Rebecca Grice worked as a literature evangelist in Pennsylvania when her husband, Clay, served as the publishing director for the Pennsylvania Conference. During her time in service, she recalls how well-received Adventist literature was among the Mennonites and Amish. As many literature evangelists do, she wondered what effect her books’ sales might have made on those in the community. Later, as she heard stories of success from people joining the church due to literature, she decided to write a book that told a story of someone’s spiritual journey. She chose to create a fictional account, but one that was based on real people she knew and their personalities. Grice changed their names but turned her Mennonite acquaintances into characters for the story titled The Time of the Remnant. “The first thing the story is about is making a decision. How are we going to make a decision to follow God in the last days? What might that experience look like?” says Grice. “The second thing is that it serves as an encouragement to anyone who has worked in the literature ministry, to help them see their work has great potential.”
Grice didn’t start writing the book until the late 1990s when they moved to Montgomery, Ala., for her husband to serve as the publishing director of Gulf States. During their time there, the Conference asked her to serve as the communication director after serving as a secretary to several departments. Grice continued working on the book and completed the original manuscript in 2001. When she attempted to have it published, she encountered an issue when the publisher told her there were too many end-time books on the market, and rejected her project. Disappointed, Grice put the book in a drawer and thought it might be a nice thing to share with her children someday, but that it wouldn’t go to print.
In July of 2015, her husband, Clay, passed away, and as Grice was cleaning some things out of their home in preparation to sell it, she found the manuscript. She sat down to read it and felt like she was reading someone else’s book, almost as if someone re-wrote it while it sat in the drawer. She felt like God was telling her now was the time to work on it and get it published. Grice spent some time working on the book and updating it, then had a few people read it and eventually submitted it to be published, and it was. Grice also sold her home and moved away from the communication position.
Grice loves creating art and has painted and written stories since grade school. She encourages others that have a knack for writing to turn it into something and publish it. “The hardest part of writing is the first word, so put it down and just write. Then, go back and redo it,” says Grice. “Have a friend read it that will be honest with you.” Grice believes that there is a place for other art forms in ministry too. God gives each person skills and abilities, and they can use them for His glory. “Ask Him how we can best use the talents He gives us.”
Gulf States | January 2021
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