Phil Emmert has led a long life, one of many different professions. Entering his second career as a pastor, and his subsequent career as a writer, he has found his calling, having bridged the two careers and writing three books in the past 14 years. He recently celebrated the release of his third book, “The Overcomers,” which contains a primary story, accompanied by a short story.

What makes the stories so valuable is the purpose for which they were written — to teach children about American history and bring people to God, the latter being true for his third and newest book, he said.

“I just like to write, and I wanted to write something with a Christian theme about people who become victorious through the Lord,” Emmert said. “And I think that was my main purpose for writing this. People are struggling today, and they often won’t read the Bible, but they may read a story.”

Emmert, a native of Indiana, went into ministry at the age of 37, after attending Johnson Bible College in Tennessee for four years. Prior to that, he owned a farm in Lebanon, Indiana, and worked at DOW Chemical Company for 13 years. Since his move to North Carolina, he has pastored several churches in Hyde and Tyrrell counties.

Also while residing in Hyde County, he worked in other capacities such as a school bus driver, substitute teacher, in DSS Children’s Services and a juvenile crime prevention counselor through the school system, he said.

His experiences working with children prompted inspiration to write his first two books — “War Was Heck,” a story based on things he remembered about his childhood during the World War II era and “The Afterglow of War,” also based on his childhood and teenage years, and includes amusing tales, Emmert said.

At almost 79 years old, Emmert has lived a full life, one that has been full of experiences, at times similar to that of the characters in his book. His newest book isn’t an account of his personal experiences, however, but stories he has known about others throughout life.

“I’ve experienced things from both sides, so I feel like I can write along these lines. I just hope (the book) will bring them closer to the Lord,” Emmert said. “I hope and pray it will inspire some people that maybe if they’re struggling with life, they will read this and say, ‘I will give the Lord a try because I’m not doing too well on my own.”

Emmert anticipates another book in the near future, one based on Christian faith that involves a scenario in which America is under attack by foreign nations.

Emmert’s books can be purchased through barnesandnoble.com or amazon.com. For those who read his book, he asks they share a review on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and through eBooks on Kindle.