Author: LeRoy Koopman
Located in: Grand Rapids, Michigan
Submitted: July 30, 2000
Tell us a little about yourself. I'm an ordained minister in the Reformed Church
in America. I served congregations in Stickney,
Illinois; Morrison, Illinois; and Pompano Beach,
Florida, for 15 years before becoming associate
editor of the Church Herald in 1975. In 1979 I
joined the staff of the Reformed Church in
America as a writer and editor, a position I held
until retirement in April of 2000. Throughout
most of this time I continued to do freelance
writing (14 books, etc.)
What was your motivation behind this project? Beauty Care for the Tongue was originally written
as a study book for the Women's Department of the
Reformed Church in America. It was republished by
Zondervan in 1974, where it went through 18
printings and sold 150,000 copies. Even though
the book has been out of print for about 20 years
I have continued to receive requests for it, so I
am grateful that Kregel has agreed to republish
it. The book has been extensively updated.
What do you hope folks will gain from this project? Feedback from people who have studied the book
(either privately or in group study) indicates
that it is a life-changing experience. I have
deliberately taken a positive approach, showing
the potential for a tongue that is positive,
loving, clean, honest, etc. rather than decrying
the negatives. The chapter titles emphasize this:
"A Beautiful Tongue is a Silent Tongue," "A
Beautiful Tongue is an Appreciative Tongue," "A
Beautiful Tongue is a Witnessing Tongue," etc.
Anything else you'd like readers / listeners to know: "Many of our women have said this has made a real
difference in their lifestyloe. This, without
question, has been the most meaningful and
easiest lesson book to present of any ever
supplied us." That letter, from a women's church
group in New York, is typical of the many I have
received.
