"Powerful. Riveting. Poignant. Engaging. Faith-filled. If you’re looking for a book that includes an extraordinary story of devastation and hope, brokenness and victory, along with transparency and transformation—read this book! Appeal to the Courtroom of Heaven: Petitions for Prisoners and Prison Families is a book that offers a real-life story of one family’s journey. It includes practical understanding of how the justice system works, biblical insight and understanding of how God uses imperfect people, and the added bonus of prayer help-sheets for the challenges we face. This book belongs in every church library, in the offices of Christian counselors, and in the hands of every family member of a prison inmate. Shonda Savage Whitworth offers healing and hope to all who travel this journey."
~ Carol Kent, Speaker and Author
When I Lay My Isaac Down
"Compelling! Remarkably redemptive and a personal healing experience. Rather than read this book, I prayed through it as it encouraged me, uplifted me, and deepened my relationship with Christ"
~ Delores Christian Liesner, author of Be the Miracle
"Appeal to the Courtroom of Heaven stirs emotions but does so much more than that. It infuses families of the incarcerated with the comfort of a listening ear and caring heart—one that has been there. But it's also a careful and thoughtful comparison between the world's justice system and what it means to be represented and defended by the Hero of our faith—Jesus. An important read."
~ Cynthia Ruchti, author of more than thirty books,
including Ragged Hope: Surviving the Fallout of Other People's Choices
and the award-winning novel As Waters Gone By
"Seldom do I read a work that so engages and challenges me as this one did. Every page is a treasure, and the message of God’s grace and mercy shines through from beginning to end. Shonda Whitworth helped me to view God’s role as righteous Judge and Christ’s role as loving Advocate in a whole new way. Over and over again as I read, I thanked God for what He has done for us through the cross and what He will continue to do for us as we seek His mercy for ourselves and for others. This book isn’t just for prisoners and their families; it’s for anyone who wants to better understand the privilege we have in appealing to the courtroom of heaven and approaching the throne of grace."
~ Ann Tatlock, novelist, children’s book author and blogger
"Shonda and I met at a writer's conference. From the moment I heard her story of God's love and redemption for broken people, I found myself leaning in to discover more about the grace of God. Her book, Appeal to The Courtroom of Heaven is a testimony filled with good news. I find her book encouraging and packed with hope. You will too."
~ Babbie Mason,
award-winning singer, songwriter, and author
"Shonda Whitworth has a great gift from our Lord to communicate and touch the hearts of people for God. When she shared her testimony at the Harvest of Hope Revival in New Mexico, she communicated love and encouragement to the hearts of people who have gone through or are going through similar hurts of having an incarcerated loved one. Appeal to the Courtroom of Heaven will bless those who have given up hope or who have been forgotten by the church. Shonda shows the love and care of our Lord Jesus Christ and those who read this book will find real hope."
~ Dewey Moede, Pastor
For God’s Glory Alone Ministries
"Having once been incarcerated, and now after having served full-time in prison ministry for many years since my release, I have read many good books to teach and encourage prisoners but none that were also beneficial to their families. This book abundantly blesses them both! Without hesitation I wholeheartedly recommend Shonda’s book as one that is compelling, truthful, practical, helpful, anointed, and potentially life changing. Her teaching on prayer and how to appeal to the courtroom of heaven as applied to prisoners and their loved ones is both unique and instructive. Prayer is our most powerful and effective weapon, and Shonda’s suggested prayers are tremendous. Apply these principles. Find hope, healing, and freedom in Jesus."
~ Stephen Canup, Executive Director, Freedom in Jesus Prison Ministries
Author of Jail-House Religion: From Park Avenue… to Park bench… to Prison and Diving Deeper: A Daily Leap into a Life More Abundant
"If you completely forgot to study the material for your final exam in biology, you might feel despair when your professor passes out the test. If suddenly your loved one is facing murder charges for a crime they did not commit—and after exhausting all your resources to support his innocence he’s found guilty—you will feel despair. Shonda Whitworth felt despair but didn’t stay there because she found help at God’s throne of grace. In her book, Appeal to the Courtroom of Heaven, she lays out a unique biblical strategy to pray effectively. If you ever felt hopeless over a loved one facing incarceration, this book must not go unread."
~ Gene McGuire, Author of Unshackled, From Ruin to Redemption
Chaplain, Babe’s Chicken Dinner
"Having a son that was recently released from prison after serving six years, reading books on how to overcome this kind of pain became my norm. When I read Shonda's book Appeal to the Courtroom of Heaven, it was different than other books I had read the past few years. Not only was it engaging, but it made perfect sense. To shift your thinking of what God's plan is in all this is hard; however, it's possible! Prayer is the most powerful weapon we have to fight back, and Shonda explains how to use it effectively. This book is unique and will bring so much understanding to your situation. I suggest anyone living with an incarcerated loved one to read it. It is full of the truth and will change your life when you understand how to appeal to the courtroom of heaven."
~ Jodi Calkins, Executive Director, Pioneer Trails Ministries Advocacy for Incarcerated Loved Ones
