Author, speaker and activist Anne Jackson writes with a bold, fresh voice that will have her ever-expanding reading base uttering silent thanks for having the courage to share so honestly about her struggles and frustrations with the church at large. Jackson, also the author of MAD CHURCH DISEASE, tells her life story, her faith story, with a candid directness that on some levels is disturbing (as it reveals much of what is failing throughout the churches nationwide) and on other levels comforting (as fellow Christ followers as well as faith observers will realize they are not alone in their deductions).

Rather than label Jackson as a cynical organized church-hater, it would be far more accurate to depict her as one who loves the church enough to speak out about what’s ailing it so as to help it heal and grow strong. Jackson, for her part, has a lot to say about how the church has failed her personally and explains what has colored her objections to the church status quo along the way. Having been reared by two parents in the ministry, Jackson had a front-row seat to how damaging legalistic religious expectations from church members could be as her family felt the brunt of condemnation from a variety of people in a number of church settings over many years time.

Jackson grew up realizing how much she was trying to please God’s people rather than God Himself, which only served to embitter her towards the whole “system” of church operation. Moving around during her childhood and teen years, she tells how easily she fell into damaging relationships with men (one with a youth pastor years her senior, which she later defined as abusive). As is true with much of life, one’s greatest struggles and shames frequently birth the most significant life message of help, hope and healing for others, and in Jackson’s case this principle holds true. She describes her battle with pornography, which held her in a vice grip for much of her teen years. She shares how compulsive this addiction was and how multi-layered its origin of birth. Like so many Christians, she wondered if any other females struggled with porn or if she was the only one. After years of fighting against this compulsion and winning, Jackson notes with heartfelt gratefulness that she can now come alongside other women and help them heal as well.

One of the most intriguing aspects of PERMISSION TO SPEAK FREELY is the smattering of reader comments posted throughout the text in graffiti-like form. Ruthlessly honest men and women tell how they really feel inside out and how poorly the church has reacted and responded to their woundedness. These are not so gentle reminders that the church has a long way to go towards mending its fences within its four walls before reaching out in love to a broken, battered world. Despite the truth-telling in this book, Jackson has a way of passing on some hope that as individuals begin being honest with their own brokenness, it will pave the way for healing every step along the way for others as well.