Introducing A Gathering of Misfits novel - John Paul DeWalt, Author

Introduction

I have written before about working on my Gathering of Misfits novels. I wish to announce the publication of the first novel.

A Gathering of Misfits is a four-book, concurrent series about a Kingdom community of people who would not typically be welcome in most churches, even though they are believers. Among their members are an ex- swindler, a former- prostitute, a bi- sexual woman, and a closet pedophile… who falls in love with a teenager with a lovely voice.

They believe in God’s Kingdom versus Christianity, ecclesia versus church, and Celtic monastic community versus getting people saved. They use Asset- Based Community Development to bring the Kingdom into their new neighborhood.

God sent the community into this neighborhood so He could do something about the tavern that legally offers prostitution. They deal with a gang that bullies neighbors, supplies the tavern with young women, and buses in customers. The Rescuer (King Jesus) also deals with issues in particular people’s lives.

First Novel: Joe and Angela

The first novel has been sent to Kindle Direct Publishing and is now available for purchase as an ebook on Amazon. A Gathering of the Misfits: Joe and Angela describes the community and their philosophy of God’s Kingdom, ecclesia, Celtic monastic community, and Asset- Based Community Development. It relates how they obtained the apartment building across from Keller’s Tavern and turned it into the Ark. This is the original Ark, where I used to live and which inspired the setting for these novels.

Ark apartment building

The novel also tells how the apostle’s wife got caught up in a BDSM affair with a gang member. At the Baptist- led evangelistic event, she was delivered by the Good News of God’s salvation. She revealed, early on, that she grew up in that neighborhood and the leader of the gang is her brother. In the end, they are reconciled before the brother is arrested and sent to prison.

Other Books Published

This is the newest addition to my inventory of books on Amazon. I have there From Economic Bondage to the Promised Land of Prosperity, a non- fiction description of Yahweh Jireh’s process of

delivering people out of the bondage to poverty
passing them through burial waters and destroying their enemies
taking them through the four- purpose Wilderness Experience
passing them through a second immersion in waters to receive spiritual power
to invade and obtain the abundance of the Promised Land of Prosperity.

I also have Joshua and Caleb: Journey to the Promised Land, my fictional take on

Israel’s bondage in Egypt and to ungodly behaviors
their deliverance and healing on the night of Passover
their organized plundering of the Egyptians and leaving in military formation
the destruction of Egypt’s economy and military power.

The story continues with Moses making a suzerainty treaty between Yahweh and the people He rescued. Moses set up the Tabernacle and the cult rites of worship. He also arranged the living of the twelve Israelite tribes around the pillar of fire and smoke above the Tabernacle.

Then, I describe the spying trip Joshua and Caleb make around the region of Hebron. It turns out that Caleb has relatives there, who are in bondage to the three giant, Anakite brothers. The heroes rescue the Mouthpiece of Qedesh and take her back to the Israelite camp. This novel ends with the passing away of old, unbelieving characters and the promise of victory for the new, believing generation.

Questions

Are you able to accept the ungodly origins of new believers in Jesus and their possible on-going unsanctified behaviors? Or are you bound up in denominational or moral standards that exclude people who love Jesus… just not your way?

Can you set aside denominational or non- denominational adherence to church structure and follow what the King is doing in small groups and Kingdom communities?