Inspiration from the Shelves: Authors who Inspire — Tonya Jewel Blessing

I was recently blessed with the privilege of interviewing a wonderful author from Colorado. She has authored two books in a series titled, “Whispering of the Willows” and “The Melody of the Mulberries.” She has also co-authored a Bible devotional study “Soothing Rain.” Tonya Jewel Blessing stopped by for an interview with Christian Women Living Magazine. Here is the story behind the woman who loves Appalachia. Meet Tonya Jewel Blessing.

Cyndi Kay: Please give us a brief introduction and a little background information.
Tonya Jewell Blessing: I grew up in rural Ohio. Both of the parents were from Appalachia, and during my childhood I also spent time visiting family in Appalachia. In my 20’s, I moved to Denver. I have been married for 38 years. Most of my adult life has been spent in vocational ministry: children’s pastor, youth pastor, women’s pastor, church administrator.

My husband and I are the founders and directors of Strong Cross Ministries. We operated a retreat facility for missionaries for approximately ten years in Bennett, Colorado, and after my husband retired from the Denver Police Department, we then moved to South Africa about eleven years ago. We are having the time of our lives! We have a staff of ten – all in their 20’s and 30’s and full of energy and life. In Africa, we host feeding programs, meet educational needs, sponsor a Bible school, work with men and women in rural villages, and assist local pastors.
I enjoy reading, writing, teaching Bible studies, hosting leadership seminars, and ministering to woman. My favorite things in life are my husband, my nieces, and nephews and great-nieces and nephews, my teammates, women from around the world, classic hymns combined with contemporary styles and lyrics, and white cake!

CK: Give us a summary on your journey with Christ — from the time you accepted Christ, to how you started in ministry.
TJB: I accepted Jesus into my heart at the age of four. I was attending a Wednesday evening children’s program called “Eager Beavers” at a local church. I vividly remember raising my hand and asking Jesus to be my friend.
In high school, I traveled with an area Christian drama group and ministered to children. Then, while attending college, I worked as a ghostwriter for a Christian ministry. From there I have embraced several ministry opportunities.

It is hard to define a ministry starting place. Serving and loving Jesus and others are more of a lifestyle that I have embraced since being a teen. As I said above, most of my adult life in ministry talking to many people through the retreat and the ministry in South Africa.

CK: Tell us about your books and what was the inspiration for them.
TJB: For numerous years, I wrote devotionals for women. Approximately 12 years ago, I was invited to participate in a writer’s group. Each month as part of the meeting, those present read something they had written and then received healthy critiquing. I decided to branch out from my normal writing and began working on a novel.
My two novels The Whisper of the Willows and The Melody of Mulberries (Book 1 and Book 2 in the Big Creek Series) were inspired by my mom. My mother grew up in rural Appalachia. She slept sideways in a bed with three of her sisters in an unheated shed. She washed her clothes in the local creek and hunted deer and squirrels to help feed her family. She lived for a time in an area called Big Creek which is the setting for the novels. The stories take place in the late 1920s and center around the Ashby (my mother’s maiden name) siblings.

I also co-wrote a handbook teaching tool for women in ministry. Soothing Rain is an excellent resource and can be used in multiple ways to help women grow in Christ. The book is a compilation of devotionals that I have written over the years.

CK: What is the main content theme of your blog?
TJB: I generally wrote blogs about obscure things in Appalachia: groundhogs dancing, fireflies gliding, bears fogging, and, of course, relationships between siblings, friends, and foes. I also often write about South Africa and my adventures across the sea. I like to use the model of taking a funny story with personal application and asking, “What does it mean for us, and is there a truth we can apply to our life.”

CK: Tell us about a time that God directly answered a prayer.
TJB: A couple of years ago, while in bed, I was bitten by a Mozambique spitting cobra. This snake is extremely venomous. You are supposed to get the antivenom within 45 minutes of getting bitten. But I was 1.5 hours to an ambulance and another hour to the hospital. I had to stay overnight and doctor after doctor could not believe that I was doing so well and did not have to have my finger amputated. I have a couple of faint fang scars and a red dot on the pinky finger of my right hand, but I am doing great! The whole incident was a testimony about the power of prayer, as well as God’s power.

I have also been blessed to see God supernaturally multiply food and clothing for impoverished children living in destitute areas of South Africa.

CK: Which book was the most amusing to write?
TJB: The Melody of the Mulberries. There are a couple of scenes in the book that were extremely fun to write. One chapter involves a talking parrot who lived in a speakeasy.

CK: Can you recall a time when you know that God was the only way you had a provision through a certain situation?
TJB: I was preparing for a ministry trip to Vietnam. During a regular check-up with my doctor, I received a negative report. Pre-cancerous and Stage 1 cells were found in my uterus. I went ahead to Vietnam planning to receive surgical treatment when I returned. The trip was amazing! Upon my homecoming, further testing revealed that there was no cancer.

