Lysa TerKeurst

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Lysa TerKeurst
BornJuly 21, 1969
OccupationAuthor, speaker
LanguageEnglish
NationalityAmerican
SubjectChristian non-fiction
Years active1995–
Website
lysaterkeurst.com

Lysa TerKeurst (born July 21, 1969)[1] is an American speaker and author of Christian non-fiction. She has written more than a dozen books, including the #1 New York Times bestsellers Uninvited: Living Loved When You Feel Less Than, Left Out, and Lonely[2][3] and Forgiving What You Can't Forget.[4] She is president of Proverbs 31 Ministries.[5]

Career[edit]

TerKeurst is president of Proverbs 31 Ministries, which started as a small newsletter published in 1994 by Jennifer McHugh but expanded in 1995 when TerKeurst and Marybeth Whalen got involved.[6][7][8] After growing the organization, TerKeurst led the way for the newsletter to be transformed into Proverbs 31 Ministries reaching millions of women daily with Biblical truth and wisdom.

TerKeurst published her first book, Living Life on Purpose: Discovering God's Best for Your Life, in 2000.

Several of her books have been New York Times bestsellers, including It's Not Supposed to Be This Way,[9] Unglued: Making Wise Choices in the Midst of Raw Emotions,[10] Uninvited: Living Loved When You Feel Less Than, Left Out, and Lonely,[3][11] Forgiving What You Can't Forget,[12] and The Best Yes: Making Wise Decisions in the Midst of Endless Demands.[13] It's Not Supposed to Be This Way was on the New York Times bestseller list for 13 weeks.[9] Uninvited was on the New York Times bestseller list for 31 weeks.[14] The Best Yes: Making Wise Decisions in the Midst of Endless Demands was on the New York Times bestseller list for six weeks.[15]

Critical reception[edit]

Her books Uninvited: Living Loved When You Feel Less Than, Left Out, and Lonely,[16] Forgiving What You Can’t Forget: Discover How to Move On, Make Peace with Painful Memories, and Create a Life That’s Beautiful Again,[17] and It's Not Supposed to Be This Way received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly.[18]

A review for her 2014 book The Best Yes: Making Wise Decisions in the Midst of Endless Demands reads, "TerKeurst's often self-deprecating humor and ability to be vulnerable, combined with insightful Bible references, make this a book women can relate to in a hundred little ways each day".[19]

In 2015, TerKeurst published a book for children, Win or Lose, I Love You!, which was illustrated by Jana Christy. This book was met with mixed reception from Publishers Weekly, which wrote, "As a teaching tool, it's sure to have its uses, though the story itself never rises beyond its instructive goals".[20] Kirkus Reviews similarly received the book as, "Didactic? To be sure, but it’s a much-needed lesson that goes down easily".[21]

Publishers Weekly praised the conversational tone of TerKeurst's 2016 book Uninvited: Living Loved When You Feel Less Than, Left Out, and Lonely.[16] The audiobook adaptation was read by Ginny Welsh.[22]

About her 2018 book It's Not Supposed to Be This Way, Publishers Weekly noted "[h]er transparency, wit, and spiritual insight make this skillfully crafted volume feel like time spent in honest conversation with a trusted friend".[18]

Publishers Weekly gave the 2020 book Forgiving What You Can't Forget: Discover How to Move On, Make Peace with Painful Memories, and Create a Life That’s Beautiful Again a positive review, noting, "TerKeurst’s fans will love this stirring, realistic look at confronting the arduous aspects of forgiveness".[17]

Personal life[edit]

TerKeurst is a native of Tallahassee, Florida. Her parents divorced when she was in middle school. She was raised a Christian, but gave up on her faith when her 16-month-old sister died. She graduated from Furman University in South Carolina.[23]

In 2008, TerKeurst published an essay about an abortion she had before her marriage.[24] She has five children.[5]

Terkeurst reconciled with her husband Art TerKeurst, who she said was repeatedly unfaithful and abused substances.[25] In December 2018, TerKeurst and her husband renewed their vows near their home in Waxhaw, N.C.[26]

In January 2022, TerKeurst announced on social media that she had finally decided to end their marriage saying that he had since broken those vows again. "I now believe the wisest (and hardest) choice I can make is to stop fighting to save my marriage of 29 years and, instead, accept reality."[27]

Selected works[edit]

For children[edit]

As contributor[edit]

  • Encouragement for Today: Devotions for Everyday Living. Zondervan, 2013. With Renee Swope and Samantha Evilsizer. ISBN 0310336287

