In a relay race, the baton is passed to the next runner. The ability to transfer that baton well is crucial. So it is with transferring faith to the next generation. This book contains many stories illustrating how the descendants of Billy Graham passed the baton to the next generation.

“Parents,” Rachel-Ruth writes, “hands down, are the biggest influence on a child.” (2045/3347) Rachel-Ruth, daughter of Anne Graham Lotz, shares examples of how her parents and grandparents were so firm in their faith, she never thought to question the reality of God or the truth of His Word. She relates memories of forgiveness and grace, of loving others and learning from them, of faithfulness during physical suffering and much more.

This is not a how to book. There is no strategic plan nor bullet points of action to help you pass on your faith to your children. Rather, this book contains examples of the process and illustrations of the parental priorities involved. It is how one family created a legacy and passed on the commitment to be Jesus followers to succeeding generations. It is a good book for readers who can see how to do a task by observing how someone else has done it.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

Jesus Followers
by Anne Graham Graham Lotz
Pub Date: October 5, 2021
Multnomah

The daughter and granddaughter of Billy Graham offer a warm and inspiring glimpse into their family life, sharing stories that reveal spiritual wisdom and practical insight for raising the next generation of Jesus Followers.
I've always respected the Graham family and now I respect and love them even more. This book is written by Anne Graham Lotz and her daughter Rachel-Ruth Lotz Wright. Through their personal stories, they share Biblical truths that encourage Jesus Followers throughout each generation.
I loved this book and I think it will be a great encouragement to our children who are now adults.
Thanks to Water Multnomah and Netgalley for the ARC.
5star

I just finished reading an advance copy of “Jesus Followers,” by Anne Graham Lotz and Rachel-Ruth Lotz Wright. The focus of their book is leaning into Jesus in all parts of our lives, striving to run our race of faith with responsibility, diligence, and perseverance so that we pass that Baton of Truth onto the next generation, to those who are watching how we live out our faith, especially when we are stressed and irritated by the struggles of life or when we are in pain and suffering.

“Jesus Followers” is brimming with real life examples from both the authors’ personal lives and their observations of those with whom they did life with, particularly close relatives, which include Billy and Ruth Graham. And I do mean “real life” examples. Their stories reveal lives lived that modeled what it is like to walk trusting the Lord in difficult situations, worshipping Him when all your humanity wants to do is complain and/or cry.

Anne and Rachel-Ruth's book reminds us that we who have that identity are to live “aware of life’s brevity” so as to “prompt us to live each day with greater intention so that we leave a legacy of faith for those who follow” and in order that they, too, will carry forward the Baton of Truth.” A pew research of university students recently revealed that it’s long before students go to college that this baton slipped out of their hands. That means it was starting to slip before they left their parents’ home and their home church. “Parents, hands down, are the biggest influence on a child. Our children imitate whatever they see us doing.” (“Jesus Followers”) It’s vital for each Jesus follower to live out an intentional, moment-by-moment, totally committed, totally surrendered walk with Jesus in every circumstance that proves He is our strength and joy. That’s how that Baton of Truth is passed. That’s what helps the next generation grasp that baton firmly and run their race.

Heartwarming stories woven with biblical truths for living out our Christian walk. The stories made me laugh and sometimes cry. I loved how they give us the reader an inside look into the lives of the Billy Graham family. These stories hold a special place in my heart for my grandmother came to know Jesus from a Billy Graham rally. And my grandma left a godly legacy through her 8 children and many grandchildren. I especially how these heartwarming stories become kickoff points of life application for the reader. In fact, each chapter ends with a challenge for walking out our Christian lives as well as a way to be a Jesus follower with a verse. There is so much wisdom in these pages. I was using my highlighter quite often. A must read for sure.

I greatly admire and respect Billy Graham's legacy and really enjoyed the snippets of his life that Anne and Rachel-Ruth put forth in this book. I was expecting it to be more focused on "self-help" rather than more memoir. While it did offer some actions one could take and reflection questions, I felt it read more like a personal collection of memories and stories. Not a bad thing, but it wasn't what I was expecting.

