| BI-WEEKLY COLUMNISTS |
Recently, EEW Magazine caught up with one of
our favorite Christian fiction authors, Kim Cash
Tate, who just released her new novel, Cherished
(Thomas Nelson). During our chat, Kim discusses
the remarkable story of how God led her to create
a fictional character that would end up reaching a
real person, going through a similar struggle.
our favorite Christian fiction authors, Kim Cash
Tate, who just released her new novel, Cherished
(Thomas Nelson). During our chat, Kim discusses
the remarkable story of how God led her to create
a fictional character that would end up reaching a
real person, going through a similar struggle.
Fiction Gets Real: Kim Cash Tate's Cherished
See How God Used a Fictional Story to Make a Real Life Impact
See How God Used a Fictional Story to Make a Real Life Impact
ARTICLE & INTERVIEW BY DIANNA HOBBS, EEW FOUNDER
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“I had been praying. I was finished with Faithful and I was praying about my next book,” shares Kim. “I
kind of knew the themes I wanted in the book—women trying to get over their past and the shame and
all of that. And as I was praying it through, it kept coming to mind to have a Christian rapper as one of
the main characters and I thought, really? (Laughs) I thought, I’ve never had a book that had a
Christian rapper and I know I’m signed with Thomas Nelson and the audience isn’t exactly a big
audience for Christian rap that I know of!”
Though the concept was indeed a new one, Kim was being led by God to break outside the box. “As I
prayed, it kept coming to me to have a Christian rapper as a character. And I had just recently gotten
into Christian rap and had a heart for what they were doing, what that genre was doing, how it was
impacting the Kingdom, and how it was sharpening me in my own walk, and [the rap songs contained]
basically a ministry message within 4 minutes of a song. So I thought, you know what, they are really on
fire for God, and if it’s God’s will I would love to be used to shed a positive light on what these young
guys are doing. So as I was writing the story, the Christian rapper has something in his past that he
regrets, but he’s been forgiven by God and he’s on fire in his ministry of music. And as I’m writing, I’m
hearing about the ministry of Da’ T.R.U.T.H. And I just thought, oh my goodness! What in the world?”
What was happening was actually out of this world. It was ordained by God that Kim would write about
a Christian rapper’s moral failure right before Da’ T.R.U.T.H. publicly admitted to stepping outside his
marriage. “All I saw was he had this marital indiscretion. He’s in a rough period and he’s looking to God
to restore. And that’s exactly what the Christian rapper in this story was going through. It wasn’t the
exact same story line for him, but still he had that shame in his past and was looking to God to get
beyond it. And I was just like wow! This is a timely story Lord.”
Once Da’ T.R.U.T.H. agreed to read Kim’s book—he was not familiar with her work prior to discovering
Cherished—he loved it. He was so moved, in fact, that life began imitating art. “In the book, the rapper
is in the process of making his album, so he records a song called Cherished,” which is exactly what Da’
T.R.U.T.H. did subsequent to reading the novel, in honor of his wife, Nicole.
His new song, Cherished, featuring the incomparable CeCe Winans, can be heard on Da’ T.R.U.T.H.'s
upcoming album, “The Whole Truth” available Tuesday, September 13 through Xist Music.
Pretty amazing, right?
“I still sit back in awe of how God did that," says Kim, "and not just because it was for my book, but
because I can see that it was God’s ultimate goal to put His glory on display, and His ability to heal and
restore, and that is exactly what He did. If anybody can look at that story of him and his wife and just
wonder, is it possible? It’s possible. It is possible for God to heal.”
As Kim reflects on the impact Cherished has had on the life of Da’ T.R.U.T.H. as well as many others
being blessed by it, she knows that praying and being led by God was the key to writing such a poignant
story, which is why she always consults Him. “I really have to trust God to develop the characters and
to give me the heart for the characters,” Kim shares. “I’m not really into how much drama I can create
for a situation. It’s about their heart and what are they going through? And what journey they need to
be on.”
The journey of the characters in Cherished, is similar to the life paths of many of those who make up
Kim’s large audience of readers—particularly individuals struggling in marriage. So when EEW asked
Kim to offer a word of encouragement to our readers facing marital challenges, she said, “I think for
those who are struggling in their relationship, part of the solution, if not the entire solution, is to move
your eyes from your spouse to Christ. If your eyes are on the Lord and you’re trusting in Him, He is our
portion. He is the one who can make up the difference of what is lacking in our life. So we have to
understand if God is for me and my marriage, then surely He’ll give me the grace to work it out. And
just like Da’ T.R.U.T.H. said in the video, it is not easy. It is not easy when you have marital problems
when you’re looking to God to restore. But it’s possible, because all things are possible through God.”
He is indeed able to help us, even with our flaws and deficiencies.
