Author Spotlight: Darla Milne

We are pleased to introduce author Darla Milne, who recently published Flame of God: The Fire of the Holy Spirit in Spain. The book is now available for pre-order through the Word Alive Press Bookstore, and will soon be everywhere fine Christian books are sold. We asked Darla to share a little bit about her writing and her new book. But first, a little bit about her.

About

Darla Milne is a published author living in Toronto, ON. She worked in the media, film, and television business before serving for more than two decades as an aid worker in a restricted access country ravaged by war. She is also the author of Second Chance (the story of gang leader Israel Narvaez, from The Cross and the Switchblade).

Q&A

Q: Can you tell us why you wrote Flame of God?
A: In the 1970s, when I was twenty, my sister and I backpacked through Europe. After certain experiences, we decided to recommit our lives to Christ in Greece. We read the Bible from cover to cover. The lure of museums and tourist sites lost their appeal as a deep hunger developed in us to know God.

Eventually we travelled to Spain where we met Pastor Dan Del Vecchio of the Evangelical Community Church in Torremolinos.

We were invited to stay at a villa belonging to an eccentric British aristocrat. She’d become a Christian and opened her home to backpackers who were spiritually searching. My sister and I were baptized in this church. My life was radically changed after encountering the Holy Spirit.

Q: What is this book about?
A: Flame of God follows the life of American missionary Daniel Del Vecchio, who moved in miracles, healings, and deliverance while ministering in Cuba, Mexico, and Spain. In Torremolinos, he reached out to drifting youth, spearheading an international community and several evangelical churches throughout Spain. These communities opened drug rehabilitation centres, and cared for the poor, the marginalized, and those suffering from trauma and abuse. God always has a strategy to defeat the enemy of our souls. Light always overcomes the darkness!

Q: What is the main message of Flame of God?
A: Many Christians are frustrated by their lack of power to live an authentic Christian life. The Torremolinos church was the first church I encountered that modelled the Book of Acts. We need to be ignited by the Holy Spirit.

Pastor Dan Del Vecchio’s ministry influenced me greatly. He believed in being transparent about his struggles, and not put preachers on a pedestal. I will always remember his words: “Come hell or high water, I’ll remain a Christian.”

I think many of us are unprepared to go through trials, persecution, and suffering. We need a fresh empowering of the Holy Spirit to go forward.

Q: What was the hardest part about writing this book?
A: The hardest part was weaving together the testimonies of people whose lives were transformed by being discipled in this community. There are so many powerful stories to share and not enough pages!

I wrote most of the book in the 1980s and updated the manuscript during the COVID-19 lockdown. Fortunately, and incredibly, after four decades I was reacquainted with many former community members through Zoom calls across four continents.

Pastor Dan’s ministry has profoundly impacted the lives of so many, including Dr. Wayne Hilsden of King of Kings Community in Jerusalem and Dr. Dennis Lindsay, President and Chairman of the Board of Christ for the Nations in Texas, which has trained fifty thousand students to carry the gospel around the globe.

Q: Is this the first book you have written?
A: No. I wrote Second Chance, the story of former MauMau gangleader Israel Narvaez, from The Cross and the Switchblade fame, which was published by Tyndale Publishers in 1980. I’m trying to track Israel down so I can republish this book. It’s been challenging!

Q: What are you currently working on?
A: I’m writing about my experiences as an aid worker in a war zone. This is bringing back some traumatic memories, because many of my friends were killed due to their Christian witness. The process of writing is also helping me to heal.

Q: Do you have any final thoughts?
A: I want to encourage others to share their stories of overcoming life’s challenges through Jesus Christ. Persevere. Pray. Meditate on God’s Word. Be led by the Holy Spirit! We may not be called to be a pioneering missionary, but we all have a part to play in reaching our neighbours with the Good News. We all have a story to tell. We need to realign with God’s purpose for our lives.

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Inspired to learn more? Pre-order your copy of Flame of God today!