With Scars on My Soul

Rameeka Middlebrooks is a fictional character who served as pastor of Holy Hill Church, an independent congregation in Los Angeles, California. Holy Hill Church is the second congregation in the particular Los Angeles community where Rameeka has served. The story takes the reader into the heart and mind of a pastor who is completely human, deeply committed to Christ, and whose faith has led her to serve Christ in several ways throughout her career. In spite of high conflict within the congregation Rameeka continues to lead and to love the people. Holy Hill Church is a congregation with a rich, strong history. The church has experienced phenomenal leadership with an icon pastor, Hank Hardimon, who led the church for sixty years. Rameeka became the pastor who followed Hank immediately after his retirement and subsequent death. The strong majority of the congregation loved Pastor Rameeka, appreciated her leadership and her love for them, but a small group felt differently. The story lifts up the events of church life with the new Pastor while revealing the "buried secrets" of a high profile congregation. With Scars on My Soul is a novel written by Ellen Amy Ryles, an ordained pastor with more than twenty years of pastoral experience. She has worked in private industry and for non-profit organizations such as social service, mental health, and employment organizations. Currently she is a consultant, lecturer, guest preacher, and writer. With Scars on My Soul is her first novel.