“We’re all weak in the flesh,” says Kim. “We could easily fall, because satan knows how to create the
perfect storm. All of us get tired, all of us get weak and it’s only by the grace of God that you and I don’t
get a flood of temptation in that moment when we are the most vulnerable. It’s only by the grace of God
that we are where we are.”
To read the powerful story of forgiveness, grace, and restoration Kim Cash Tate has written, purchase
your copy of Cherished here.
Have you read Cherished by Kim Cash Tate? Tell EEW Magazine how the book has impacted your life
and you could possibly be featured in EEW! Email feedback@eewmagazine.com
kind of knew the themes I wanted in the book—women trying to get over their past and the shame and
all of that. And as I was praying it through, it kept coming to mind to have a Christian rapper as one of
the main characters and I thought, really? (Laughs) I thought, I’ve never had a book that had a
Christian rapper and I know I’m signed with Thomas Nelson and the audience isn’t exactly a big
audience for Christian rap that I know of!”
Though the concept was indeed a new one, Kim was being led by God to break outside the box. “As I
prayed, it kept coming to me to have a Christian rapper as a character. And I had just recently gotten
into Christian rap and had a heart for what they were doing, what that genre was doing, how it was
impacting the Kingdom, and how it was sharpening me in my own walk, and [the rap songs contained]
basically a ministry message within 4 minutes of a song. So I thought, you know what, they are really on
fire for God, and if it’s God’s will I would love to be used to shed a positive light on what these young
guys are doing. So as I was writing the story, the Christian rapper has something in his past that he
regrets, but he’s been forgiven by God and he’s on fire in his ministry of music. And as I’m writing, I’m
hearing about the ministry of Da’ T.R.U.T.H. And I just thought, oh my goodness! What in the world?”
What was happening was actually out of this world. It was ordained by God that Kim would write about
a Christian rapper’s moral failure right before Da’ T.R.U.T.H. publicly admitted to stepping outside his
marriage. “All I saw was he had this marital indiscretion. He’s in a rough period and he’s looking to God
to restore. And that’s exactly what the Christian rapper in this story was going through. It wasn’t the
exact same story line for him, but still he had that shame in his past and was looking to God to get
beyond it. And I was just like wow! This is a timely story Lord.”
Once Da’ T.R.U.T.H. agreed to read Kim’s book—he was not familiar with her work prior to discovering
Cherished—he loved it. He was so moved, in fact, that life began imitating art. “In the book, the rapper
is in the process of making his album, so he records a song called Cherished,” which is exactly what Da’
T.R.U.T.H. did subsequent to reading the novel, in honor of his wife, Nicole.
His new song, Cherished, featuring the incomparable CeCe Winans, can be heard on Da’ T.R.U.T.H.'s
upcoming album, “The Whole Truth” available Tuesday, September 13 through Xist Music.
Pretty amazing, right?
“I still sit back in awe of how God did that," says Kim, "and not just because it was for my book, but
because I can see that it was God’s ultimate goal to put His glory on display, and His ability to heal and
restore, and that is exactly what He did. If anybody can look at that story of him and his wife and just
wonder, is it possible? It’s possible. It is possible for God to heal.”
As Kim reflects on the impact Cherished has had on the life of Da’ T.R.U.T.H. as well as many others
being blessed by it, she knows that praying and being led by God was the key to writing such a poignant
story, which is why she always consults Him. “I really have to trust God to develop the characters and
to give me the heart for the characters,” Kim shares. “I’m not really into how much drama I can create
for a situation. It’s about their heart and what are they going through? And what journey they need to
be on.”
The journey of the characters in Cherished, is similar to the life paths of many of those who make up
Kim’s large audience of readers—particularly individuals struggling in marriage. So when EEW asked
Kim to offer a word of encouragement to our readers facing marital challenges, she said, “I think for
those who are struggling in their relationship, part of the solution, if not the entire solution, is to move
your eyes from your spouse to Christ. If your eyes are on the Lord and you’re trusting in Him, He is our
portion. He is the one who can make up the difference of what is lacking in our life. So we have to
understand if God is for me and my marriage, then surely He’ll give me the grace to work it out. And
just like Da’ T.R.U.T.H. said in the video, it is not easy. It is not easy when you have marital problems
when you’re looking to God to restore. But it’s possible, because all things are possible through God.”
He is indeed able to help us, even with our flaws and deficiencies.
“We’re all weak in the flesh,” says Kim. “We could easily fall, because satan knows how to create the
perfect storm. All of us get tired, all of us get weak and it’s only by the grace of God that you and I don’t
get a flood of temptation in that moment when we are the most vulnerable. It’s only by the grace of God
that we are where we are.”
To read the powerful story of forgiveness, grace, and restoration Kim Cash Tate has written, purchase
your copy of Cherished here.
Have you read Cherished by Kim Cash Tate? Tell EEW Magazine how the book has impacted your life
and you could possibly be featured in EEW! Email feedback@eewmagazine.com
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Watch Kim's interview with Da' T.R.U.T.H.