2nd Annual Book Clubs Unite Essay Contest
Presented by Davis Elegant Events, Inc.
Chicago, IL Saturday, August 21, 2010

Contest Winner
Sistas Turning Pages, Lansing, MI for
Behind The Broken Cross by Conrad Prophet

The Sistas Turning Pages of Michigan favorite book club discussion was Behind the Broken Cross by Conrad Prophet. This book was mainly about the corruption in the church and the exposed information. The characters are childhood friends as they enter yet another phase in their lives. Each of them is forced to examine their homes and family life; they begin to understand how the cross of Jesus Christ has lost its meaning. The character Gregory Hill has followed in the footsteps of God Almighty. He has nurtured his faith and gained respect in the community as well as with his childhood friends. He has been successful in bringing wayward souls to Christ until Reverend Bobby “Showtime” Hayes conducts his “business” by any means necessary, which included pimping from the pulpit is just another avenue to line his pockets with the almighty dollar. He does not serve God; he believes that he is the Heavenly Father. Power, Sex and Money are the demons that he worships. This book stimulated a lot of discussion between the members. It forced everyone to take a look at the way they view the church. It kept you on the edge of your seat from the beginning to the end. At some point you had to release the book and grab the Bible in attempt to save yourself. The members agreed that you see a lot of things going on in church. Do you practice the teaching of the bible or do you follow man (ministers) and what they interpret it should be? Have the church lost the meaning of being a “stairway to Heaven” or is it there to get your “hustle on” or simply just be seen? How often do we see a person that prays long, sings and start shouting and all the time we felt they were saved and dedicated to the Lord and when in reality they are doing it to be seen? The author educates the reader through powerful sermons as well as through examples of societal misfortunes. With the scriptures being written within the book gave the book club members information to read what actually the bible has to say. This lets you check for yourself the word and if you were not a bible reader before this would get you started. The book exposed all the evil secrets that the ministers, deacons and elders would kill or die before letting anyone find out. But the following makes you wonder:

• How often have you seen churches and the pastor requesting your W2s form to determine how much you can pay and all during this time passing the collection plate around at a record pace, which indicate to you the more money you pay the closer you sit to the pulpit. Does this mean that you will get to heaven faster than me?
• Not to mention the Bishop who lives in a big fancy home with his wife and family and by night he becomes a sexual predator who preys on church women. Does that mean he is above judgment?
• Some of the churches have bible study during the week and discourage the women from attending – it makes you wonder if this is just a “meat factory” for men seeking men. Now, is bible studying going on?

This book left the book club “wanting” for more. Each of the characters took a role of their own and their unique personality taught the reader a lot about real life. Do we really see the “minister” in the church as simply being a “man” that god has put there to deliver his word or do we serve “man” in the pulpit that tells you that he is your heavenly father? This book left the book club “wanting” for more. Each of the characters took a role of their own and their unique personality taught the reader a lot about real life. Do we really see the “minister” in the church as simply being a “man” that god has put there to deliver his word or do we serve “man” in the pulpit that tells you that he is your heavenly father? After reading this book, you will no longer be in denial and afraid to openly discuss the corruption in churches that you are so familiar with. This book had each member go to the word which is found in Galatians 6:7-10, which God’s word said:

7) Do not deceived; God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Sprit will reap eternal life. 9) Let us not become weary in doing good, for the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10) Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

But, the Sistas Turning Pages agreed to this; “What you do in the dark will surely come to the light”. So, we are not judging if someone is correct, because God will reveal all things to us in his time. We are looking forward to the sequel to this book.

This book contains sexually explicit material.

Behind the Broken Cross

by Conrad Prophet

Order this book

What happens when corruption in the church is exposed? All hell breaks loose! Follow these childhood friends as they enter yet another phase in their lives. As each of them is forced to examine their homes and family life, they begin to understand how the cross of Jesus Christ has lost its meaning. All his life, Gregory Hill has followed in the footsteps of God Almighty. He has nurtured his faith and gained respect in the community as well as with his childhood friends. He has been successful in his quest to bring wayward souls to Christ, with one exception—Reverend Bobby “Showtime” Hayes. As the minister of a newly built church, Reverend Hayes conducts his “business” by any means necessary. Pimping from the pulpit is just another avenue to line his pockets with the almighty dollar. He doesn’t serve God; he believes that he is the Heavenly Father. Power, sex and money are the demons that he worships. Can Minister Gregory Hill and his army of “thug” Christian soldiers expose the corruption in their rival church? Can Minister Hill continue to be the holy bond to keep his church family intact? Be a witness to this tangled web of deception, denial and corruption.

Before The Cross were the prequels, Last Year Before Reality and No Time For Love. Read the first two chapters of Behind the Broken Cross and excerpts from the first two books in the series. For additional information please use the "Contact Us" page to contact me.