‘Stories of the Broken’ – From a Pastor’s Heart of Compassion

By Tom Campisi

Brokenness.

It’s a reality of the human condition. Whether we are currently broken, once broken, or know someone who is enduring a painful crisis or struggle, brokenness will impact every one of us at some point in life.

In his first book, Tom Berninger, pastor of Abundant Life Church in Lincoln Park, NJ, seeks to offer hope and encouragement for people who need a word in season. Stories of the Broken, released this spring, is a collection of vignettes, creatively woven together in a style reminiscent of the surprise twists of the Twilight Zone or the supernatural happenings of Stranger Things.

The book is a place “where the divine intersects with the ordinary, where pain is met with grace, and where brokenness yields to restoration,” Berninger says.

A glowing baby is born with a soul on the outside of his body, a grandpa tree blossoms in the winter of life, a troubled seven-year-old girl writes a “Dear Batman” letter—these are just a few of the storylines that will captivate readers from beginning to end.

Stories of the Broken was inspired by a pastor’s heart of compassion and lyrics from a song heard years ago that proclaim, “I want to spend my life mending broken people, removing pain.”

“I’ve spent decades working with people who are broken on the inside and suffer silently with their pain,” Berninger said. “I wanted to give a voice to what they’re experiencing.”

That voice will indeed speak to readers who are Christians, seekers, and even those who have no faith. Topics cover a wide range of brokenness scenarios, including domestic violence, bullying, racism, the lost children of war, Alzheimer’s, and others. The parable-like style seamlessly translates a message of hope from a long-time pastor, husband, father, and grandfather.

“There are thousands of Christian books out there, but I wanted to write something that was a little out of the ordinary with a little more creativity that would hopefully touch people’s hearts,” Berninger said.

Despite the candidness of the subject matter, each vignette ends with a reassuring note from the author. The advice may be practical, like offering an 800-number hotline or a suggestion to get counseling, or it could be a Bible verse, or just some good old common-sense.

“My hope is that readers who are suffering will find encouragement that they are not alone and that there is hope through God’s love,” he said. “I also want to inspire readers who know someone silently suffering in their pain to have compassion on them and try to bring healing to them.”

Visit www.alwclp.org/narrow-road-books to read a free chapter of Stories of the Broken or to purchase a copy.