New Haven Register (New Haven, CT)
West Haven woman pens book about ‘Faith’
WEST HAVEN — When Sandra Jackson-Hines began seeing the number combination nine, two and three repeatedly in her daily life on paper work, clocks, receipts, during a quick glance at a computer and more, she said she knew God was trying to tell her something, but she wasn’t getting answers.
“I would see these same numbers every day, all day, over a long period,” JacksonHines said. “I thought,
‘Lord, What are you trying to show, tell me? I’d ask, but no answers, so I left it alone.”
But Jackson-Hines would be led circuitously to what she said was the answer and it was a powerful one that would result in a colorfully illustrated book, “Faith,” which looks like a children’s book, but the cover makes it clear that it’s actually, “A book for children and adults.”
Jackson-Hines, patiently waiting for answers on the number combo, finally made the connection after an encounter with a guest speaker from her church, First Cathedral Church in Bloomfield, she said.
The guest speaker — a religious leader from Tennessee who didn’t know anything about JacksonHines — told her after they shook hands, “God is going to reveal something to you. Look in the Bible in Mathew Mark or Luke,” she said.
She said she went home and that night, opened the Bible — and there was
Mark: 9:23 and it read in part, “all things are possible to him that believe.”
It was a message she wanted to share with everyone, to share the “Gospel.” The overall message in the book sharing her experience is “there’s hope and anything’s possible,” through God.
The book is about a little girl named “Faith” who, just like herself, comes across the numbers nine, two and three in many different scenarios, including math class, the time of a sea lion show at the aquarium, the check at a restaurant. At the end, Faith realizes the numbers referred to the Bible passage Jackson-Hines was led to.
The book, Jackson-Hines said, was easy to write because it’s based on her own experience.
Joseph J. Hengle, executive vice president of Christian Faith Publishing, Inc., publisher of “Faith,” said the company’s review board “meticulously” reviews every submission and the book fit perfectly with the mission.
“Learning to trust in God and believing that anything is possible through Him is at the core of Ms. JacksonHine’s beautifully told story and we felt that is a message the world needs now, more than ever,” Hengle said. “We hope she is as happy with the book as we were in helping bring her vision to life.”
Jackson-Hines grew up in West Haven and began attending the Bloomfield church about 10 years ago when she was dating her husband, now of eight years. She fell in love with the church because, JacksonHines said, it has something for people of all ages and the sermon is always of high quality.
Jackson-Hines said she delights in working with third and fourth graders at the church, but that’s been halted for now by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Reathie Bailey, “Mother” or “First Lady” of the Bloomfield Church, where her husband, LeRoy Bailey is the senior leader, said she loves the book so much she’s thinking of every possible child she can buy it for as a gift.
“I know how much she loves children and wants them to understand life,” Bailey said of Jackson-Hines. “It’s something so special it can really get you to think about yourself.”
Why did she tell the story through the eyes of a child?
“We need to get our children’s attention to get them to focus in God more,” Jackson-Hines said. “It’s also a message for adults.”
The book is available on Amazon and on the Barnes and Noble website.
“It wasn’t hard to write because it’s a true story,” she said. “When something comes from God, it’s a lot easier to do.”
Jackson-Hines noted she was merely the vessel for the message and anyone can teach about God.
“I’m no one special. I’m just like everyone else,” she said. “I just can’t wait to see what God does with the book because the book is for everyone.”
She said some of the takeaways from the book are to see God first in everything, and to seek him first, as he will show up for the relationship.
“He will comfort you, provide for you, protect you. ,” Jackson-Hines said.
Jackson-Hines said she has a second book coming out soon, also based on a true story, called, “Samaritan Sam Sees Something.”