It is refreshing though to read about this Godly family and know they had their struggles just like every other Christian, but they offer some guidance on ways one can better encourage others, lean on Christ, and grow in their faith.

I received a copy of this book via Netgalley thanks to WaterBrook and Multnomah.

I really enjoyed being a part of the Jesus Followers launch team. This book written by Anne Graham Lotz and Rachel-Ruth Lotz Wright is inspirational and a testimony to their faith in God. In Jesus Followers we are given a glimpse into the Graham, Lotz, and Wright families through stories of faith and perseverance. Most of the stories are told by Rachel-Ruth as she shows how the Baton of Faith in Jesus Christ is to be passed from one generation to the next. This is definitely a book that should be given to all new mothers.

I would like to thank Waterbrook and Multnomah for allowing me to be a part of this launch team. I loved this book and am proud to review it.

This is a wonderful read. It gives you an inside look at the Billy Graham family and how beliefs are like a baton of faith passed on to his children and grandchildren. This was a wonderful read that shows what's really important to pass to the next generation, it's not material things, but a strong faith and keeping Jesus as the most important person in your life. I received a complimentary copy from WaterBrook & Multnomah via NetGalley and was not required to post a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Told in the style of a race (passing on a baton), the authors move through stories and suggestions of how to live as a child of God and pass on that kind of faith to the next generation (kids, grandkids, etc).

I feel like there are many books on the market regarding passing on your faith to the next generation. Jesus Followers is a peak into the Graham/Wright family. There was a good diversity of stories and they were captivating; interwoven with biblical principles.

Jesus Followers is written in the first-person point of view, which is a bit unusual for a nonfiction book. Mother-daughter duo Anne Graham Lotz and Rachel-Ruth Lotz Wright have teamed up to write this book to ignite a passion for Jesus in the next generation.

You and I are in a race called life. The Baton is Truth that leads to faith in Jesus Christ.

Jesus Followers gives us a glimpse into the lives of the Graham family, and the legacy of faith that has been passed down from generation to generation. With candor and humor, the family shared many stories. I appreciated the picture at the end of each chapter, along with the question to get you thinking, the action point, and the Bible verse that was shared.

My own parents were so confident in who God is and what God has said that it never crossed my mind-nor, to my knowledge, the minds of my siblings-to doubt either God's existence of God's Word.

I was expecting this book to be more Biblical-based than it was, so I was a bit disappointed that it read more like a memoir than an action/call to action book. It had many wonderful examples of what living a life that leaves a lasting legacy looks like, which was great, just not what I expected. Also, there was one story that was never quite resolved and I wanted to know what happened.

There were quite a few wonderful nuggets in the book. While it might not have been exactly as I expected, it was still a good read. It was interesting learning more about the private lives of such a public family. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves the Graham family and wants to learn more about them. I would also recommend it to those who want to see and hear what leaving a lasting legacy of faith looks like.

Thank you to Net Galley and Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers for the opportunity to read this book. I was not required to give a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Jesus Followers is an insightful, encouraging and yet spiritually challenging book to read.

The reader becomes the proverbial "fly on the wall" learning from Anne Graham Lotz's life story as she runs the race that was set before her.

It's delightful to get to know Daddy Bill, Tai Tai, and the Lotz's as they truly "walked the talk" through-out their lives.

Even though my children are grown, I will still use the depth and wisdom presented in the story of their lives. But it would have been a unique blessing to have had this resource during my girls formative years. I would have been changed.

Jesus Followers is a must read for those who want their children to love the Lord their God with all their heart, with all their mind, and with all their soul. It's also a great book for anyone who desires to walk more closely with their Lord.

For those of us who were not raised in a strong Christian home, this book is a "must read." Through her vivid stories of how biblical principles were passed on to her and her family, Rachel-Ruth has allowed me to live vicariously through her--I now have a suitcase full of examples that I can draw upon to pass on the Baton of Truth to my family and friends!

