Today we’d like to introduce you to Gladys Childs
Hi Gladys, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Becoming a Christian author and blogger began when I was a little kid. I loved stories, reading and writing them. Poetry and children’s stories were my initial step into writing. In my early 20s, I published one of my poems in an anthology. The excitement over this and my passion for writing books led me to talk with one of my religion professors, Dr. Calvin Miller. He wrote over forty books, including the Singer Trilogy, his most famous work.
Being very naive, I asked Dr. Miller how to start as an author. He became so angry, almost hostile, at me for asking the question. I was shocked. Dr. Miller was my professor; he knew how to get going, but I, being the student, had no clue. It seemed natural to ask him, but I was wrong.
Being a super-sensitive person at the time, I felt a significant amount of shame because of Dr. Miller’s reaction, and it put me off of writing for a while. Then, life took over: several degrees, marriage, and becoming a religion professor—however, the call to write never left. Stories and book ideas were always on my mind during this time. And while I tried writing multiple times after the incident with Dr. Miller, I couldn’t find my words again.
Everything changed after a five-year wilderness period. I went through many difficulties during this time: a coup at work, false accusations levied against me, the death of my mother, and the list continues. Through the varied challenges, it was the death of my mom that shook me to my core.
Even now, three and a half years after my mom’s death, I am surprised at the depth of grief. We weren’t particularly close; honestly, my mom was mean and cruel at times. Mom had always been difficult since I can remember, struggled with alcoholism for many years, and made it pretty clear her sons were her favorites. However, by moving away from her and living independently, I gained some perspective on my mom. There were reasons behind the difficulty, and I learned she had taught me more than I had realized. My mom was fierce, feisty, and a survivor. She taught me how to be as well. My mom did the best she could with the knowledge and skills she had.
So, when she passed away, I was in a funk. Understandable. My father already passed on, and now I was an orphan. Yet, one month turned to two, then three and six months later, I couldn’t rise out of the depth of grief that had swallowed me. Fortunately, through a friend’s intervention, she gave me the tools I needed to make it through my grief, and it centered around writing. For months, I wrote, and I wrote. I filled journal after journal and finally made it to the other side where grief existed, but so did everything else in my life, including the ability to write stories again.
I took this newfound motivation for writing and hired a coach to help me learn about the business and to help me with social media. I launched a blog, did podcasts, wrote magazine articles, and then published my first devotional book, “Busting Barriers: Overcome Emptiness and Unleash Fruitful Living,” in late 2024. I am working on my second book and have been in talks with an agent.
Now, I have the privilege of living out my passion, and I am genuinely grateful for that. It’s not always smooth sailing—there are moments when the frustration of managing social media makes me want to scream—but I wouldn’t trade this journey for anything. Regaining my voice taught me something invaluable: the importance of persistence. I’ve learned to keep showing up, taking risks, and pushing beyond the limits of my comfort zone, no matter how intimidating it feels.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Not at all—it’s been anything but smooth. The road has had twists I didn’t see coming, delays I didn’t plan for, and detours that made me question everything. Some of the most challenging moments came when I felt I was doing everything “right,” yet nothing was moving forward. It’s humbling to be passionate about something and still have doors closed. And it’s even harder when you feel called to help others through their pain while you’re still healing from your own.
But I’ve learned that growth often happens in hidden places. The struggles stripped away my need for perfection and helped me see the beauty of progress. They deepened my dependence on God and reminded me that impact doesn’t always look like applause—it often looks like quiet faithfulness behind the scenes.
Those hard seasons have shaped my voice, heart, and how I show up for others. They made me more authentic, compassionate, and convinced that God could use broken places to build beautiful things.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
As the ‘Truth Doctor,’ I come alongside people at the crossroads of faith and life’s battles, offering clarity, hope, and practical wisdom. As a pastor’s wife, author, speaker, former religion professor, and boy mom, I’m passionate about stepping into the mess—into that sacred intersection of faith and real life—where faith feels fragile, pain runs deep, and hope begins to take root. I help people navigate suffering and life’s hardest moments with unshakable faith and lasting freedom.
What sets me apart is my vocational background. I have over twenty-five years of ministry experience, and I hold a Ph.D. in Foundations of Education, a Master’s in Religious Education, a Master of Divinity, and a B.A. with a double major in Counseling and Psychology. I’m also an ordained Elder in the United Methodist Church.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
Sherri Jones, a watercolor artist, was instrumental in me being an author and writer. Sherri was the friend who helped me when I was deep in grief over my mother. She gave me Julia Cameron’s book, The Artist’s Way, for my Christmas gift. As I read through the book’s opening, I decided to commit to the process outline and complete everything. Working my way through the book was a game changer and helped me not only work through my grief over my mom’s passing but, ultimately, gave me my writing voice back.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.gladyschilds.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drgladyschilds/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GladysAnnChilds
- Twitter: https://x.com/GladysChilds
- Other: https://buff.ly/49iPHzv
