Greg Atkinson Draws from Personal Experience with Mental Illness, Church Hurt, and Childhood Abuse to Encourage Readers to Choose Kindness
PLANO, Texas (June 6, 2023) – Bestselling author, speaker, and pastor Greg Atkinson challenges readers to be the kind of change they want to see in the world in his new book, The Secret Power of Kindness: 10 Keys to Unlocking Your Capacity to Change the World, available now from Invite Press.
Recognizing we live in a world that values kindness but struggles to actually be kind, Atkinson helps readers overcome unforgiveness and division, cultivate inner qualities of kindness toward self and others, and make the world a better place starting from the inside out.
“The secret power of kindness, when released, can solve most of our problems, not only personally but as a nation collectively,” said Atkinson. “We have the power within us to be extraordinarily kind, to be the people of God we were meant to be, to demonstrate over-the-top kindness that goes the extra mile, to start a ‘kindness movement’ that spreads and multiples. But first, we must learn to tap into that ‘secret’ place within us where kindness, love, and peace dwell.”
Throughout the book, Atkinson shares vulnerably about his own pain in his life, from being deeply hurt and abused by his father and suffering childhood sexual abuse at the hands of a daycare worker to struggling with mental health and losing his job as a pastor because of it. Through each example, he proves that kindness begins with forgiveness, both for yourself and others.
“How you deal with the trauma and pain in your life—including how you respond to it—will shape your life presently and in the future,” said Atkinson. “The bottom line is that you have a choice—you can become bitter or better. Kindness is the remedy, and forgiveness is the antidote.”
Each chapter of The Secret Power of Kindness is dedicated to a different key of kindness, beginning with forgiveness and followed by generosity, composure, acceptance, rest, wisdom, empathy, patience, love, and unity. Atkinson encourages readers to embrace each to be part of a movement to change the world and make it a better place.
The Secret Power of Kindness includes a foreword by Mark Batterson, New York Times bestselling author of The Circle Maker, and is endorsed by leaders including Bob Goff, Dr. Richard Blackaby, Jon Gordon, Faith Eury Cho, and Danielle Strickland, to name a few. The book already landed on several Amazon bestsellers lists even prior to its official June 6 release, including claiming No. 1 in both the “Christian Families” and “Christian Dating and Relationships” categories.
“Kindness may seem old-fashioned, but in truth, it’s omnirelevant,” writes Batterson in the foreword. “As Greg so aptly points out, be kind to yourself. We often forget that the Great Commandment is three-dimensional. We know we need to love God and love people. But it’s hard to love others if you don’t like yourself. The hardest person to forgive is the person who stares back at you in the mirror every day! Be kind to that person, and you’ll be kinder to others.”
For more information about The Secret Power of Kindness, visit secretpowerofkindness.com.
Greg Atkinson is a bestselling author, speaker, pastor, coach, and consultant who has worked with churches of all sizes, including some of the largest and fastest growing in the country, as well as organizations such as Josh McDowell Ministries. He is a contributor to many magazines and websites, including Relevant Magazine, Christianity Today, Pastors.com, ChurchLeaders.com, and Outreach Magazine, as well as a member of the Forbes Coaching Council and a Forbes featured contributor. Atkinson is the Founder of the First Impressions Conference and Worship Impressions and Co-Founder of the Social Media Church Conference. His website is gregatkinson.com.
Invite Press is a premier publisher of books to help readers grow in their Christian faith. It publishes books that matter to the everyday life of following Jesus as well as those that apply to the work of full-time ministry. Invite Press is an imprint of Invite Resources, which exists to build a like-hearted community of influencers who are high on Jesus, low on politics, and biased toward innovation. Visit inviteresources.com for more information.
