In her new book “Stepping Up to Spiritual Maturity, The Stages of Faith Development,” Acworth resident Sara Hines Martin explores the journey to spiritual maturity. “This book is about stages of faith development,” she said.

With more than 50 years of professional writing experience, Martin has written other books including “Healing for Adult Children of Alcoholics,” “Shame on You! Help for Adults from Alcoholic & Other Shame-Bound Families” and “More than Petticoats: Remarkable Georgia Women.” She is also a therapist, practicing in Kennesaw.

Having grown up in a Southern Baptist church, she began questioning certain things, asking, “How come all of the Bible believing did not result in interpersonal skills? In our churches, we just don’t know how to get along with each other.”

Through research of professionals such as psychoanalyst Erik Erikson and social scientist James Fowler, she discovered how each stage of emotional development corresponds with faith development. In the book, she also shares her walk of faith.

“It (correlation between emotional and faith development) was so eye opening for me. It helped me understand,” Martin said.

The book defines spiritual maturity by looking at how one’s faith develops at a stage in life. “These stages tell the behaviors of that age of that stage that none of us thought about,” she said, providing the example of an 18-year-old leaving for college, a normal time for them to start questioning earlier teachings.

“If the parents realize this questioning is a normal stage, they can help their child through the period so they can develop their own faith,” she said.

The author offers practical information that can be applied in life. “(The book) lays out some important information that people can use as a self-guide and to understand their children. It can help pastors to understand their church members,” she said. “(The book) can serve as a self guide to spiritual maturity.”

To learn more about Martin, visit www.saramartin.net, call (770) 975-7980 or email her at sara@saramartin.net.