We have Gone Live!

This project has included two very unique souls who had never met, a book written over 20 years ago, and 2000+ miles. Read more below about the Author and about the creator of the Bible study

The Author

Because You Loved Us First by Teresa Hallock was written over 20 years ago.  There were 1,000 copies printed at the time and it is now no longer in print. Since the author continues to receive requests for the book, a web site has been set up to make the book available for personal printing.

Teresa Hallock is still ministering to women at the age of 87.  Teresa attends Community Christian Fellowship in Lindale, Texas where she disciples two groups of women from the fellowship each week—a group for non-working women on Tuesday mornings and a group for working women on Thursday evenings.

The Bible Study

Bonnie Mark, who authored the Bible Study, lives in Whitmore, California with her amazing husband, Bob, four fabulous felines, Lari, Mo, Curly and Grampa Hiway, and a delightful chocolate Lab named Mocha Jo.  She attends Trinity Alliance Church and ministers to the elderly at convalescent homes.  Bonnie writes Christian articles for two local papers and has written grants for the non-profit Whitmore Community Center.
Bonnie writes:  The original version of Because You Loved Us First fell into my hands quite by, well, “God-incident” (not by accident!)  I had been going through severe depression for months and was riddled with hopelessness and worry.  When a friend cleaned out her book shelf and gave me a stack of old books, I noticed she hesitated in giving me a tattered, plain white paperback book.  Later when I got home, I realized she had decided to include it in the bag.  This little white book sat on my coffee table for several days before I mindlessly picked it up.  I thought, oh, I’ll just read a page or two, but chapters later I realized something of the miraculous was happening.  Page by page, the oppression over me became lighter and lighter.  Questions that I’d had were answered, and I began to rejoice.  The truth of God’s Word pierced my darkness, and I was literally set free.  I kept thinking of John 8:32, “You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.”  God knew what I needed to hear to help me walk in freedom.  How I praise Him for His marvelous care for me!
As I read Because You Loved Us First a second time, an odd thing began to happen.  It just seemed like Bible Study questions needed to be written that would help reinforce the truths found within the book.  I envisioned small groups using it as a weekly study guide.  I wondered if the author had ever made an addition like this to her book and soon realized I should try to get in touch with her.  Since the book was offered free of charge to the many ladies Teresa mentored over the years, it held no clue as to its publishing date or publisher.  All I had to go on was the author’s name and the fact that at some point in her life she had lived in Texas.  Thanks to the Internet, I found an entry that looked promising and left a message on an answering machine asking for a return call if this was the author of Because You First Loved Us. Five minutes later, my phone rang and it was Teresa!  I was absolutely astounded that I had found her!  I told her how God had used her book to set me free in many areas and wondered if she had ever thought of writing companion study questions.  She said she and her prayer partners had been praying about what to do with her book which was first published in 1984.  She felt that this was God’s answer and we were both excited to see what God was up to.
As Teresa and I continued our conversation, I told her that I lived near Redding, California in the mountain community of Whitmore.  She exclaimed, “I have a trip planned to fly out there next week!”  It turned out that her daughter lived just over the mountain from me near the town of Burney.  Neither of us could believe our ears.  What were the odds of circumstances lining up like that?  Teresa said, “I think we’re supposed to meet!”  I was so excited to see what the Lord had in store that I could hardly speak.
Finally, the day came that Teresa and I had arranged to meet, and I expectantly made the drive to her daughter’s home.  As she met me at the door, I stood in awe of this sharp, youthful eighty-six year old lady.  The Holy Spirit’s love, joy and peace radiated from within her and I knew I was in the presence of one of God’s mighty warriors.  Teresa explained to me how Because You Loved Us First came to be and that it was really the Holy Spirit’s book.  She was thrilled that God was still using it over the years and across the miles.