Under the direction of Pastor Melina Ivey, lay member Dee Songer channeled her newfound relationship with God into five inspirational self-help books. Songer is a new local Christian author of a five-part series. The first installation, Armed and Dangerous, introduces Songer’s painful past and her eventual walk with God. The series explores Songer’s past difficulties in life and how they led her to Kipling United Methodist Church.
By the time she was 40, Songer had suffered a cripple from birth, childhood sexual abuse, divorce, cancer, and domestic violence. She found herself in the “fight for her life” and turned to God with her problems. With the help and counseling of Pastor Melinda, Songer renewed her faith in God and decided to pass her experiences to others through Armed and Dangerous.
In fact, Songer claims Pastor Melinda has helped her every step of the way. “She is a very welcoming and loving person. She recognized some of my gifts and talents. She encouraged me,” said Songer. Pastor Melinda even helped Songer self-publish her books, a decision Songer has never regretted.
Each of the five books will explore a different time and struggle in Songer’s life. She hopes the raw, personal experiences illustrated in the books will show readers how “one problem can lead to another,” but through any difficulties “He helps us all.” Songer claims, “Had I not suffered through what I did, I wouldn’t know the things I know now. I was a totally different person and my eyes have been completely opened up.”
While Armed and Dangerous focuses on incidents of domestic violence, book two, Roots of Bitterness discusses the handicap she was born with. Songer is currently working on the third installation, The What, The When & The Way.
The Armed and Dangerous series was featured at the Annual North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church in the Cokesbury bookstore display earlier this month. Cindy Keen, the manager of the Raleigh Cokesbury bookstore, personally requested Songer’s presence at the conference. Songer says that although she is “just a regular Joe Schmoe, God has propelled this whole thing.”
Songer’s good fortune has continued, as she will be holding a public book singing on July 14 from noon until 2 p.m. The signing will take place at Myer’s Discount Pharmacy and Gifts in Lillington, NC.
Songer credits the members of Kipling United Methodist Church, along with Pastor Melinda, for supporting her work, as well as her spiritual journey. “The church has really taken me in. This is a church that will open their doors and keep opening them.”
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