The Rev. Tommy Mann says he felt for years that God was leading him to write a book and an experience two years ago helped him determine exactly what the book should be about.

“I was going through the book of Matthew while I was a youth pastor in Texas,” he said. “The Book of Matthew jumped out at me one day and I thought it might be the Lord telling me what he wanted me to write.”

It was his 22nd birthday. Shortly after that, Mann began writing “All the Law.” It has been published by PublishAmerica.

Mann, pastor of students at Philippi Baptist Church, said the book is about having a relationship with Christ and developed from personal experience.

“I have been in church since I was in the second grade,” he said. “But my eighth grade year, my church hosted a youth conference. The pastor was probably not even halfway through the sermon. Through the course I could hear the Lord speaking that I had never started a relationship with Christ. That is what the book is about — having a relationship with Christ, not just doing the things you are supposed to be doing.”

According to a review from PublishAmerica, the book is for those who sometimes feel weary trying to make sure they have done their “Christian duty” for the day. It uses the words of Jesus to show how people really need to live and makes the case that if you love right you will live right. It shows that Christianity is not a religion of labor, it is a relationship of love.

A native of Orlando, Fla., Mann received a bachelor’s degree in Bible from Arlington Baptist College in Texas and is pursing a master’s in pastoral counseling from Liberty University. He joined the staff at Philippi in January of 2008. He and his wife, Alicia, have a daughter, Reagan.

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(Copies of All the Law may be purchased by going to the website, www.philippibaptistchurch.com and clicking on “Tommy” which goes to the link “Tommy Mann Ministries. The books are available from Mann personally for $18.50. The cost is $22 to cover shipping and handling for those purchased through the website.)