On The Other Side: Life-Changing Stories From Under The Bridge, by Candy Christmas, will be available in September from Leafwood Publishers. The 208-page title chronicles Christmas’ journey from an award-winning Southern Gospel vocalist to her role as founder and operator of The Bridge Ministry, one of the most respected homeless outreaches in Nashville today.

Along with Christmas’ testimony, On The Other Side features gripping stories of many homeless and formerly homeless individuals whose lives have been transformed by the work of The Bridge Ministry.

“I left behind the safety of the plans that I had made and allowed the wind of the Holy Spirit to fill my sails,” Christmas writes of her decision to begin The Bridge Ministry. “Little did I know that God was taking me on the journey of a lifetime. I had no idea of the beautiful people I would come to know under a bridge who were waiting for me…On The Other Side.”

Since 2004, the ministry has been serving meals and proclaiming the Gospel every Tuesday evening beneath the Jefferson Street Bridge in downtown Nashville. Attendees also receive Bibles, groceries, clothing, and many other basic supplies. In addition, The Bridge Ministry includes a 20,000 square foot warehouse, which also serves as a local food bank for other area ministries; oversees The Candy House, a school and care center in Haiti; and operates the Food for Kids program in Nashville, which offers backpacks of food each week for underprivileged school children.

Hailing from Southern Gospel’s legendary family The Hemphills, and an acclaimed solo artist in her own right, Christmas is featured in 23 Gaither Homecoming videos and has also appeared on The Today Show, The 700 Club, and Prime Time Country (TNN), among other outlets. Her first solo recording in more than seven years, On The Other Side (Bridge Records/New Day Christian Distributors), released August 3 and is a stylistically diverse reflection of Christmas’ personal journey over the past decade.

On The Other Side: Life-Changing Stories From Under The Bridge ($14.99) will be available at select retail outlets nationwide, including Books-A-Million, Family Christian Stores, Mardel, http://www.christianbook.com/ and http://www.amazon.com/. Proceeds from both the book and Christmas' latest recording will benefit The Bridge Ministry.

For further information, visit http://www.candychristmas.com/, http://www.leafwoodpublishers.com/ or http://www.bridgeministry.org/.

The BREATHEcast's interview with Candy Christmas regarding her new book and CD watch HERE.