Everyone knows who Billy and Ruth Graham were. This book takes you behind the scenes to what their lives were like at home. Anne describes sharing our faith as passing the baton, bringing up the interesting question, how did Adam influence his sons? Why was Cain so defiant and belligerent?
Ruth lived with incredible pain, but always was cheerful. Rachel-Ruth’s father demonstrated grace to her by taking her for ice cream after she broke a glass door. The Graham family demonstrates keeping Jesus at the forefront of every aspect of life.

The world knew them as Reverend Billy and Ruth Graham. He inspired millions at his crusades for Christ while she kept their home strong in the Lord. But the authors of Jesus Followers knew them as Daddy Bill and Tai Tai. In this biographical sharing of family stories and spiritual legacy, the daughter and granddaughter of Billy Graham give us a candid look into what it was like growing up Graham. They relate the spiritual legacy they inherited and have a deep desire to pass on. Theirs is a legacy all of us can aspire to. The book is also sprinkled with enjoyable family photos.

I received a free copy of this book and was asked for my honest review.

This delightful book is so winsome and practical that it’s one that I’ll want to reread over and over. The beautiful way Anne Graham Lotz and her daughter Rachel-Ruth Lotz Wright weave the theme of running a race and passing a baton to another runner throughout each section of the book makes the reader never forget their purpose in writing.
Anne skillfully illustrates Biblically how the race is won in our witness, our worship, our walk, and our work. Rachel-Ruth then expands each of these points by sharing poignant, honest, and compelling accounts of how she has been influenced by the legacy of faith her parents and grandparents have demonstrated to her in each of these areas. She also shares how she is using what she has learned to pass this baton of faith to her three girls and the lives of those around her too.
God has used the ministry of the Graham family to effectively share the gospel around the world. This book lets us glimpse this special family in an intimate way that effectively helps us understand their relational dynamics. My heart was ignited to be faithful to live in such a way that leaves a legacy of faith to my children and grandchildren that would never be forgotten.
Each chapter ends with a family picture that relates to what was shared as well as a challenge to the reader of how to create a lasting legacy and how to be a Jesus follower with accompanying scripture.
From start to finish, the flow of this book is easy to relate to, is intensely practical and causes the reader to long to make a difference in the lives of their family first. But it doesn’t end there, as there are so many opportunities we all have to touch others lives positively by the way we choose to live. This book is chock full of ideas just how to do that by the living examples illustrated there.
There’s no more important challenge we have than to intentionally pass the baton of faith to the next generation. May we rise to the cause!

I've always respected the Graham family and now I respect and love them even more. This book is written by Anne Graham Lotz and her daughter Rachel-Ruth Lotz Wright. Through their personal stories they share Biblical truths that encourage Jesus Followers throughout each generation. This book includes examples as far back as Ruth Bell Graham's parents and Billy's parents. I found myself laughing and I also found myself shedding tears. I appreciate their vulnerabilities as they share struggles and victories. It's nice to know they aren't/weren't perfect, but equally nice to know they stand/stood for God. They encouraged their children by the example they lived and by being saturated in God's Word. Easy to read and hard to put down. I highly recommend to anyone who wants to start a legacy of Jesus Followers. I've pre ordered three copies to give to each of my adult children for Christmas.
*I was given a copy of this book by Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers and this is my honest opinion.

Excellent book filled with life stories and heartfelt messages. Placing Jesus first in every moment opens the door for us to share His love and glory with others. I received a complimentary copy of this book. No review was required.

irst let me just say that a couple of weeks ago, I had gotten an email from the publishers of Jesus Followers by Anne Graham Lotz and Rachel-Ruth Lotz Wright to be apart of the launch team for Jesus Followers. I felt honored that I was picked to be apart of a launch team. It was the first time since I started doing reviews for books I have ever been asked to be apart of a launch team. So slowly over the next couple of weeks, I was reading the Jesus Followers in between of doing First 5’s study of Habakkuk which just ended this past week and then starting Proverbs 31 OBS’s study of The Dream of You by Jo Saxxon that started this past week. I finally finished reading Jesus Followers over the weekend.

