CRC ministry spreads Anthony's prayers

The Christian Reformed Church is spreading the word about Anthony's book through its Disability Concerns office. Mark Stephenson, director of the ministry, recently purchased 180 copies of "Anthony's Prayers" to distribute to its supporters.

Stephenson has been using the book to help lead prayer in various settings, according to a story by Chris Meehan on the CRC website. Stephenson praised Anthony's "heartfelt thankfulness," despite his past difficulties, in the book of prayers and poignant photos.

"We will be giving it away to churches that receive offerings for our ministry with the encouragement that they put it in their church library for people to check out," Stephenson says in the story.

Anthony's book is now also being carried by Baker Book House at 2768 E. Paris Ave. SE.

We who have known and supported Anthony are grateful to see how his inspirational words continue to reach more readers and touch new hearts.

Anthony's Interview

Michelle Patterson, a New York-based writer, interviewed Anthony today for a book she is writing about Pennhurst, a Pennsylvania institution similar to Willowbrook, where he was abused as a child. Michelle learned about Anthony and his book during her research and posted an entry about him on her blog. You can read it here: http://www.thewriterplace.com/

Anthony's Prayers Continues to Spread

The inspiration from Anthony's Prayers continues to spread and now has reached the place where he faced his greatest spiritual challenge. The Staten Island Advance on Friday ran a story about his book. The Advance in 1972 broke the story about the abuse and mistreatment of children in the Willowbrook State School on Staten Island. Anthony, as a boy, was a resident of that school in the mid-1960s - “One thousand twenty seven days of my life,” he later wrote - and was severely abused and deprived while living there. The Advance story said the book "features poetic excerpts from Torrone’s writings and photographs of his daily life, his friends and church, and his many remarkable Lego creations." The story already has prompted more orders for the book.

One New York reader emailed Anthony the following: "I consider you to be an extremely inspirational and strong individual, and I will be proud to own a copy of something that you created. As an occupational therapist, I hope to advocate for and with people just like you, and to help the rest of the community realize the wealth of talent that is so often hidden behind stereotypes and labels. Thank you for sharing your story, and I cannot wait to share it with friends and colleagues."