| Howerton pens book on breaking chains of false faith |
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By: CHRISTEN MANGER, Post Intern
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Posted: Wednesday, December 16, 2009 9:00 pm
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When Murfreesboro resident Shari Howerton decided to publish a book based on her spiritual journey, she never realized how difficult and rewarding the outcome would be.
Breaking the Chains: Overcoming the Abuse of a False Gospel is the self-published journey of a woman trying to find her faith. Raised in a strict religious cult in California, Howerton never questioned the rules and expectations that were required of her and her family. Perfection, obedience and total allegiance to the church were the gospels that she had been taught to believe.
“Only after I left did I become aware of the level to which I had been controlled and conditioned by fear,” said Howerton. “I would have anxiety about whether or not God was mad at me for leaving ‘the Body.’ Through that struggle, I became more and more aware of my chains.”
After being told that the church must move, Howerton and 300 other members quit their jobs and moved their families to Nashville.
“Our pastor said that God had told him to relocate to the Nashville area and that we were to remain with him,” Howerton explained. “I remember rejecting that idea. I did not believe that my very being should depend upon being in one specific man’s congregation.”
Telling God that she didn’t care about her past beliefs, Howerton searched for the truth. After 43 years in a religious cult, she was “starting from scratch.” In 2003, Howerton met her husband John, and he invited her to visit World Outreach Church on New Salem Highway.
“Some have called me a betrayer of life-long friends. That will never be an easy thing for me to accept and come to terms with,” said Howerton. “Nevertheless, part of breaking my chains is finding an acceptance of what God has ordained for my life. As much as it hurts to let go, I have had to.”
A friend and former CEO of Ingram Publishing helped Howerton connect with an editor and the process began. Howerton started writing in January of 2009, but not without much reservation. Inspired to write her story and remembering the encouragement of her friends, she overcame her fears and wrote her testimony.
“I know there are a lot of people that have left the group I was a part of and carry so much baggage. They don’t know what to believe because they’ve been so indoctrinated with these false beliefs,” said Howerton. “Because of these experiences, I was able to write this book and help other people. This was God’s plan for my life.”
Breaking the Chains is now available in Hastings Book Store, Barnes & Noble Bookstores and on Amazon.com. More information and signed copies of the book may be purchased online at www.sharihowerton.com.
On Saturday, Dec. 19, Hastings Book Store located on Memorial Blvd. will have a formal book signing with Shari Howerton from 1-3 p.m.
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