Jodi McDonald presented a workshop and movie night at San Antonio’s Wellness Center Annex a couple of years ago. It was the best turnout we had while it was open. She’s back again with inspiration with the release of her own story in a new book called When God Spoke to Me.
It was a pleasant fall evening on October 3, 1987. Reverend Claude C. McDonald had just enjoyed a baseball game with his son and nephew at the Houston Astrodome. Lost in thought, he made his way through the crowded parking lot. Suddenly, from out of nowhere, an elderly driver gunned his engine and swerved around the corner, unknowingly knocking McDonald to the ground, dragging him across the gravel road for several yards before onlookers were finally able to get him to stop.
McDonald’s mangled and broken body was rushed to the hospital where he endured several painful months of surgeries and rehabilitation. He died during a grueling 12-hour operation the evening of the accident, but was quickly revived.
McDonald’s stepdaughter, Jodi McDonald of New Braunfels, rushed to her mother’s side, as they stood vigil at her stepfather’s bedside for weeks. Her emotional tribute to his courage and inspiration is the source of a recently published story included in DavidPaul Doyle’s book, When God Spoke to Me: The Inspiring Stories of Ordinary People Who Have Received Divine Guidance and Wisdom.
“That night,” shares Jodi, “Claude told me he would die if I left him alone. Although it was against hospital regulations, the sympathetic staff allowed me to stay. It was as if God arranged the whole thing.”
The message shared from Rev. McDonald changed the direction of his stepdaughter’s life, giving her the guidance and hope she needed to become the successful writer and speaker she is today.
“As I left his hospital room to return home three weeks after the accident, he told me something good would come from what had happened that tragic night,” she explains. “I was angry and heartbroken and had no idea how prophetic that statement was.”
After returning home, she reclaimed her spiritual roots and began a decades-long journey to healing a lifetime of wounds and struggles. She has since starred in a revolutionary documentary, The Tapping Solution, and has founded her own energy psychology healing system known as Metaphysical Emotional Transformation (Meta-ET).
Jodi’s story, titled “A Surrogate Sermon,” details how her stepfather, while lying near death in ICU, gave her a touching personal message about how to speak more effectively with God As a contributing author, her story survived the cut from over 350 stories originally considered down to the final 70 included in Doyle’s book. Her story was also selected as one of the top three stories included in his book proposal to publishers.
Richard Mouw, President and Professor of Christian Philosophy at the Fuller Theological Seminary writes, “This inspiring book is a rich storehouse of stories of people who—in the midst of addiction, grief, anger, rebellion, loneliness, and many other situations that afflict us all—have heard the voice of a God who can restore and renew. These testimonies are the best evidence we can hope for that the Ancient of Days is still transforming lives in the 21st century!”
Actress Mariel Hemingway adds, “This book is delightful because it confirms that all of us can speak with the Divine. In these stories we hear regular people and how their lives shift because of their connection to God. It is very inspiring!”
Both Jodi and Rev. Claude McDonald will be on hand for a book review to be held at the New Braunfels Unity Church of Practical Christianity beginning at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 11.
The book can be purchased through Amazon or Barnes and Noble, and will also be available for purchase through the church bookstore on April 11. The McDonalds will remain for autographs after speaking. Refreshments will be served. A love offering donation is accepted for admission and the event is open to the public.
To learn more, please visit Doyle’s site at www.whengodspoketome.com or McDonald’s website, www.godisaverb.com.