About Conflicts Within, A Journey through Real and Lasting Change:
I’m often asked what led me to write my book “Conflicts Within: A Journey through Real and Lasting Change”? My answer to that question is always the same. It was the death of my beautiful wife, Brenda, whom I was blessed to share twenty-two (22) years with before her cancer diagnosis and eventual death. After grieving for more than two (2) years, desperately trying to fill that void in my life, and carrying that grief with me into the pandemic, I was spiritually confronted by God when he asked me what I planned to do with my pain. I answered God’s question by putting pen to paper while the pandemic isolated the world and separated people from each other. God moved me to review conflict resolution/management training material and articles I’ve written about conflict and other subject matters. As a result of my review, the book, Conflicts Within, A Journey through Real and Lasting Change, was born. I confronted unresolved conflicts by combining practical, skill-building knowledge and real-life experiences with my faith-based journey. My goal was to produce a reader-friendly product that would help people deal with their conflicts within and with others and increase their knowledge base, life application skills, and spiritual growth. Conflicts Within: A Journey through Real and Lasting Change was born.
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Author Bio:
Elton L Young is a native of Chattanooga, Tennessee, the youngest child of James Fletcher and Frances Marie Young, the husband of the late Brenda Faye Bryant Young, and the proud father of six beautiful daughters. Elton L Young became a Christian at the age of twelve (12) and received his ministerial calling at the youthful age of sixteen (16). In 1980, he graduated from Brainerd High School (Go Panthers). Immediately following his high school graduation, he joined the United States Marines, where he served honorably as an Artillery Weapons Specialist, Administrative Assistant, and Assistant to the Office of the Chaplaincy (1980-1984). After being honorably discharged from the military, Elton L Young returned to his native home of Chattanooga, Tennessee, where, under the tutelage of his father in the ministry, Dr. Virgil J Caldwell, he developed his style of preaching and teaching as he learned how to oversee the administrative duties of a church. Under Dr. Caldwell’s leadership, Elton L Young built up his confidence, developed resiliency, and improved his decision-making and problem-solving skills as he overcame many of life’s obstacles.
In 1995, Elton L. Young graduated from the Christian Bible College and Seminary, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Biblical Counseling and Psychology and his Master of Arts degree in Christian Counseling and Psychology (1999). Academic studies have earned him past licensure as a Family Mediator and Alcohol and Drug Relapse Prevention Specialist. Today, he maintains certification as a Christian Counseling Therapist and Prepare-Enrich Facilitator.
Elton L Young has successfully performed numerous religious and civic duties by serving eight years as President of the City Wide Evangelistic Task Force of Greater Chattanooga, four years as Chaplain of the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department (Sheriff H.Q. Evatt’s Administration), Board Commissioner with the Chattanooga Housing Authority, Board Member of the Domestic Violence Coalition of Greater Chattanooga and the Southeast Tennessee Association for Child Care, faculty teacher for the National Baptist Congress of Christian Education (2000-2013), President of LifeLine Ministries, CRS, Inc. (2002-Present), Commentary Writer for the Sunday School Publishing Board of the National Baptist Convention (2005-2010), and published his first book, Conflicts Within, A Journey through Real and Lasting Change (2024) Christian Faith Publishing.
In 2014, Elton L Young became senior pastor of Mount Paran Missionary Baptist Church, where he served faithfully for four years (2014-2018). In 2016, he was elected Moderator of the Chattanooga-Hamilton County BME District Association where honorably served eight (8) years (2016-2024), and he served one year (2018-2019) as Interim Pastor of New Monumental Baptist Church during which time he successfully stabilized the congregation as he led the church in calling a new pastor. He relocated to the Atlanta/North Georgia area in 2019 and was led by God to plant LifePoint, A Transformational Church, where he currently serves as senior pastor.
Elton L Young has been recognized for both religious and civic duties that include receiving the Gratitude Award (2024) Chattanooga-Hamilton County BME District Association, Distinguished Military Service Award (2015) Brainerd High School, Outstanding Service Recognition (2005) Advance Therapeutic Concepts, East TN Families Team Member of the Quarter Award (2004) Youth Villages, Focus Award (2000) Family and Children’s Services, Outstanding Community Service Award (1998) HYKSOS Court 112, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Service Award (1997) Unity Group of Greater Chattanooga, and the Man of the Year Award (1994) New Monumental Baptist Church.
Elton L Young gives glory first to God for all accomplishments and is eternally grateful for the love and support he’s received from his family, his father in the ministry, the late-great Dr. Virgil J. Caldwell, and his mentor, the late-great Dr. Cameron Madison Alexander.
To God be the glory for his many blessings.