Rev. Chris Contreras, pastor of New Work Family Worship Center in Liberty, has announced the release of his second book, titled Still Today…There is God!: Words of Power to Encourage Your Faith. This latest work is a collection of messages he has delivered to his congregation, thoughtfully transformed into a readable format. The book aims to uplift readers and strengthen their faith amidst the challenges of today’s world.
Rev. Contreras began working on Still Today…There is God! in January 2024.
“I started taking the messages I delivered to my congregation and putting them into a readable format. There is a difference in speaking it and reading it, so I had to put it in a format that would be engaging for readers,” he said.
The manuscript was submitted to Trilogy Publishing in California, which accepted it for publication. The editing and design processes began in June, and the book will officially be released on Oct. 8. Major retailers like Barnes & Noble and Amazon have already picked it up for pre-sale, with a suggested retail price of $13.99 for the paperback and $6-10 for the eBook version. Rev. Contreras is also in the process of getting the book approved for sale at Buc-ee’s, a popular Texas-based chain of convenience stores.
Still Today…There is God! consists of 11 chapters, designed to be a quick but impactful read.
“I wanted to get it into people’s hands so they would read it, digest it, and put it to work in their life,” said Rev. Contreras. “These are not huge novels. They are good reads with lessons you can apply to your own life—and share with others.”
When asked why he believes the book is important, Rev. Contreras pointed to the current state of the world.
“This book is specifically named what it is because of the darkness that is in the world right now. Even the staunchest of Christians can get caught up in the negativity, but there is still hope. God is still orchestrating things for our good and His glory. I want people to be encouraged. Let your faith grow and be strong. God is still God, and He is still working things out despite what man is doing,” he said.
Rev. Contreras and his wife, Melanie, have been serving the Liberty community since he founded New Work Family Worship Center in 2010. The church began with just 26 members meeting in his living room. Since then, it has grown to more than 150 regular members and has moved to its current location at the corner of Grand and Texas Avenue in Liberty. The church offers services on Sunday mornings at 10 a.m. and Wednesday evenings at 7 p.m., and visitors are always welcome.
In addition to regular services, the church offers a variety of ministries tailored to different age groups and needs. The former private school building, adjacent to the church, has been converted into a ministries building, housing groups such as the youth group, the singles group “Connections,” and a women’s group.
Still Today…There is God! follows Rev. Contreras’ first book, Skunk Dogs, Weep Holes, and Other Preposterous Things, a devotional book published in 2018. With the release of his new book, Rev. Contreras continues to inspire Christians about God’s unwavering presence and power in their lives.