In modern society, religiously-blended families, workplaces, schools, etc., are increasingly occurring, where single-faith traditional communities were once the norm. In her 2018 Amazon novel, "A Search for Truth," by Sylvia L. Lewis, M.A., M.DIV., the author, therefore, sensitively seeks to promote a basic understanding of differing biblical faiths through creative literature.

In the novel, a young college graduate with a fiancé suddenly learns about her family’s hidden Jewish ancestry. The surprising discovery then launches the young woman, who is just starting life, into a new journey to understand faith, family, society, organized religion, how God interacts with His people, and what the future may hold for her.

Lewis depicts a cast of inspiring characters in their sincere struggle to maintain authentic biblical faith after being thrown into the mix of a completely-changed religious/social reality. She firmly believes that such knowledge may help people safeguard their individual rights and dignity more peaceably, when navigating through such unexpected interfaith scenarios.

Moreover, in "A Search for Truth," the author hopes to encourage more favorable relationships among people who share biblical faith across various traditions, in order to demonstrate a positive religious witness to the secular world.

Observe the real differences, yet, surprising similarities, of Catholicism, Judaism, and Protestant Christianity. See these believers as serving the same God Almighty of the Holy Bible, Whose Divine Work and Love yet continues with all of His people. Discover the resurgent beauty of Messianic Judaism (with its similarities to the Early Church) as a global religious phenomenon, artfully introduced into the storyline by the author.

In her daring pioneer novel, Lewis shows the possibility of religious reconciliation without compromise of traditional belief systems.

In the 2nd edition of her novel (published March 2020), readers will now enjoy revised formatting, more descriptive details in the narrative's settings, and new prefaces to gently look into difficult personal and societal problems. Those seeking to overcome various types of abuse, family estrangements, or suffering through grief, may find healing comfort in these pages. In the new edition, the author continues her quest to help people from every nation, socioeconomic class, racial identity, and religion find the acceptance and love of God. It is possible to enter into the faith-filled life of adventure of a new and living relationship with our Heavenly Father. Through His Love, she believes we can also discover a relational bridge to cross over the many differences which separate people from each other.

Consider these insightful, sensitively-written chapter prefaces (with two new additions for Chapters 5 and 18) which tackle hard-hitting challenges affecting our global society today: e.g., surviving overwhelming sorrows of abuse, finding comfort amidst loss and grief, overcoming generational gaps in this computer age, successful negotiating through the sometimes-hazardous, but joyfully-possible maze of religiously-blended families and friendships.

Prayerfully find healing in these pages, while discovering you are never alone in the many challenges that you face. Laugh, cry, rejoice—and take comfort in a novel that richly shows the comedy and triumphs in the awkward togetherness of our shared frail humanity. Find that, as a person, you are valuable. You can truly be loved—by God, yourself, and others. "A Search for Truth" by Sylvia L. Lewis, M.A., M.DIV. Take the Journey!

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Another published work is her 2018 M.A. thesis entitled, "The Word Sustains All Things: How the Bible as a Divine Source Preserves Ultimate Redemption, the Flourishing of Humanity, and the Cosmos." Copies of her thesis may be found online at Theological Research Exchange Network (www.tren.com).

This scholarly-religious literature examines current global problems facing the world in the light of Divine answers found in eschatology (or biblical prophecy). Thought-provoking global and personal implications are presented for readers to consider.

Also examined are how the lingering effects of this present fallen world (i.e., death, sickness, war, pain) will ultimately be overturned for a flourishing cosmos and a redeemed healthy humanity. For example, the Bible's opening chapters in Genesis and its closing chapters in the book of Revelation are researched to understand how the original Edenic design will ultimately be eternally restored.

Finally, the work also critically studies God's sustaining Divine Power to preserve earthly life by including a section with biblical word studies in Hebrew and Greek.

Note - Previous plans for global publication with a foreign academic publisher have been changed. Instead, future plans have been made to convert this in-depth religious writing into a popular book format rewritten for the general public and biblical scholars.

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A little about the author...

Sylvia L. Lewis, M.A., M.DIV., is a Messianic Jewish-Christian Writer who lives in California. She enjoyed an Adult bat-Mitzvah in March 2012, her memorable day of chanting the Hebrew language from Torah passages in the Bible and ancient Jewish prayers before family and friends, which will always be treasured.

She is currently a doctoral student at Regent University, working on her D.Min Degree from the School of Divinity.

Lewis graduated from Talbot School of Theology at Biola University in May 2021 with honors, having earned a Master of Divinity (M.DIV) degree in Pastoral Studies; Evangelism & Discipleship. Her earlier Master of Arts (M.A.) degree was also completed in 2018 with honors, after studying the Old Testament and the Bible in its original languages.

Undergraduate work for her Baccalaureate degree in 2012 includes coursework from:

• St. Mary of the Woods College – BA degree in Creative Writing
• Long Beach City College - Medical Transcription Certificate
• California State University at Long Beach – Print/Broadcast Journalism
• West Los Angeles College – AA degree in Journalism/Communicative Studies

The author's writing interests include scholarly theological books and articles, journalistic feature stories/editorials, religious poetry, inspirational novels, playwriting, essays, romance, historical novels, children's books, and short stories.

Her professional associations include the Authors Guild (full member), the Messianic Jewish Alliance of America (MJAA member), and the National Association for Professors of Hebrew (NAPH).

In 2009, as a newly-received member, she left her Carmelite Religious Order (OCDS) in order to later embrace her ancestral Hebraic heritage.

The author enjoyed a formal 2012 Adult bat-Mitzvah ceremony at her Messianic Synagogue, chanting Jewish prayers and the Torah Scroll in the ancient Hebrew language before her beloved family and friends.

Work previously published was religious poetry in Aurora Literary Arts Magazine from 2008 – 2010 (“Praises,” “A Jewish Woman’s Poem,” and “When I Fall Prostrate, in Great Joy”), where she later worked as a Student Editor. Lewis also holds two copyrights on unpublished religious poetry books.

Finally, some of her current/future writing projects include scholarly biblical reference books (with Hebrew and Greek); inspirational spiritual novels with sequels (or in a set or series), popular religious magazine and/or theological journal articles, poetry, etc..

Baruch haBa b’Shem Adonai – Blessed is He Who comes in the Name of the L-RD…