Emergent Grace

“Drawing from the deep wells of theological education and her own experience of trauma and schizoaffective disorder, Erin Michael Grimm’s Emergent Grace offers a refreshing stream of spiritual encouragement and thoughtful wisdom for anyone distressed by serious mental illness. This book is a source of hope for all those who suffer from such illnesses, including loved ones, caregivers, health professionals, clergy, and the Christian church as a whole. I am grateful to God for this book and its author.”


—Douglas Strong, professor of Wesleyan Studies, Seattle Pacific University





“Erin Grimm is a brilliant young thinker with a passion for uniting faith and the diversity of human experience. She offers a wealth of perspective as both a follower of Jesus and as a student of human behavior. I’m a big fan of her faithful (and faith-full!) commitments to holistic theological development.”


—Jay Akkerman, professor of pastoral theology, Northwest Nazarene University





“This book displays Erin Grimm’s deep Christian faith, her fierce moral earnestness, her gentle and gentling love for people who suffer, her extraordinary honesty about her own experience of emotional challenges, and her journey toward wholeness. Grimm invites readers to face and share their own stories with confidence, greatly expanding the conversation about the relationship between faith and mental illness in many fruitful directions.”


—Richard B. Steele, professor of moral and historical theology, Seattle Pacific University





“Emergent Grace offers us a story—a story shaped by, but not ultimately defined by, serious mental illness (SMI). Erin Grimm shares her story, shaped by her faith and the grace of God. While not a mental health professional, Grimm shares her journey of the deep and abiding relationship between SMI and faith, medicine and therapy. She offers hope for many facing similar challenges. We need more stories like Grimm’s.”


—Brad D. Strawn, chief of spiritual formation and integration, Fuller Theological Seminary





“In this volume, Erin Grimm shares from experience rooted in substantial study. Emergent Grace is not lightweight encouragement to ‘feel better.’ It is just the right mix of research, personal stories, and solid wisdom. I commend both the writer and the word to you, with a prayer that you will learn to live joyfully into your created design as you navigate its limits.”


—Carolyn Moore, author of When Women Lead





“As the Scriptures invite the church to rejoice with those who rejoice and join in the struggle with those who are struggling, this act of compassionate presence is not about having all the answers, but a loving solidarity refusing to allow persons to suffer in suffocating solitary anonymity. This book invites those who suffer to find hope and others to embrace those who struggle with loving hospitality. Read and be challenged and encouraged.”


—Brent Peterson, dean of the College of Theology and Christian Ministry, Northwest Nazarene University; co-author of Back Side of the Cross





“This is a book that is full of beautiful hope and severe mercies. Deep, muffled, but secure glints of light reach out through this text and by the spirit of Erin Grimm’s profound knowledge. This is a book, a prayer, really, for those who need a whisper in their ear that you are beloved, you are worthy of love. Come and receive this sip of grace that says you can make it through this minute, this hour, this day, this year.”


—Jim Wellman, chair, Department of Religion, University of Washington