Ginger Sanders Interview

Today, I am pleased to welcome author, speaker and teacher Ginger Sanders. Ginger and her husband Denny trained and served as chaplains with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association's Rapid Response Team following their retirement from successful careers; hers in finance and his in law enforcement. As Chaplain Coordinators, they are on call in case of disasters, natural and man-made, to give emotional and spiritual care. 

Ginger is the author of several books, including her latest book, Fireflies: 

Sharing God's Light in the Time of Loss, a poignant children's book. Beautifully illustrated by Tracy Applewhite Broome, Fireflies deals with talking with young children about the difficult subject of the death of a loved one. 

Fireflies is Sanders' second children's book. Her first children's book, Round Eyes, deals with the subject of adoption. He Goes Before Us is a collection of thirty-one stories from the front lines of both natural and man-made disasters and the chaplains of the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team who are often sent out on a moment's notice to give physical, emotional, and spiritual care to those who need it most.

Ginger, welcome to Interviews & Reviews! ​For those who aren't familiar with your work, can you tell us a little about yourself?

Growing up in Alabama and marrying my high school sweetheart, we adopted two children and then had two biological children. God worked in my life, preparing me for this time of authoring a book, telling His stories. My husband and I traveled on many mission trips, taught Sunday School and after retirement, we volunteered to be trained and became Billy Graham Rapid Response Chaplain Coordinators. We have served around the world, including Haiti, Sandy Hook Elementary and Aurora Theater shooting.

Responding to something like Sandy Hook Elementary would, I imagine be very emotional. How do you prepare yourself for something like that?

As every Christian, we are supposed to be read up and prayed up, but I can honestly say, "I never feel prepared." Knowing the verse in Deut. 31:8, I catch myself repeating it over and over in prayer as we are traveling headed into a disaster, whether it is close to home or miles away. Having felt the presence of God and knowing He is there, as He has been in the past, gives strength to the Spirit inside me.

I consider this part of my calling and I know that God has never let me down when going onto the battlefield. 

It takes a special kind of person to be able to do that. I pray God will continue to bless you as you serve Him. And it would seem that you are serving Him in many ways. How long have you been writing?

I did not begin writing until God put the burden on my heart to tell His stories and then I tried to find someone to write them for me. He would not allow that to happen, so after two years of procrastinating, I sat down and begin to write. I had my first book published three years ago.

God tends to do that doesn't He? We think we're not capable of the job yet He has more faith in us than we do. How many books have you written, since you began?

My three books are stories that God has allowed me to be a part of in one way or another. Seeing His stories unfold, in ways only He could orchestrate, and being able to share them is the only reason I write.

And what has been the hardest thing about writing for you?

Editing the stories into a readable book is the hardest thing about writing because I usually write just like I talk. It just flows from me and that is not always understandable or correct English.

Tell us about your latest book.

‘Fireflies’ is a children’s book and it explains death to a child with a touch of love and hope. It is based on a true story in my own community.

Can you tell us about it?

​A young boy lost his life and being trained as a Billy Graham Rapid 

Response Chaplain, I was present with the family (and my neighbors) during this difficult time. God’s presence was there and the story unfolded.

Where God places us and the things he calls us to do, are never coincidences. Is there a message in your book that you want your readers to grasp?

There is hope if you have Christ in your life to see your loved ones again. Explaining death to a child is not easy, but this book explains it with love and hope. There is also a Memory Page in the back of the book. There is also a self-help page ‘How to Lead a Child to Christ’ which permission has been given for copies to be made to be used in ministry.

Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?

Writing a book has to be a calling, just as any other task for the Lord. I take anything I do for Him seriously, that is why I fought Him on this. But I have found out, if He calls you, He will prepare you.

I have found that to be very true in my own life. I fought the Lord in regards to writing as well. But you are so right. If He calls you, He will prepare you. Tell me, how were you saved?

In a little country church during a revival, God spoke to me. I did not respond that night, went home and tossed all night long. The next day I knew in my heart if I died, I would go to hell. I walked the aisle that night when ‘Why Not Tonight’ was sung and I felt it was just for me.

Do you have a favourite Scripture verse?

So many scriptures come to my mind during different times of the day, but most often Deut. 31:8 usually is the one I need most to calm me or the situation. “Do not be afraid, because He, the Lord, goes before you” is calming and we often need to be reminded.

A very appropriate verse for someone who can be called at a moments notice to a disaster or tragedy. Finally, do you have any other books in the works?

I have no plans to write, but I never had plans to write. Therefore, I wait upon the Lord. If I do write in the future, it will be God’s stories, showing He is still active in the lives of people today.

Thank you so much for sharing with us today Ginger. To learn more about Ginger, Fireflies and her other books, visit gingersanders.com. If you would like to win a copy of Fireflies, fill out the form below!

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