Book: Becoming the Presence of God

Not all of us want to be monks or nuns but many of us still yearn to deepen our relationship with God while supporting others through the vicissitudes of their lives. Wherever we find ourselves on the spiritual map, Becoming the Presence of God encourages us to become contemplatives in the world at large.

Every person of faith is called in their own way not only to care for others but also to become the presence of God for them; but this is not always claimed as a vocation because the church seems to have lost the contemplative heart from which all authentic ministry flows.

Michael Ford guides us through the process of becoming the presence of God by sharing his own joys and struggles, as well as introducing us to the galaxy of people he has met on his travels and through his years of work with the BBC; beginning with Eamonn Andrews on the set of This is Your Life and including an Irish banker rebuilding his personal life after a painful separation, a daughter who cared for her mother living with Alzheimer's, and a Protestant wife and a Catholic mother who offered a ministry of hope to others after being tragically affected by sectarian violence in Northern Ireland.

We hear wisdom too from a number of international spiritual figures including Pope Francis, Henri Nouwen, Jean-Marie Howe and Brother Roger of Taizé.

Born in the West of England, Michael Ford worked on newspapers before reading theology at the University of Bristol where he was president of the University's theological society. He later became the first student in Europe to research a doctorate on the spiritual writer Henri JM Nouwen. Michael worked as a producer, reporter and presenter for BBC Radio 4 and the BBC World Service. He began his broadcasting career as a researcher on 'This is Your Life.'

Becoming the Presence of God - Contemplative Ministry for Everybody is published by Columba Press, priced €14.99/ £11.99 and available from www.columba.ie as well as all good bookshops.