What happens when an evangelical hardliner falls in love with an intriguing woman from halfway around the world who challenges everything he believes?
Justin Friedman radically turns from drug dealer to Jesus and joins a fundamentalist movement in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. Swiss teacher Sophie Schmid is searching for meaning after a tragic loss and sets out on an adventure. When Justin and Sophie meet, the sparks fly—and their views about God clash. Justin’s faith leaves no room for doubt, and Sophie’s faith cannot tolerate absolutes. The two embark on an epic search for what it really means to follow Jesus.
Their budding love is challenged when Justin moves to the mission field in India only to find disillusion where he least expects it. In the meantime, Sophie joins a contemplative community in the Swiss mountains to find peace and a faith that carries her. But they cannot forget the week that changed their lives.
A Broken Hallelujah takes the reader on an adventurous spiritual journey across America, Europe, and Asia in search for answers to life’s deepest questions about faith, compassion, and the unifying love of God.
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what readers are saying
“A Broken Hallelujah is an engaging tale of fiction that tells a true story—a story of discovering the rich and beautiful faith in Christ that is so often obscured by the garish caricature of Christianity found in American fundamentalism. Judith Forgoston has given us a hopeful novel that will bring light and life to its readers. I thoroughly enjoyed this book!”
— Brian Zahnd, pastor of Word of Life Church, St. Joseph, Missouri, and author of When Everything’s on Fire
“An inspiring and personally challenging novel about emerging from the ashes of fundamentalist theology to the hope of life-giving faith and freedom. The journey of letting go of hurtful religion while remaining deeply in love with Jesus is told with both respect and compassion.”
— Dr. Felix Ruther, former secretary general of InterVarsity Switzerland
“A monumental achievement for a first-time writer!”
— Randall Arthur, best-selling author of Wisdom Hunter
“So seldom do I find a real romance, especially in the Christian fiction genre, but A Broken Hallelujah is one: so very human and realistically moved by the Divine. And it’s so much more. With skillful storytelling, Judith Forgoston gives us a deep look at the pitfalls of fundamentalism, in the context of settings which become characters in themselves. Nothing, however, can overshadow the very real persons of Sophie, Justin, Thomas and a cast of others you can actually smell. The reading world needs this author. The CHRISTIAN world needs her. This is a writer who is willing to express the tragedy that so much of what is touted as Jesus just isn’t and show us something more authentic.”
— Nancy Rue, bestselling author of over 100 books for adults, teens and tweens
“This is one of those books you can’t put down! I carried it around with me and read it at every opportunity I had. The characters, twists and turns and the unexpected keeps you fully engaged. Eye opening points of view and windows into different cultures, all while telling a beautiful love story. Such a wonderful book!”
– Kim Mears, Starting Point leader, North Point Community Church, Alpharetta