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Lysa TerKeurst." Gale Literature: Contemporary Authors, Gale, 2017. Gale Literature Resource Center. Accessed 23 Mar. 2021.
  2. ^ "Love and Relationships Books - Best Sellers - Books - Sept. 4, 2016 - The New York Times". The New York Times. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  3. ^ a b "Religion, Spirituality and Faith Books - Best Sellers - Books - Oct. 16, 2016 - The New York Times". The New York Times. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  4. ^ "Advice, How-To & Miscellaneous Books - Best Sellers - Books - Dec. 6, 2020 - The New York Times". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  5. ^ a b Byle, Ann (August 13, 2014). "Lysa TerKeurst : The Best 'Yes' Is Sometimes 'No'". www.publishersweekly.com. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  6. ^ Funk, Tim (February 13, 2011). "Ministry Aims to Fill Women with Faith, Not Food". The Charlotte Observer. pp. A1. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  7. ^ Doss Helms, Ann (May 2, 1995). "God, Husband and Kids: Ministry Unites Stay-at-Home Moms". Arizona Republic. p. 22. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  8. ^ "Ministry Unites Stay-at-Home Mothers (page 2)". Arizona Republic. May 2, 1995. p. 23. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  9. ^ a b "Advice, How-To & Miscellaneous Books - Best Sellers - Books - Sept. 1, 2019 - The New York Times". The New York Times. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  10. ^ "Advice, How-To & Miscellaneous Books - Best Sellers - Books - Oct. 6, 2013 - The New York Times". The New York Times. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  11. ^ "Love and Relationships Books - Best Sellers - Books - Oct. 2, 2016 - The New York Times". The New York Times. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  12. ^ "Advice, How-To & Miscellaneous Books - Best Sellers - Books - Dec. 6, 2020 - The New York Times". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  13. ^ "Religion, Spirituality and Faith Books - Best Sellers - Books - Feb. 15, 2015 - The New York Times". The New York Times. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  14. ^ "Advice, How-To & Miscellaneous Books - Best Sellers - Books - Sept. 24, 2017 - The New York Times". The New York Times. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  15. ^ "Advice, How-To & Miscellaneous Books - Best Sellers - Books - Oct. 5, 2014 - The New York Times". The New York Times. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  16. ^ a b c "Uninvited: Living Loved When You Feel Less Than, Left Out, and Lonely". Publishers Weekly. May 9, 2016. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  17. ^ a b c d "Forgiving What You Can't Forget: Discover How to Move On, Make Peace with Painful Memories, and Create a Life That's Beautiful Again". www.publishersweekly.com. November 17, 2020. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  18. ^ a b c "Nonfiction Book Review: It's Not Supposed to Be This Way: Finding Unexpected Strength When Disappointments Leave You Shattered". PublishersWeekly.com. September 24, 2018. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  19. ^ a b "Religion Book Review: The Best Yes: Making Wise Decisions in the Midst of Endless Demands". PublishersWeekly.com. July 21, 2014. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  20. ^ a b "Children's Book Review: Win or Lose, I Love You!". PublishersWeekly.com. August 17, 2015. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  21. ^ a b WIN OR LOSE, I LOVE YOU! | Kirkus Reviews.
  22. ^ a b "Uninvited: Living Loved When You Feel Less Than, Left Out, and Lonely (Audiobook)". www.publishersweekly.com. December 5, 2016. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  23. ^ Funk, Tim (February 13, 2011). "Ministry Aims to Fill Women with Faith, Not Food (Page 2)". The Charlotte Observer. pp. A4. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  24. ^ TerKeurst, Lysa. "I Had an Abortion". Today's Christian Woman. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  25. ^ Klett, Leah MarieAnn (December 27, 2018). "Lysa Terkeurst's husband praises wife for fighting for marriage despite affair: 'You disarmed all of the dark'". www.christianpost.com. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  26. ^ "Christian author Lysa TerKeurst shares private struggles". al. February 5, 2020. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  27. ^ "Lysa TerKeurst announces divorce after battling to save marriage, standing 'firm' in faith despite pain". January 2, 2022.
  28. ^ Christian, Graham. "TerKeurst, Lysa. What Happens When Women Walk in Faith: Trusting God Takes You to Amazing Places." Library Journal, vol. 130, no. 12, 1 July 2005, p. 92. Gale Literature Resource Center. Accessed 23 Mar. 2021.
  29. ^ Stone, Rachel Marie. "The Newest Gnostic Christian Diet". ChristianityToday.com. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  30. ^ "Religion Book Review: Unglued: Making Wise Choices in the Midst of Raw Emotions by Lysa TerKeurst". PublishersWeekly.com. August 2012. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  31. ^ Phelan, Carolyn. "Win or Lose, I Love You." Booklist, vol. 112, no. 1, 1 Sept. 2015, p. 101. Gale Literature Resource Center. Accessed 23 Mar. 2021.

External links[edit]

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