#28 Three reasons why you will love Parallel Faith

On what people are saying about Parallel Faith

Whilst it feels like there are a thousand stages to writing a book, there are really only six steps that matter.

STEP 1: First comes the book proposal: a plan that contains an overview of the book's themes, chapter summaries, the intended audience, and the book's goals. By addressing these seemingly technical questions first, it helps shape the upcoming creative process.

STEP 2: Once you've solidified your intentions, it's time to liaise with various publishers through your agent to secure a suitable deal. While one might assume that money is the decisive factor, it's often just as much about the chemistry with a publishing house, potential for distribution, and a shared belief in the project's vision that leads to success.

Many books stumble at this stage and never see the light of day.

STEP 3: Next comes the bulk of the writing process, which involves research, reading comparable works, distilling ideas, constant editing, and collecting stories from a mosaic of memories and moments. It's the perpetual experience of waking up in the middle of the night with an idea that you must jot down. As mentioned in a previous post, I wrote accidentally the wrong version of my book and needed a rescue plan by C.S. Lewis.

Step 4: After submitting your manuscript to the publisher, you go through several rounds of editing. The first is the developmental edit, focusing on the book's overall message. This is followed by copy editing, which refines each sentence to perfection, and finally, the proofreading stage. I've heard a few author horror stories about the editing process, but my experience with Hendrickson was a dream! It's essential to collaborate with a team who share your vision.

STEP 5: Marketing planning comes next. As part of this, when it is almost cooked in the literary oven, you send out preview copies of the book for endorsements. Handing over your creative work to fellow humans is inevitably nerve-wracking! While many of the people who kindly endorsed my book have been friends or co-workers in the Kingdom, there are others I don't know personally.

Fortunately, all who have read Parallel Faith have confirmed my original intentions that by reading it you'll acquire practical tools, be inspired by the insightful stories, and feel empowered to make a meaningful impact in the lives of others.

Here are three common trends that have come through the endorsements for Parallel Faith.

1. It makes discipleship feel accessible

Brett Andrews is the Director of People Development for YFC Canada, where his role involves inspiring, equipping, and encouraging youth missionaries for effective and sustainable ministry. I appreciate how Brett weaves his personal travel story into his endorsement, sharing how Parallel Faith inspires authentic relationships, demonstrates hope, and equips individuals for impactful disciple-making.

“Having just returned from two weeks in Turkey walking the ancient streets of the seven churches mentioned in the book Revelation, I marvelled at how the early disciples acted with such courage, creativity, and cultural awareness to turn their world upside down. Ever since, I’ve been wondering how we got so far away from that early sense of mission and how we can recapture that in our twenty-first-century world?

In his refreshing book Parallel Faith, Dave Boden provides us with a wonderfully engaging call to disciple-making for today’s culture. It’s an inspiring, practical, and winsome exploration of Jesus’ command to make disciples. Boden explores how we can recapture the heart of disciple-making without using gimmicks or pressure for conversions, but in being true friends in close proximity in the ordinariness of others’ lives. 

Dave emphasizes a process of walking alongside others aiming for transformation in Jesus and not settling for a simple transaction with a stale, one-size-fits-all message. Filled with thoughtful reflection questions, insightful illustrations, and engaging stories, Parallel Faith helps ordinary disciples take courageous steps to listen generously to others, reframe the misconceptions of Jesus held by many, and creatively demonstrate the hope that is in Jesus Christ. Readers will benefit tremendously from Dave’s abundant experience and the wonderfully rich practical applications. I can hardly wait to give it out to my friends, colleagues, and those I train to take the good news of Christ to a seemingly foreign culture in our day!” 

2. It is a super practical read

There is nothing worse than theoretical musings that have little relation to everyday life. Parallel Faith is written to be lived out and you will be able to put it into practice straight away.

One of the endorsements came from the founder of Spoken Gospel, a ministry that exists to speak Jesus out of every corner of scripture. I have known my friend David Bowden for years now and I love learning from his example as much as he says he has mine. He is always the first to encourage my family in the atmosphere we create when discipling others especially in our home.

He notes this practical emphasis in his endorsement…

“Practical and powerful discipleship tools from a real disciple-maker. For years, I’ve wished that every Christian could see how Dave and Leah Boden disciple those around them. With this book, now they can. I have learned more about living life alongside others as a Jesus follower from Dave than any other individual. He has walked beside me for much of my life following Jesus—and now through this book, he gets to walk beside you too.” 

—David Bowden, executive director, Spoken Gospel

3. It shifts your perspective

Juni Felix is a member of the Stanford Behavior Design Lab Teaching Team, a C.S. Lewis Institute Fellow, speaker, podcast and radio host. She appreciated how much the book shifts your mindset about relational mission….

Dave Boden’s work overflows with refreshing reminders that as an apprentice to Jesus, you have something to offer that no algorithm can: ‘genuine human connection, care, and understanding.’ He brilliantly and practically offers tools for meaningful and authentic connections with others and for ‘approaching life with a sense of inquisitiveness rooted in awe and wonder.’ Parallel Faith offers guidance for creating caring relationships that offer opportunities to explore what God is really like in safe spaces. Prepare to have your paradigms shifted in unexpected ways by the truth that ‘loving the person in front of you can indeed be done on any schedule.’ If you've been looking for a guidebook for effective and sincere discipleship, you’ve found it!”

—Juni Felix, author and radio host, Stanford Behavior Design Lab Teaching Team

Step 6: Launch to the world! In just a few weeks time you can read the book for yourself and my prayer is that it will make a difference for you and those you are walking alongside on their journey to Christ.

In the meantime if you want to be part of supporting Parallel Faith here are four things you can do today:

1. 🙏 Pray. Please pray that it makes an impact and reaches everyone who needs to hear the positive message.

2. 📖 Pre-order the book. All the details are below. It will be in your hands before you know it!

3. 💻 Share online. Please could you share about the book on your socials to help raise the profile. Follow me on @daveboden2 over at Instagram where I will be keeping you up-to-date as the launch approaches.

4. 🎉Join the Online Launch Party. Grab yourself a limited ticket to the LIVE online event on October 2nd. Join hosts Matt and Amy Summerfield along with special guests including Literary Agent Don Pape for a fun filled online evening of interviews, insights and inspiration, in celebration of the launch of the book. Drop me a 🎉 emoji in the comments when you have signed up.

Thanks for walking side-by-side with me on the journey!

A note from Dave

You can Pre-order Parallel Faith today from your favourite bookseller.

P.S. The cover of this article contains spoilers from the first page of the book… enjoy!