Sarah Young (1946–2023), Jesus Calling devotional author 

Sarah Young was the author of the bestselling daily devotional “Jesus Calling.”

• Died: August 31, 2023 (Who else died on August 31?) 
• Details of death: Died at her home in Brentwood, Tennessee, of leukemia at the age of 77.
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Sarah Young’s legacy

Young wrote “Jesus Calling” after studying at Covenant Theological Seminary and receiving a masters degree in counseling. The project grew from the daily devotionals she wrote for herself, and it had a sometimes-controversial twist: The passages were written from the point of view of Jesus. Published in 2004, the volume gained traction over the years until it and its sequels – “Jesus Always,” “Jesus Today,” “Jesus Listens” – were million-sellers. 

Some segments of Christian audiences were uncomfortable with the premise of a devotional purporting to be Jesus’ own words, and it was called blasphemy by some. But Young’s supporters outnumbered her detractors, and they included such public figures as Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, NFL star Tim Tebow, and TV personality Kathie Lee Gifford.

As the popularity of “Jesus Calling” grew, it expanded beyond books. A weekly “Jesus Calling” TV show airs on UPtv, and the franchise also includes a magazine, calendars, and a podcast.

Notable quote

“I have written from the perspective of Jesus speaking, to help readers feel more personally connected with Him. So the first-person singular (‘I,’ ‘Me,’ ‘My,’ ‘Mine) always refers to Christ; you refers to you, the reader.

Tributes to Sarah Young

Full obituary: The New York Times 

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