Jesus Followers is a wonderful book. Though it is geared towards parents and grandparents on teaching the next generation about God and Jesus; I found the stories about the Graham/Lotz/Wright families interesting and the lessons taught about how to prepare the newer generation about God fascinating. I admit, I don’t have any kids or deal with kids in anyway; I sort of found it disheartening how the book made it seem like it was made just for parents or grandparents when actually the book could have been written more to include those who are like me who don’t have any kids be able to pass on the knowledge of being a Jesus Follower to the next generation. I also think the next generation doesn’t or shouldn’t be just applied to kids but it can also be applied to those who just accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior no matter their age. In other words, I think instead of limiting the book to parents and grandparents teaching their kids and grand-kids about God and walking with Him, it should be able to be older or more experienced Jesus Followers helping out the newer Jesus Followers in passing the Baton with the knowledge of God and how to worship Him and be like mentors to the newer Jesus Followers. I am not hating on parents and grandparents teaching their kids about God but the lessons learned from this book could be applied to anyone, an experienced Jesus Follower, giving advice or helping out the next generation, whether they are kids or they become a Jesus Follower later on in life.

Genesis 5 is the theme of Jesus Followers. In Genesis 5, all it talks about is the generations from Adam to Noah. Anne Graham Lotz wrote the introduction to each section of the book talking about Genesis 5 while her daughter Rachel-Ruth Lotz Wright wrote each chapter giving family stories as part of the lessons for each chapter. Each chapter ends with a question or a thought to think about as well as a Be a Jesus Follower section and a verse.

I would recommend this book, not only for the parents and grandparents who want to teach their children and grandchildren about becoming a Jesus Follower but to any Jesus Follower who wants to help out a new Jesus Follower, whether they are young or old, come to Jesus and learn how to be a Jesus Follower and worship God better.

Note: I am apart of the launch team for the book; meaning I was invited by the publisher to read the book in turn to be apart of the launch team for the book and also to give a review of the book. This review is my own opinion.

The book Jesus Followers answered a lot of questions I had about what it looks like to walk with Jesus through hard times and how to also serve and bring Him glory through those hard times. As Christians, we are called to pass our faith on to our children and anyone else God places in our lives. I loved that it was called passing the baton because in a relay race you must pass the baton to the next runner and they must receive it in order to keep running the race. Anne Graham Lotz and her daughter Rachel-Ruth Lotz Wright encouraged me greatly through their beautifully written stories of uncompromising faith and how they each received the baton of faith as they witnessed their grandparents and parents living lives fully surrendered to Jesus. There are many examples in the book of how to share your faith in Jesus with your family, friends and anyone. Many of the stories brought me to tears, but more than that, I was reminded over and over again of who God is and that I can trust Him with it all! I was also reminded that God’s word does not return empty and encouraged by Joel 2:25, “Then I will make up to you for the years that the swarming locust has eaten…” Even if you have grown children or prodigal children who are not following Jesus, it is never too late to start your race and pass the baton! There’s always hope in Him! We are all in different spiritual places as we follow Jesus, but wherever you are in your race, the book Jesus Followers encourages us all to start where we are, never give up, pass the baton and keep running toward the finish line, towards the prize, Jesus Christ!

Anne and Rachel-Ruth are so inspiring in their challenge to graciously, lovingly and intentionally pass on faith in Jesus to the next generation. Every chapter motivates, encourages and inspires a life of Godly living based practical application that exalts God and His kingdom. The personalization through family memories are real life examples of how a family has passed on faith to the next generation. This book is highly recommended for anyone who loves Jesus and wants to pass Him on to others.

In this collaboration, Anne Graham Lotz writes about handing faith to the next generations and daughter Rachel-Ruth Lotz Wright provides personal examples from her great-grandparents, grandparents, parents and in-laws and her family. Topics addressed are witness, worship, walk and work with an inside look at the Graham, Lotz and Wright families as authentic people who strive to follow Jesus as their lifestyle. The family stories are poignant, humorous, and genuine. It's a treat to share glimpses into these families and their faith.

I received a copy of the book without obligation. This review is my opinion.