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Bold. The stories lovingly told in Not All Who Wander are Lost could be any Protestant convert’s story. Traci Rhoades takes the reader on a journey few would dare to go as a Catholic. Her love of the Catholicism shines bright through the pages, while daring to pose the concept that Jesus works among those who are not Catholic. She dares to intertwine that which many Catholics reject. She dares to say that Jesus is not confined to the walls of a Church with a specific name.
Her nostalgic approach to recalling her roots in faith, as well as the foundation for others who have shared their stories, challenges the reader to see with a broader scope than just a direct line of sight. Her stories, metaphors, and memories take the reader to the halls and services of multiple denominations and traditions. For a Protestant convert myself, it calls to mind those deep memories and nostalgic reflections from my childhood.
“All things work together for the good of those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28) The promise and hope contained within this one verse is certainly true throughout the stories, and especially Traci’s own journey, of redemption and love found in the Savior. Traci echoes the Lord’s lament in Matthew 23:37, “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how many times I yearned to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her young under her wings, but you were unwilling!” It is the Lord’s desire for all those who love Him, follow Him, and serve Him to come together as one family. The division and strife contained within Christianity is heartbreaking to the Lord.
In Not All Who Wander are Lost, Traci invites the reader to curl up on the back porch and have a chat with those from different denominations. She urges the reader to open the mind and view the faith in Christ in a broader scope than what our limited vision on Sunday morning offers us. The Holy Spirit is not limited to a specific Church or denomination. Not All Who Wander are Lost opens the understanding for the reader that the Holy Spirit operates among different traditions and faith practices.
In her debut book, Traci dares to challenge the reader to see how the Lord works among various faiths. She tackles the divisive topic of denominational differences with love and understanding. If one is to understand a deeper level of the Lord and the workings of the Holy Spirit, then Not All Who Wander are Lost is a must read. Regardless of if you are settled and confident in the faith or if you are still exploring, don’t miss the gems that Traci gives you within this easy read.
Amelia Monroe Carlson graduated from the University of North Alabama with a Bachelor’s Degree in journalism. Being raised as a Methodist during her early years, it was not until she entered college where she began to take her faith seriously. She was baptized as a Southern Baptist in Muscle Shoals, AL and began immediately serving in international missions and in the church.
During college, she became the Co-founder of an International Ministry, where she spent time traveling and speaking to church groups and in large conferences. She authored a Bible study and traveled abroad on mission work. She sat on the Mid-South Interfaith Conferences in Mississippi, where she defended the faith and discussed beliefs with leaders of various religions.
After a business trip to Washington D.C., where she was introduced to a former Baptist who converted to the Catholic Church, she was placed on a journey to enter into the Catholic Church.
Amelia is a military wife and currently residents with her husband and daughter in Tennessee. She is a nine time award winning journalist, receiving press awards for various categories including investigative journalism, best news coverage, and best single feature. It is her desire to help Catholics, particularly Cradle Catholics, see the beauty in their faith which converts see and appreciate the fullness of truth which the Church has held and guarded throughout history. It is her desire all Catholics fall as much in love with Jesus as she is, and love the Church to a greater capacity than they could imagine.
Amelia taught PRE for 4-6 grade at St. Mary Catholic Church in Bolivar, Tennessee from 2014-2016. She served as Youth Director at St. Philip the Apostle Catholic Church in Somerville, Tennessee in 2017-2018. She now teaches 7th grade (1st year Confirmation) PRE class at St. Philip. She's also a writer and frequent podcast guest on Our Warpath.
She has a strong devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe, St. Francis de Sales, St. Padre Pio and St. Maximilian Kolbe.
To contact Amelia for speaking inquiries at conferences, retreats, or parishes contact her via social media on Facebook (Amelia Monroe Carlson), Twitter (@2_catholic ) or send a text to: (731)518-6923.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ameliamcarlson
Twitter: @2_catholic (Catholic ministry account)
Twitter personal account: @ameliamcarlson
