Odessa and the Professor is a story of church abuse through Scripture use. A leader of a prayer circle tells manipulative lies and attributes them falsely to prophetic gift. She cruelly deceives a disciple faithful to her, but God enables the deceived to recover through prayer and wise counsel. The essential message of the book is the hope it gives to others similarly deceived, to break the yoke of deception and to experience through exercise of Christian forgiveness genuine closure. In subtle ways, Satan blinds persons caught up in "small group abuse through scripture use." They live in denial of their distorted reality. In this book, the painful experiences of the naïve Odessa and the profound counseling of her perceptive Professor provide the agonizing realities and analytic reflections needed to open the eyes of the deceived. In the process, sociological, psychological and theological complexities are unraveled through semantically sharp dialogue that informs, instructs and inspires. The power of aberrant Christian leaders over even intelligent professional persons must not be underrated. Certainly, in the Bahamas as well as in the wider Caribbean and even in the United States and elsewhere around the world, the realities are the same in regard to leaders in controlling church groups or closely related discipleship groups. This book has relevance internationally, even though the contextual focus is the Bahamas. These gripping personal experiences have been slightly disguised to avoid causing even more pain to those who have been victims of the system. The effect is a greater good when these issues are seen as real and widespread. The Professor's counsel is a major underpinning of this work, and his style as well as his substance is worthy of attention. He is suave, sure, persuasive. Churches are assessed, doctrines are debunked, history is provided, and principles are shared. In the end, readers will feel a strong sense of empathy with a desperate girl who diligently sought and found someone able to persuade her that she could escape from subtle Satanic influence. In the end, she clearly matured in spiritual understanding of herself, of her religion, and of her society. This book offers a liberating contemporary story by showing how an Androsian Seminole found her freedom from a tyrannical supposedly Christian small group leader in the Bahamas
About the Author: With over 25 years of wealth, knowledge and experience under her belt, "Marvelous Melony" as she is affectionately called in her hometown of Bahamas, is a pillar in the commerce, timesharing, educational and cultural industries of the island. She boasts an unparallel array of accomplishments in productive team leadership, support executive management, motivating team members and efficient process which leads to an exceptional quality of work. Her proven successful results are a testament to her strong knowledge of industry, leadership skills, extensive experience, communication skills as well as her negotiation abilities. Her current role as Senior Executive Vice President for Fiscal Affairs and Administration at Atlantic College in the Bahamas and Principal to her very own Atlantic Interactive School of Learning - the independent High School for Atlantic College, exposes her to high risks and high pressure situations on a daily basis to which she is able to maneuver with passion, tenacity, poise. In addition to her high ranking positions in education, Melony is able to balance her obligations as principal with her commitments to The Bahamas National Craft Association (BNCA) where she serves as its first president. Melony's instrumental and monumental dedication to the organization has led to the acquisition of a government grant used to serve over 15 organizations throughout the family of islands. A true entrepreneur, innovator and fearless "go - getter", Melony owns and operates two handmade jewelry shops - KMeL's Classics which specializes in shell products such as shell business card holders, mirrors and candles and Nature's Jewels - an authentic Bahamian jewelry store made with natural products located in Lynden Pindling Airport. It's hard to believe that this trailblazing entrepreneur, educator and business woman had humble beginnings as a student at Queens College. After graduation, she then moved on to receive her Bachelor's, Master's and PhD from Colleges and Universities both in the United States and the Bahamas. Melony is uniquely equipped with an entrepreneurial spirit and educational innovation. Her recipe for success is a special blend of excellence, energy and faith. Despite her achievements she still continues her educational pursuits while playing leader and role model to young adults and youths.