Finding the Way: Parkersburg pastor鈥檚 book discusses overcoming spiritual crisis
鈥淟ove God, Love People: The Roadmap for Christian Living鈥� by Dennis Craig (Image Provided)
Dennis Craig (Photo Provided)
鈥淟ove God, Love People: The Roadmap for Christian Living鈥� by Dennis Craig (Image Provided)
Dennis Craig (Photo Provided)
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PARKERSBURG -- An ordained Parkersburg pastor involved in the ministry for 28 years has written a book about overcoming a spiritual crisis after his church dissolved.
"Love God, Love People: The Roadmap for Christian Living" by Dennis Craig was inspired when The Reach United on Staunton Avenue closed in 2023. The book offers clarity for those who question their faith, he said.
"I wondered what I did wrong," Craig, a teacher at Parkersburg South High School, said. "I was kind of in a dark place."
That was until he was watching a television program about Jesus' Sermon on the Mount and Matthew 5-7 in the Bible, Craig said. The gospel tells how Jesus spoke to the masses below and told them "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.鈥�
"These three chapters are among the most important in the Bible," Craig said.
While churches encourage people to become a Christian, they don't say where to start, he said. Matthew 5-7 does so, Craig said.
"This is what I love about these three chapters," Craig said. "When anyone asks where do I start, I always tell them Matthew 5-7."
Craig is a 1994 graduate of Parkersburg High School. He and his wife, Tiffany, have four children, Caolinn, Levi, Travis and Meredith, and two dogs, Frankie and Addie.
He attended West Virginia Wesleyan, then became an ordained minister and pastored for 12 years before returning to school for a teaching degree.
Craig taught social studies for 17 years, then began teaching gaming and coding this year at Parkersburg South.
"I told the principal, 'You know, I don't know anything about this,'" he said. "She said 'You can learn it and teach others to do it.'"
Fifty-one students have elected to take the course, he said.
"Love God, Love People: The Roadmap for Christian Living" is Craig's second book. The first was an outgrowth of a study series that was re-edited and titled "Walking Together: Steps to Discipleship," a guide focused on new Christians and being saved.
A third, "The Pastor's Mantel," was recently completed and will be published next year, he said.
"What many do not realize is what it means to accept the mantle of being a pastor and the responsibilities that come with it," Craig said.
A fourth is in the works and deals with the political climate that challenges those of the faith, he said. It will answer 10 questions often asked, such as why does God allow bad things to happen to good people, why does He send them to Hell and whether the Bible challenges science, Craig said.
The essence of the Bible can be embodied in four words, love God, love people, he said.
"The biggest thing is I am not any kind of a Biblical expert," Craig said. "I'm simply a guy who has been a pastor for 28 years."
"Love God, Love People: The Roadmap for Christian Living" is 94 pages and $12.99 on Amazon.com and other internet sites including Goodreads and energiondirect.com. The book was published by Energion Publications of Cantonment, Fla.
Jess Mancini can be reached at jmancini@newsandsentinel.com