Chains of Grace

by Stanley Vander Klay

Born and raised in the rural farmlands of the Midwest, Stan Vander Klay never dreamt that he would spend the majority of his adult life ministering in the inner city of Paterson, NJ. His down-home roots and excellendt Calvinist upbringing gave him the heart and the theology to affect the lives of a fascinating group of people whose stories and lives form the chains of grace that connect a community of believers from all walks of life.
"Chains of Grace" offers snapshots of cultural movements in history and how one community dealt with the Civil Rights Movement of the sixties, the drug culture of the seventies, the increasing poverty of the eighties, and the rebirth of a city through Habitat for Humanity in the nineties. Humorous and touching, ins;iring and uplifting, Rev's love for the people of Paterson infuses the stories that show the beauty and hope of a people who persevere despite their circumstances.

473 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 25, 2006

Reviews

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book to better understand this family who I’ve grown to know and love on this side of Heaven. It’s a l-o-n-g one, hence the reason it took me 2 years to finish.

[R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful memoir! Rev. Vander Klay was pastor at our church for 4 years, so I was somewhat familiar with his history in Paterson. But this was a much more detailed account and I learned so much more about his ministry there.
I found the book easy to read, logically organized and filled with Rev. Vander Klay's distinctive speech patterns. It was almost as if I could hear him reading the text.
The level of detail he was able to include for events from many years ago is amazing. He either had a good set of historical notes, or a fantastic memory.