Author Q&A: Anne Graham Lotz: Pursuing a Relationship with God

-- Publishers Weekly, 7/21/2009 1:31:00 PM

By Marcia Z. Nelson

While her father Billy Graham casts a long shadow, Anne Graham Lotz holds her own. She holds her own revivals for women, called Just Give Me Jesus, around the world. She established AnGeL Ministries in 1988 to teach about the Bible. Her 10th book, The Magnificent Obsession: Embracing the God-Filled Life (Zondervan, Sept., reviewed here), is about Abraham, the patriarch of the great Western religions, whom Lotz calls her mentor. RBL spoke to Lotz before she signed her new book July 13 at the International Christian Retail Show in Denver; it was so popular that publisher Zondervan ran out of copies.

RBL: What is it about Abraham that’s so fascinating?
Anne Graham Lotz: Abraham left his religion to pursue knowing God, and he’s considered the patriarch of the three religions that are on the front page of the papers today. I think of religion as man’s attempt to reach God, and you can’t do that. Maybe there’s something to be said about the example of a man who forsook religion for a relationship with God.

RBL: Why “relationship” instead of “religion”?
AGL: You grow and develop in a relationship. My life’s goal is not to write books; my life’s goal is to know God better today. The neat thing about a goal like that is you can achieve it. Faith is constant; it’s a relationship.

RBL: Some conservative Christians don’t believe that women should be allowed to speak and teach. How have you come to terms with that?
AGL: I’m a messenger. I’ve been faithful to deliver the message. [Her organization AnGeL Ministries uses her initials.] The definition for angels is “messengers from God.” They only went where God sent them.

RBL: How’s your dad? [Billy Graham is 90.]
AGL: His spirit is good, he’s still as handsome as ever, he’s still sharp. It used to be his mind was razor sharp, and now, he’s just normal. Less intimidating.

RBL: What’s next?
AGL: I’ll have another book after this one. I’m [also] coming out with 52 [weekly] Bible studies. And then in January 2011, a children’s book on heaven. It’s a poem.