is well-written, yet needed intriguing, mind-boggling, or entertaining plots to keep the reader turning the pages to be emotionally struck or moved by the character’s emotions, or stories. The ultimate message is to find out who you are, not overshadowing or shadowing someone else dreams and ministry, you have to discover the calling and talents God has instilled in you.
Adrienna Turner
AAMBC Book Reviewer
June 13, 2012
*First read 12/23/09 for AAMBC review, and second read 5/25/12-6/13/12 for Chasing Book Club (online selected read for this quarter). Talk to author on teleconference call 6/14/12 at 6 PM Central.
The ultimate message I taken from this book is that we cannot live in someone else's shadow, we have to find our own place in the world. In other words, Keisha was helping, following, and in her sister's shadow (Pastor Vanessa Green) as a woman pastor, where she could not see her purpose, calling, or ministry.
Another message is about woman ministries and shepherding, there are some men or people in the church who do not believe a woman is to lead the flock, or preach in the church. Yet, you see Willie and Vanessa Green as both in a leadership role in the church as pastors.
Hard to rate this book: 2/3 rating.
The ultimate message I taken from this book is that we cannot live in someone else's shadow, we have to find our own place in the world. In other words, Keisha was helping, following, and in her sister's shadow (Pastor Vanessa Green) as a woman pastor, where she could not see her purpose, calling, or ministry.
Another message is about woman ministries and shepherding, there are some men or people in the church who do not believe a woman is to lead the flock, or preach in the church. Yet, you see Willie and Vanessa Green as both in a leadership role in the church as pastors.
Hard to rate this book: 2/3 rating.
December 29, 2008
Being a female Pastor who's married to a Pastor, I could relate to the characters. This is a great read for ministers as well a laymen to see how it affects pastors when the people aren't in agreement with the move of God. Sometimes we don't want to obey either, but we have no choice. Obeying God is the beginning of true abundant life.
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July 2, 2009Soon is just not a promised destiny, but a whirlwind journey
July 4, 2012
Tried to like it because of all the great reviews. I could only get through a few chapters.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews