The RV Book Fair 2026: Interview with Jerry Troyer

What inspired you to write Awakening to the Truth and why did you feel this message was needed today?

Through the years people have told me that with the counseling and ministry experiences I had with people, who have shared intimate and detailed stories about things that happened in their lives, that I should write a book.

This book is about transformation, asking questions, forgiveness, surrender, and finding the Lord. Those are very important today. They have been important for many, many years. It is the same message just delivered to a new generation of people in a unique format.

What does that Awakening mean to you personally?

To me personally, awakening means discovering that there is something beyond myself, some other reason for living, some deity that has a more marvelous wisdom to provide to me than I will ever have myself. In this case it is God Almighty, who is the Supreme Being with wisdom beyond our thinking and imagination, who is just waiting to provide answers. He is just waiting to provide His wisdom to us.

How did you balance writing for readers with different levels of faith?

I wrote primarily for seekers, skeptics, those that are wayward believers, agnostics, and atheists. Providing to them a different focal point especially when life is challenging, difficult, or there is a problem that they cannot resolve themselves. I knew all along that the Christians who read the book would understand and it would increase their depth of faith.

Throughout your years of counseling and ministry, which common questions about faith have people struggled with the most?

Several of the most common questions are:

• Will God forgive me?

• Am I too bad a person for God to love me?

• How do I surrender?

• Why do bad things happen to me and to others?

• Why can't I solve and fix this problem myself?

• I want to be my own god. Why do I have to go to a supreme being?

• How do I surrender to God?

What message do you carry with them after finishing your book?

Once they finish my book they will have read, explored, investigated, searched through their doubts and come to realize that, through it all, there is a loving God who wants them to be part of His family, no matter what they have done. He wants to provide the very best that He has to them for all their days, both here and then through eternity.

Were there defining moments in your own life that strengthened your beliefs and ultimately inspired this book?

Yes definitely. At the lowest point in my life a Christian counselor taught me that I needed to surrender my selfish ambitions and seek the Lord with my whole heart. Then said, there will be forgiveness, an abundant life with prayers answered and love abounding. Following the surrender, I have experienced many years now some of the most wonderful times that could ever be imagined. But there are also times of challenges and difficulties. God sees me through each and every one of those.

Why do you believe asking honest questions is an important part of spiritual growth?

It is very important to ask honest questions. Probably the most important part of spiritual growth is to be able to ask questions that are influencing our heart, our mind, our soul, and then seek answers to those from God. If those questions are not answered, there cannot be complete faith. That is why it is vital to ask honest questions. We have a big, big God. He is willing to hear any questions. He will provide all the answers. Maybe not in the exact way we wanted them answered but he will answer.

Was there a chapter or topic that was especially meaningful or challenging for you to write?

There were several, but the one I am thinking about right now is about a music group. It was a faith-based music group. Two guys, and one girl who went on tour and one of the guys and the girl had an affair. Ultimately she became pregnant. They were both married. What were they going to do now?

It was challenging to write because I knew it was a true story. Within the true story (not included in the book) both these people got divorced. The guy and the girl married each other. They had the baby. They sought forgiveness from God and started a new life together. They dedicated their renewed lives to believing in and serving God totally. They were forgiven by God and over time forgiven by many, many people. Love flourished.

How have readers responded to your book and has there been any feedback that particularly touched or surprised you?

I am so overwhelmed that the response on Goodreads is a rating of 4.88. There has only been one negative review and that was from an atheist.

It is so pleasing that quite a number of people who listed reviews have said that the book made them look and think differently about God. Others also indicated that the book will stay with them for a long, long time.

With gratitude, I see that so many people have thanked me for indicating it is fine to ask hard questions of God, to have doubts, to bring them to him, and to realize that their way of judging is not the same way that God judges. Seeing that many of them now realize God is a God of love and forgiveness. It has reshaped many people's beliefs and I am so thankful to the Lord for that.

What projects are you currently working on and what message would you like to leave with readers who are seeking truth, purpose, and hope?

I am currently working on two books. The first is Volume 2 of Awakening to the Truth. The first chapter is a true story told to me, of a man who found out when his wife delivered their baby at the hospital that the baby had a completely different skin color than he and his wife. The second book is a story about a star pitcher for a girls' softball team who led the team to a state championship. It has a unique, special, interwoven story including her upbringing in a poor environment, with an alcoholic and emotionally abusive father who only wanted sons. Along with the challenges at school because she was not economically equal with the others and did not dress fashionably. A story of monumental overcoming as she advanced to become the star on the girl’s state championship winning softball team.

My great desire is that readers seeking truth, purpose, and hope will go to our Creator, the Living God, and ask Him the following questions.

• What is truth? I have doubts. I don't know if I believe.

• What is the purpose of things that are happening in my life?

• God, how do I get hope God when life has so many difficulties?

• Will I be forgiven if I ask for it?

• How do I forgive others?

By asking those questions and listening for God's responses, we will find truth. Many of those questions are answered in the Bible. Through God we will find purpose in life. We will find sustained hope. We will find joy. Most of all we will find enduring never-ending love from God. May I conclude that most of this last paragraph’s answers are all found in one Bible verse, Psalm 16:11.

Jerry Troyer is a passionate storyteller with a deep love for the Christian faith. Throughout his life he has always been drawn to the world of words, spending countless hours immersed in books that sparked his imagination. A great portion of his life has been spent listening to people’s stories, hearing those seeking counsel and delivery words of support to those seeking it. Awakening to the Truth is the culmination of years of dedication, drawing inspiration from influences, education, and study and life experiences. With a background in ministry and Christian education Jerry has honed a work with a thoughtful and engaging voice that speaks directly to both seekers of Christianity and non-believers. His journey as a writer is centered in relationships, counseling clients, Christian studies and personal reflections. This book is a culmination of years of exploration and dedication in his spiritual journey and diverse experiences of those he has encountered.

Find out more at https://www.jerrytroyer.com.

Interview published in The Relatable Voice Magazine - The RV Book Fair 2026 - Special. Download the full magazine for free at The RV Book Fair | Relatable Media.