W’boro PARD director, pastor publishes first book

While many know Penny Renfroe as the director of the Whitesboro Parks and Recreation Department or as a pastoral care pastor at OneChurch Whitesboro, she will also soon be known as a published author. 

Renfroe’s first book, “Threads of the Father: Weaving His Words into Our Daily Lives,” is set to launch May 7. Although it’s a project that has taken years of writing and 18 months of decision-making to put together, it’s a labor of love that began when Renfroe was a little girl.

“I have aways enjoyed writing,” Renfroe said. “Growing up, I processed things by writing. I always enjoyed journaling, but then, life, kids and everyday stuff sort of got in the way.”
Renfroe didn’t write for about 15 or 20 years. But then in 2015, she began writing again.

“I’ve always been a person of faith,” Renfroe said. “As I started to dig into my faith more, when I wrote I had a greater understanding of God’s message. I had ears to hear what God was saying.”

Through her writing, Renfroe was able to take general thoughts and ideas and unpack their meaning. One weekend, she noticed that of all the trees in her yard, one was slow to bud. Every other tree was full of blossoming leaves, and she began to wonder what was wrong with the lone, bare tree. Then one day, the tree was suddenly full.

“The change was so subtle and so gradual that it was almost imperceptible to me,” Renfroe said. “It really opened a door to our expectation and reality of change. It was these kinds of random thoughts that led me down a path of exploration through writing.”

At first, Renfroe just wrote for herself. She would sit on her back porch with a cup of coffee and journal. Occasionally she would share her writings with friends and family and get their feedback. When they urged her to share her writings, Renfroe began to consider it.

When she turned 60, she decided it was time to focus on this project. She gathered all of her writings and reached out to a business coach friend, Jill Hellwig with Brand New U Coaching, who connected her with publisher Mary Ethel Eckard and marketer Lisa Williams with Simplicity Professional Organizing. 

“It was a total team approach,” Renfroe said. “I basically handed them a stack of papers and they led the charge. It was way more than I imagined it to be; all-consuming, really.”
“Threads of the Father” is a six-month devotional of daily readings that include a variety of writings, ranging from reflections and allegory to poetry and prayer.

“I wanted these writings to be very transparent and authentic. It’s a little scary to put these things out there for people to read, but my hope is that, when people finish the book and set it down, they feel encouraged,” Renfroe said.

There are two major messages Renfroe wants to convey through this project. The first is for people to know that God is still speaking, and they can hear Him.

“God spoke our creation into being. Why would He stop talking to us? We can have a relationship with a God who speaks and we can hear,” Renfroe said.

The second message is for anyone who has yet to tackle a dream to take the first step.

“Don’t wait until you’re 60. You can do hard things,” Renfroe said. “It’s good to be challenged. You can rise to the occasion. Just take that first step.”

Beginning May 7, people can purchase Renfroe’s “Threads of the Father” on Amazon.com, Target.com, Walmart.com and BarnesandNoble.com. 

With the first batch of published books on their way, one might think that Renfroe would like to take a break before diving into another project.

“I already have a file for book two saved on my computer,” Renfroe laughed. “I do feel there’s still more to come.”

The community is invited to attend a launch party Saturday, May 18 from 4-6 p.m. in the lobby of OneChurch (400 Highway 377 S. in Whitesboro). 

“If anyone would like, we will have some copies of the book available for sale. If you bring a copy, I’d love to sign it,” Renfroe said. “But really, this is meant to be a celebration. I hope you’ll join us!”