CK: Tell us about a time you had a measurable impact on someone through your personal ministry or through your organized ministry.
TJB: Sangomas and Witchdoctors who practice worship of the dead, casting spells, and fleecing the impoverished of money and goods are commonplace in South Africa. They lead the communities, sometimes innocently, but, they lead them in worship of the dead and co-mingling Christianity with ancestral beliefs.

While our ministry was providing flu shots for the elderly in a remote village, a local witchdoctor had a demonic episode. I began to pray for deliverance for the elderly woman who was deceived and held captive by evil spirits. About a year ago, we were in the local church in that region and the woman was sitting on the front row worshipping God. She had come to know Christ and is serving in a local church in her village.

CK: What was your biggest challenge when getting a book published in the Christian genre?
TJB: As an author, I believe in redemptive stories. I also believe that it is important for me to not shy away from the difficulties that people experience. In rural communities during the late 1920s: racism, sexual abuse, arranged marriages, poverty, odd beliefs, moonshine, and other struggles were prevalent. My first novel includes a scene that was a delicate topic and I was challenged on a couple of occasions to delete that portion of the book.
I also believe that launching is a challenge no matter what genre. You have to figure out your market and the best way to get the book out there. If you are not available, such as I am when I am in South Africa, then you have to deal with trying to be present for the launch.

CK: What are some of the biggest challenges facing women today — and women ministries?
TJB: I think the cry of the modern woman is TIME: time for family and home, time for vacation, time for Christian development, time for self, and friendships. Ministry to women needs to be purposeful and respectful of time management. I personally believe that women’s ministries, as we know it, is in crisis. Touching women spiritually must look different than it did even five years ago. Women also want to engage with their hands and hearts. They want to learn, but they also want to experience it.

CK: I believe that God is a remarkably interesting and creative God! Tell me about a time when you were uncertain or unaware of a provision from God but later realized that it was all a part of His plan.
TJB: My husband and I were visiting the U.S. when COVID19 began. The South African borders are still closed, so we are unable to return home. It has been challenging. At times, I feel lost. Yet, God has been so faithful. His provision has been unceasing. The world is in crisis, and God wants to use us wherever we live – in South Africa or in America.

Another instance was when we had planned to feed 200 children in our South African ministry and 400 showed up to be fed. We were in the middle of nowhere with the closest store an hour away. God made a way for all 400 children to be fed.

CK: Do you feel that miraculous provisions happen more in places such as South Africa, Peru, and other missionary fields more than in the United States?
TJB: I do believe so, but I believe there are principles of why it happens. In America, we can just go down the street and get more food if we run out while serving 400 children. But in South Africa, we would have to drive an hour to get to the store, get the food, and drive an hour back. By the time we get back, the kids would be gone. So there is no other means of provision other than faith. You have to be in places where it has to be supernatural provision. Just like when Jesus fed the 5000. There was no way they could come up with more food, so they had to have faith. There has to be a willingness to serve and we cannot get frustrated in the process. We have to believe that God will provide.

CK: What inspires you?
TJB: Reading, teaching, and writing. So many things inspire me, such as South Africa, ministering to women, compassion, and prayer time. Compassion is born in prayer.

CK: What has been the most interesting book that you have read as an adult? As a child?
TJB: I was always reading. I could be found under a tree or in a corner reading a book instead of doing my chores. As a child, I loved Nancy Drew mysteries. As an adult, I have a few favorites. I also loved Winnie the Pooh, especially the relationship of the characters. Lately, I have really enjoyed reading Where the Crawdads Sing and The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek.

CK: Do you have any projects in the works for a new book?
TJB: I have a third book in mind to include in the Big Creek Series that I have written. The story involves the tragic death of a mother struggling with postpartum depression, two mischievous red-headed twins, a widower going off to war, and a young woman with secrets who becomes a caregiver for the twins.

CK: How do unwind after a busy day?
TJB: In South Africa it gets dark about 630 and it is dangerous to be out after dark, so we get home before dark and settle in for the evening. My husband and I generally enjoy a quiet dinner. Then, we play Scrabble or cards. I also enjoy reading before going to sleep.

CK: Is there anything else you would like to say?
TJB: God has specifically been teaching me how one person (one woman) can change her family and community.

I am anxious to get back to South Africa. My husband and I are preparing to start a ministry effort in the neighboring country of Namibia.

I am also extremely excited about an upcoming conference where I will be addressing women in Christian leadership.

I also want to encourage you and other women that are launching into new arenas to just let God use you. You will be amazed at how God will use you to reach others. Let God launch you into something. When you are launched you are going to end up soaring.

On behalf of Christian Women Living Magazine, I would like to thank Tonya for agreeing to this interview. I am excited to read her 3rd book in the Big Creek series. You can enjoy her blogs and get information about her books at https://www.tonyajewelblessing.com/.