Not By Sight helps friends and family to see the courage and faith that abounds in those with debilitating conditions! It also gives them simple, pragmatic examples of "What to say" and "What not to say" in order to truly be a source of encouragement. As believers, we often wrestle with understanding how God can allow a person who worships Him to become ill, in pain or disabled. Unfortunately, often the first assumption we have about a believer with a continuing illness is that they must not have enough faith or they must be hiding a sin. Sadly, this can be devastating to those who love the Lord and who are actually living by the faith despite their circumstances that God wants us all to live. This book explains our natural responses to those debilitated by chronic conditions and gives many examples of how to be a true encourager to our brothers and sisters in need! It is full of Scripture and quotes from physicians who specialize in chronic conditions. It is a must for all believers, church staff and ministry leaders! Not By Sight is based upon the knowledge learned by the true life experiences of Wayne and Sherri Connell, as well as countless others who live with debilitating conditions. All of her life, Sherri was an extremely active person who loved her careers, singing and dancing in musicals, riding her horse and lifting weights. In college, she studied Music Theatre, then obtained 2 Bachelor Degrees in Business, with a Minor in Liberal Arts. Although Sherri had enormous plans for her life, just as she was plotting out her Master's Degree, she was stopped in her tracks at the age of 27. Starting with another winter bout of pneumonia, Sherri became paralyzed, so sick she could barely sit up and was in horrible pain. She was hospitalized and diagnosed with Progressive Multiple Sclerosis and Late-Chronic Lyme Disease. Suddenly, she went from "on the go" 24/7 to struggling just to get to a doctor's appointment or take a shower. Shortly after the onset of Sherri's disability, to help her cope with her losses and un-welcomed changes, she began to write in her journal. Despite the seriousness of Sherri's illness, people often had difficulty understanding how she could "look good" to them, even though she was very sick. Unfortunately, because of these misconceptions, people often jumped to the conclusion that she was just being lazy, unmotivated or was not trying hard enough. For a goal oriented, talented, career driven person like Sherri, these notions were absolutely devastating. When Wayne realized there were so many other people around the world being hurt by the same lack of understanding that Sherri was experiencing, his passion quickly grew from being his wife's supporter, to being an advocate for all who are living with disabilities. Thus, Wayne founded, Where Is God Ministries. He also compiled this book, Not By Sight, which contains excerpts from Sherri's journal. WIGM published this book to give believers living with chronic conditions a voice about how they feel, what they need and how others can be an encouragement! Proceeds support the ongoing work of Where Is God Ministries, a Non-Profit 501(c)(3) Organization.
About the Author: Wayne Connell's experience includes that of a professional, multitasking husband caregiver with an extensive background in management, media and technology. He obtained a BA in Television & Radio Broadcasting and Computer Information Systems from Colorado Christian University. Wayne has additional training in business and public speaking. He also is an avid writer and top 10 blogger on Disability.gov's Disability Blog. Sherri Connell was an extremely active person who loved her careers, singing and dancing in musicals, riding her horse and lifting weights. In college, she studied Music Theatre, and then obtained 2 Bachelor Degrees in Business with a Minor in Liberal Arts. Although Sherri had enormous plans for her life, just as she was plotting out her Master's Degree, she was stopped in her tracks at the age of 27. Starting with another winter bout of pneumonia, Sherri became paralyzed, so sick she could barely sit up and was in horrible pain. She was hospitalized and diagnosed with Progressive Multiple Sclerosis and Late-Chronic Lyme Disease. Suddenly, she went from "on the go" 24/7 to struggling just to get to a doctor's appointment or take a shower. In addition to MS and Lyme Disease, Sherri lives with Chemical Sensitivity (MCS), multiple food allergies, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Wayne married Sherri in 1994. People are surprised when they find out Wayne asked Sherri to marry him, despite her disabilities. Wayne just knew he wanted to spend the rest of his life with Sherri, even if it meant dealing with pain and suffering. However, Wayne had no idea that his decision would lead to having a heart for all who live with chronic illness and pain. Wayne's desire to help others who struggle with disabilities has become a passion for him. Wayne has seen so many friends, families and even churches torn apart by chronic conditions. This is why he founded the organizations, Where Is God Ministries (www.WhereIsGod.net) and the Invisible Disabilities Association (www.InvisibleDisabilities.org).