In the preface to his new book “Humpty Dumpty Back on the Wall,” a paperback of 234 pages, Ralph Tucker says this account of his life, which was interrupted by mental illness when he was 29, has been a quest for self-understanding.

But what actually happened, he says, is not what he discovered about himself but what he discovered about God. The goal for his book is for readers to experience God in the kind of powerful way as did the author.

“I hope my readers will encounter God and gain deeper insight into the story and the power of his son Jesus, not as a story told in the Bible but as a living, dynamic reality in their own lives,” Tucker said. “This is my hope because I believe my story is a story which demonstrates that this kind of spiritual consciousness has the power to transform lives and change the world.”

Tucker did not have an easy life. As a child he was abused by his father, but the irony is that in this man’s life story, his father turns out to be a hero.

Tucker, who was reared in Cleveland, Ohio, came to the Triangle Area to work for Durham Public Schools, where he is a behavior support assistant in a therapeutic learning center for middle and high school students with emotional and behavioral challenges. He holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Cleveland State University and a master of divinity degree from Vanderbilt University.

He has served as minister at several churches, including a Presbyterian congregation in New Jersey and other churches in New Jersey and in Orlando, Fla. He is now associate minister at Durham’s Northside Baptist Church.

The publisher of Tucker’s book is Xulon Press, a division of Salem Communications, a Christian self-publisher. It sells for $15.99. The book is available online through xulonpress.com/bookstore and other outlets.

Church offers activities for children

Hope Valley Baptist Church is offering two weeks of special activities for children during July – first, the church’s annual Music Camp, leading up to a week of vacation Bible school.

Music Camp, which will end Thursday, July 12, has explored all kinds of music, from classical to rock. Through hands-on activities children discovered how music can be a fun part of worship and their daily lives.

The theme for vacation Bible school is “Sky – Everything is Possible with God.” Classes will be held each day from Sunday, July 15, through Friday, July 20. Kids will meet from 5:30 to 8 p.m. to learn how to trust God no matter what. Dinner will be available before each session.

Preregistration is requested and is available on the church’s website, hvbc.org.

There is no charge for either Music Camp or vacation Bible school at Hope Valley.

The church is in southwest Durham at 6900 Garrett Road on the corner of Garrett and Hope Valley roads.

Christian business conference set

The Flowing Streams Christian Business Empowerment Expo, a one-day business professional development and networking conference, is set for 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. July 21 at Durham Convention Center, 201 Foster St.

This is an opportunity for small business owners, nonprofit organizations, entrepreneurs, the unemployed and community members in the Triangle Area to gain knowledge and to experience wisdom from local and national business leaders.

The event is appropriate for consumers of all ages and backgrounds in a family friendly environment where all workshops and seminars are free. The theme is “Making Business Happen and Expanding Our Territory.” Seminars will offer motivation, inspiration and instruction for participants on how to seed and grow their business and how to develop a “Kingdom Mindset.”

Keynote speakers are Evangelist Ericka D. Jackson, founder of the Kingdom Minister’s Training Institute and TAG Christian Business; and Kevin Alston, author of “Live is Not a Spectator’s Sport: Change is Simpler Than You Think.”

A lunch and learn session led by Derrick Drakeford of Drakeford, Scott and Associates a community-minded consulting firm, will be offered. At the end of the day, participants may join the After the Expo Networking Social for $25 to meet speakers, enjoy food, door prizes and light jazz.

For more information call the conference staff at 919-957-1202.

Fundraising sale to help build ramp

Durham First Assembly of God, 1034 Hamlin Road, is holding a yard and food sale from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, July 14.

Items for sale will include household goods, furniture, clothing and personal belongings. All proceeds will help pay for a wheelchair ramp building project. The church is adding the ramp in an effort to better meet the needs of physically disabled individuals in the community.

For further information call 919-471-1370.

Church names new senior pastor

The congregation at Angier Avenue Baptist Church has voted to call the Rev. Jim Baggett as its 17th senior pastor in the 123 year history of the church. Baggett has served as interim pastor since November of 2011.

Angier Avenue was originally founded as Third Baptist Church on Dec. 1, 1889. The name was changed to East Durham Baptist on Feb. 27, 1895, and then to Angier Avenue in 1929.

The church has scheduled a 123rd anniversary Homecoming on Sunday, Oct. 21, with worship to begin at 10:30 a.m. The Rev. Dr. Robby Phillips, who previously served as an associate pastor, will preach.

The Homecoming Committee is now working to contact former members, family of former members and friends

The church is at 2101 Angier Ave.

Volunteer project gets under way

One of the Triangle’s largest volunteer efforts kicks off this week, with 8,000 volunteer hours serving 26 organizations, including the Durham and Wake County school systems and Habitat for Humanity.

Thirty-seven projects are scheduled for July 11-14, including home repairs, painting and landscaping at multiple elementary schools and a blood drive.

Called ServeRDU, the collection of projects is an annual week set aside every summer so the Summit Church can tackle big projects that could not happen without a large number of volunteers.

The Summit is one of the area’s largest churches with 7,000 weekly attendees gathering on campuses in Durham, Cary and Raleigh.

ServeRDU projects are designed to be a demonstration showing the community God’s love. Each project has a link to a Summit Church member so the good news of the Gospel can spread through relationships.

The Summit Church likes to say that ServeRDU is not so much about what it hopes to accomplish as it is about what it hopes to start.