I Hear a Seed Growing: God of the Forest God of the Streets

by Edwina Gateley, Rosemary Radford Reuther (Foreword)

New edition of a modern classic. The powerful story of two women; one who ministered to prostitutes in Chicago and the friend who struggled to rise from the mean streets.

Genres: Memoir, Spirituality

292 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1990

Reviews

[Jude Simpson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow. Hard-hitting, challenging, exciting, hilarious. A jumble of mysticism, memoir, poetry, farcical failure stories and immense spiritual truths, from a woman who decided to trust God and meet the real needs of women (and others) enmeshed in prostitution and drug addiction. I love Edwina's confidence, her admission of shortcomings, and her insatiable desire for wisdom. I love how she challenges every preconception. I love the picture she paints of a female and feminine God who cares, births, groans, creates and cries. Ultimately, this book left me wanting more, because there is no "success story" here. It's gritty and gravelly and deserves attention, it will leave you with more questions than answers - but I think that's the whole point.

[shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is written by this woman who is a theologian. She founded the Genesis House in Chicago which is an organization serving women recovering from prostitution. She has amazing faith in Jesus and totally inspires me. I heard her speak at a conference this last weekend, and she was incredible!

[Irene · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the journal of Edwina Gateley from 1981-1985, the years she prayerfully discerned a call to minister to prostitutes and drug addicts in Chicago and her initial years responding to that call which culminated in the founding of Genesis House. The real-time record of the frustrations and joys, fears and victories in this ministry give the experience an immediacy that a memoir can not convey. Her courageous and compassionate living out of her faith is certainly challenging. There were times when the journal entry seemed a bit too self-conscious, as if she was anticipating a reader, but this is a miner flaw. The interweaving of the journal entries of the first young prostitute to share in this ministry and her brutal struggle with alcohol and drugs offers a poignant counter-voice to that of the author.

[Estelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a practitioner working with those in the sex industry I adore this book for it's honesty.