Before the COVID-19 pandemic came, evangelist Barbara Fields, of Starkville, felt moved to write a book to help people prepare for death. She said she felt that many entered eternity unprepared, without adequate instruction or in a way that viewed God as outdated and antiquated.
“This mindset was sending people to an ungodly grave,” she said.
Fields’ book, “The Afterlife: Learn How to Biblically Prepare for it in This Life,” uses Biblical passages to address topics such as how finite life is, forgiveness, embracing cultural difference and Bible-based salvation.
“It is a book that the Lord God assigned me to write to help souls prepare for His coming,” she said. “While this may be a subject that makes some people uncomfortable, it is a truth that needs to be addressed.”
As an evangelist, Fields said her calling is to help souls transition from this life to the next life by spiritually preparing them to meet God before their earthly demise, or before the Lord’s return, whichever event occurs first.
“I have not been called by God to replace churches, pastors, chaplains, etc. I have been assigned, however, to ring a warning bell, along with others who are also warning us to, ‘Get ready! Get ready! Get ready! This world as we know it is soon coming to a close!’” she said.
Fields said she took a nondenominational approach to the book, filling it with scripture so readers can refer to their own Bible to read entire passages and follow along with her descriptions of salvation. Her goal was to outline specific Bible passages for readers to study on their own in such a way that they wouldn’t get bogged down with information. There is also space inside the book so readers can write notes.
According to what Fields wrote in the book, people need to prepare for eternity — the next life — in their current life with a focus on following the word of God. If they prepare for what’s coming next, they will “embrace the Lord and the world in spite of what may come next,” Fields said.
“Don’t hate. We need each other,” she said. “Regardless of whether we don’t agree all the time, we still need each other to help each other get through this life.”
After her book was initially published last year, Fields gave out copies to family, friends and neighbors. She said that those who gave feedback on the book said they loved it. Some didn’t respond at all.
“It’s a heavy matter,” Fields said of death. “Some people are not ready to deal with it in their personal life. … It’s hard to face your own mortality if you aren’t at a point where you are ready to change. If you aren’t ready, you just don’t want to deal with it yet.”
While many people plan their funerals and burials, not many people think about their actual death, Fields said.
“Death doesn’t end our existence,” she said. “It is a transition to eternity that we all must make. … We have two choices after we die, but now while you’re alive is when you actually decide. You can have a glorious eternal life with Christ or an eternal life in a fire-burning hell.”
Fields said she is passionate about turning souls to Christ because eternity will never end.
“I don’t want to see people turned away from a loving and merciful God for all eternity,” she said. “Once entrance is made to heaven or hell, there is no escaping and there is no more hope. I’m trying to save people. That’s why this book is very important to me. I want to warn them not to go to the place of eternal torment.”
“The Afterlife,” published in 2020, is available through Amazon, Barnes and Noble and from the publisher, Author House. Fields said readers can also call the publisher at (615) 793-5000 to order the book. E-book versions of the book are available.
Fields can be reached via her ministry at [email protected].
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