Image Bearers

Restoration is one of the basic building-blocks to Christian growth: it affects the way we relate to God, to ourselves, and to others. When we allow God to restore us, shape us and refine us into the people we were made to be, we can enjoy His presence more fully, live more freely, and reflect His image more closely.

Drawing on the work of a close friend and counsellor, Ruth Miller, who died in 2013, Image Bearers has been inspired by Ruth's significant ministry of individual counselling and pastoral healing. Beginning with a theological framework for restoration, each chapter builds on the brokenness we experience in life - our anxieties, fear and failures - and equips us with spiritual practices to improve our prayer, evangelism and pastoral care, giving us a greater vision for God's restoration in our own lives.

Image Bearers is written for anyone wishing to grow into greater Christian maturity. In this joint venture, Rachel Atkinson and Michael Lloyd encourage us to live lives that are theologically grounded and practically applied; restoration cannot simply be taught but must be experienced, lived and modelled.

The brilliance of this book is that it approaches this most important subject via the head and the heart. It is full of deep insights and practical wisdom and a must-read for anyone wanting to walk more fully themselves, or lead others, into the freedom that comes from knowing whose image we've been created in. -- Rachel Hughes, Senior Pastor of Gas Street Church Birmingham
This is a profoundly timely, comprehensive and helpful book for the people of God as we seek to navigate our cultural moment and embrace a more beautiful vision of what it is to be human. -- Rev Dr Rich Johnson, Vicar of All Saints Worcester & National Leader of New Wine England
Rachel and Michael offer the reader a compelling vision of the restored life, but this book is an invitation more than a set of directions . . . Image Bearers leaves you with a sense of spaciousness, not judgement and ultimately frames your healing within the power, love and benevolence of God. -- Rev Will Van Der Hart, Wellbeing Chaplain & Director of Mind and Soul Foundation
While some books concentrate on theory and theology, and others on experience and practice, what is so appreciated about this book is its refusal to choose between the two, but to plumb the depths of both . . . Take this book seriously, allow yourself space and time to live in it slowly, and I believe it will change your life. -- Jitesh Patel, Assistant Director, St Mellitus College East Midlands
Ruth Miller walked closely with God and walked closely with people. She had a remarkable ministry bringing God's restoring love to scarred places in wounded souls. Theologians Dr Rachel Atkinson and Dr Michael Lloyd, in this labour of love, have transformed Ruth's assorted lectures, notes, letters and testimonies, into a wonderful pastoral and practical theology for helping us fractured ones journey in Christ towards soul wholeness. -- Simon Ponsonby, St Aldates Oxford

Rachel Atkinson works alongside her husband, Phil, in leading St. Mark's Coventry, a City Centre Resource Church planted by HTB in 2017. She holds a Doctorate in Ministry, and has served on the teaching staff of Spurgeon's College and St. Mellitus College. Her particular interests are in mission, evangelism, and spiritual formation.

Michael Lloyd is the Principal of Wycliffe Hall in Oxford. He wrote his doctrol thesis on the problem of evil - giving him the infamous name amond his students, Dr Evil. Michael has taught theology at Oxford and Cambridge universities, and airs his views on the GodPodcast.

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