Paul and His Friends

Paul and His Friends

Celebrated children’s author Rebekah McLeod Hutto ( The Day When God Made Church) teams up with illustrator Jacob Popčak to introduce kids to the Apostle Paul — in the form of a lovable honey badger!   Young readers will be introduced to Paul and his ministry and then hear stories of his friends, including Ananias, Barnabas, Silas, Lydia, Priscilla and Aquila, and Timothy.   All of these New Testament characters will help teach kids about friendship, and how Jesus, our friend, calls us to care for each other as friends. “As a long time friend of Saint Paul, I love this book. Rebekah Hutto introduces a new generation of young Christians to one of the church’s premier apostles and his friends who gave birth to the faith.”  — Will Willimon , United Methodist Bishop, retired, and Professor of the Practice of Christian Ministry, Duke Divinity School “Friendship is one of God’s greatest gifts. In this beautiful book, Hutto and Popčak illumine friendship and offer a profound introduction to biblical characters and stories. A wonderful gift for children, parents, and the church.”  — L. Gregory Jones , professor, author of  Embodying Forgiveness  and other books “In the Bible and the Church, St. Paul looms like a giant. But in these pages, thanks to the beautiful work of Rebekah McLeod Hutto and Jacob Popčak, the giant comes down to play at the level of my grandchildren. I’m deeply grateful for this book and warmly recommend it.” — Mike Aquilina , author of  The Apostles and Their Times ,  The Fathers of the Church , and many other books “Rebekah Hutto is an author to watch.  Paul and His Friends  is an excellent portrayal of the many people who encouraged the apostle Paul and supported his early ministry, delightfully illustrated by Jacob Popcak. Paul and his friends are depicted as animals, a method often used in picture books and always welcomed by young children. The animals are not randomly chosen, but particularly suited to the characteristics of the person portrayed. Paul, for instance, is a honey badger, a creature found throughout the Arab world and known for its toughness, while Lydia, famous for her purple cloth, is a sheep. Explanations of the animals, as well as biblical references to the cast of characters, are found in the back of the book. The story reminds us that we all need friends, and that the church is a community of diverse people working together and supporting one another. We are to love one another as Jesus loves us, including those with whom we disagree. That's a much-needed message in today's world!” — Kathleen Long Bostrom , author of 40 books that have sold 2 million copies including  What about Heaven?  and  God Loves You  in the “Little Blessings” series Originally from South Carolina, Rebekah McLeod Hutto is a graduate of Wofford College and Duke Divinity School. She is a Presbyterian U.S.A. minister currently serving in New York City at Brick Presbyterian Church. She and her husband, B.J., are raising their children to love the diversity and culture of New York City. As a child Rebekah was surrounded by stories and one day hoped to write engaging stories for children. The Day When God Made Church was her first children's book and she was excited to follow it with Paul and His Friends, a children's book on friendship in the early church.  Jacob Popc ak is an award-winning illustrator and graphic designer. His work has been recognized by The Walt Disney Company and featured in galleries across the US, Mexico and Ireland. Jacob splits his time between Pittsburgh, PA and Cincinnati, OH, where he enjoys pursuing artistic projects that inspire people towards greater love for God and one another.