Tamera Lynn Kraft Interview

Tamera Lynn Kraft

Tamera Lynn Kraft is the author of two Christian historical fiction novellas.  Tammy is also administrator of Word Sharpeners Blog, REVIVAL FIRE FOR KIDS BLOG , and ADVENTURES IN AMERICAN HISTORY BLOG . She also is a monthly contributor to JEWELS OF ENCOURAGEMENT BLOG. She writes Christian historical fiction focusing on American history and children’s ministry materials and is a member of ACFW and a moderator on CHRISTIANWRITERS.COM.

TAMERA, welcome to Overcoming With God.  We appreciate your willingness to share your testimony of overcoming with our readers. 

Would you tell us about the most difficult thing in your life you have had to overcome, with God’s help? 

Wow, you’re asking a difficult question. So many things ran through my mind like being abused as a child, feeling rejected by my father, a marriage that almost feel apart, or when my daughter was raped her first semester at a Christian college. All of these were difficult things to overcome, but with God’s help I did.

If you don’t mind, I’ll talk about something a little less personal but still very difficult to overcome. I was on staff as a children’s pastor for sixteen years at a church I loved. The children’s ministry was growing in many ways. Many children had been saved and discipled under my ministry and, as teens and young adults, were serving God in various ministries. I knew God wanted me to minister to children’s leaders, to teach at children’s ministry conferences, and to touch the lives of many more children, but I had convinced myself He would do it through my church that I loved.

When a new pastor came to the church, it became obvious his vision for the church was different than mine, but I didn’t want to leave. God was moving in the lives of children, and I had a great team that worked under me. Besides my children were raised in that church, my husband had been saved there, and I felt such a connection to the people.

Through a dramatic set of circumstances, God showed me and my husband it was time to leave. But before I could find a way to tell the pastor, he fired me. I was devastated. I felt betrayed by my church and my pastor.

Another church hired me as their children’s pastor, but after four years, God told us it was time to leave that church as well. We left there on good terms and with the pastor’s blessing.

I was confused and wasn’t sure what to do. God didn’t give me the next step, but He did lead us to a larger church where we are now. I started doing a few kid’s crusades and some teacher training and figured it would only be a matter of time before a ministry position opened up. I also started writing, something I never had time or energy to do when I was on staff.

Finally the day came. The pastor of my new church asked if I was interested in interviewing for the children’s pastor position that opened up. My heart leapt within me as I started to say yes. But then something happened. God spoke loudly in my spirit, loudly enough to be almost audible. He said “NO!” I barely said the word, “no” to my new pastor.

I didn’t understand. I knew it was God, but I cried when the new children’s pastor was hired. And I cried when she did the children’s Christmas play. And I cried when the children’s choir sang. It took a long time to accept it.

Now that I look in the rear view mirror, it all makes sense. But it didn’t then. Now I have a ministry called REVIVAL FIRE FOR KIDS where I mentor children’s leaders by teaching at national conferences and holding teacher training and children’s ministry consultations at local churches. And I touch the lives of more children than I ever could at a local church through the kids’ crusades and revivals I do. I also write curriculum and articles.

The cool thing is I also have time to write. I’ve always wanted to be a writer, and I’ve always loved history, so now I write historical fiction. I have an agent, Linda Glaz at Hartline, and expect to be published soon. That would have never happened if God hadn’t moved me.

Another thing I love to do is travel. Now I have time to travel with my husband who has retired early. And the when I minister in churches, I get to travel for free and get paid for doing what I love.

I can’t say I don’t miss being involved in a local children’s ministry. I do. But my life is so good now that I wouldn’t give up what I’ve gained for what I’ve lost.

What is your favorite bible verse and why?

Isaiah 43:1-3a  But now, this is what the Lord says—he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned;

the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.

This is what I call my life verse. Through every difficulty of life, God has reassured me through this verse not to be afraid. I am His, and He will rescue me through every trial. Even when I seem like I’m drowning in my despair or feel like I’m walking through fires of difficulty, He is there and will see me through.

Soldier's Heart by Tamera Lynn Kraft

What has been the most important thing you hope your readers will get from your books and your blogs and why?

I’d say different things from different blogs. My WORD SHARPENERS BLOG encourages writers and readers and hopefully informs and entertains them while offering advice to sharpen their writing and their lives.

REVIVAL FIRE FOR KIDS BLOG offers help and encouragement to children’s ministry leaders.

ADVENTURES IN AMERICAN HISTORY has changed its focus. I’m hoping it will educate Americans about our country’s history and connect it to the struggles our nation is going through today.

As you researched your manuscripts, did you learn anything that particularly touched your heart?

I learned that people throughout history have had to sacrifice much to stand up for God and against evil, yet they were willing to do it. I remember one journal entry about a man who preached abolition at a church in Kentucky. The pastor and most of the congregation owned slaves, and the pastor had children by one of his slaves. The man who wrote the journal didn’t hold back and by the time he was finished, a member of the congregation pointed a gun at him. The rest of the congregation joined the man with the gun, and the young evangelist feared for his life. The man was about to pull the trigger when he dropped the gun as if it had burned his hand. I included that scene in my novel, RED SKY OVER AMERICA.

In this latest work, do you have any topics that will be useful for bibliotherapy, or therapeutic influence through reading about a disorder or situation?  

In Soldier’s Heart, a Civil War Novella that recently released, Noah Andrews comes home from the war suffering from PTSD. Throughout the novella, he learns how to take his thoughts captive and trust God to heal his wounded heart. Molly, his wife, learns to be compassionate and patient when her husband has difficulties. She learns how to support him.

The novel I’m currently writing is called LOST IN THE STORM and is set during the Civil War. Captain Macajah Jones is struggling not only with the struggles of war, but he has done something wrong, something that torments him. He knows the only way he can handle his guilt is to confess his sin to God and to others, but he can’t bring himself to do it. He tries to handle the guilt on his own, but that only makes it worse.

A Christmas Promise by Tamera Lynn Kraft

My historical Christmas novella, about a woman who lost her oldest child in an accident, releases December 1st through Pelican. In A Christmas Promise, the woman and her husband are Moravians and have settled in a Moravian village in the wilderness of Ohio to be missionaries to Delaware Indians. Her grief has turned into fear and anxiety, and she sees danger even when there is none.

Thank you TAMERA for agreeing to answer these questions.  Have a blessed day and keep on writing!!

Giveaway:  We are giving away either of Tammy's novella's this week--either Soldier's Heart or A Christmas Promise.  We're also giving away a little pink goody box for Breast Cancer Awareness month. Leave your email address and comment to enter for the giveaways.