Riveting from start to finish… Verna McFelin’s gripping account of her life after her husband’s arrest and incarceration for kidnapping is a stirring, enthralling and inspirational story. Her life of hardship and poverty is laced with the reality of God’s miraculous love and filled with expressions of her enthralling relationship with God, and her love for her children, and the multiple people she meets and supports along the way.

Verna’s and her children’s lives changed forever when police knocked on her door one evening and her husband was arrested for a kidnapping then tried and sentenced to eleven years in jail. While visiting various prisons over the next few years, Verna realised that the families of prisoners were also serving their own invisible sentences outside the prison wire. It is absolutely fascinating, packed with Christian lessons, and is an extremely inspiring read. “The Invisible Sentence comes very highly recommended by Chick Lit Café – and we declare it the must-read, 5-star memoir of the year!”

“… a story of institutional maltreatment, of bureaucratic indifference, of the traumatisation and bullying of her children, of individual acts of cruelty and generosity, of hardship, of the value of collective strength and support, and resilience and faithfulness in the face of adversity. —Sir Kim Workman KNZM, QSO

The sequel to this book, Pillars of Strength, is the compelling story of Verna’s 32-years as founder and chief executive of Pillars and will be available shortly.

“When Verna McFelin’s book arrived in the mail I had a line-up of books to read but couldn’t resist a little taste. Four chapters later I had to tear myself away because of home duties. After a couple of nights, I reached the last page feeling enlightened, enriched, and encouraged. I am keen to reread it because it is full of gems of truth. ‘The Invisible Sentence’ is gripping, uplifting, and challenging. It is a life-transforming book, too important to miss.” —Ruth Corbett, author

AM Show interview

Verna’s author website and blog: vernamcfelin.com

Format: Paperback | 144 pages
Dimensions: 152(w) x 229(h) x 7.6mm(s) | 235g
ISBN13: 978-0-473-56277-9

Publisher: Verna McFelin with Wild Side Publishing
Publication Date: March 2021
Publication country: New Zealand