Courtesy Photo Christian author Aaron Wentz will sign copies of his devotional, “Encounters With God,” on Saturday at Olivet Book and Gift in downtown Alpena.

ALPENA — This missionary is coming back to Alpena to share his newest book with the community.

Christian author Aaron Wentz will sign copies of his new devotional, “Encounters With God,” from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday at Olivet Book and Gift on the corner of North 2nd Avenue and Chisholm Street in downtown Alpena.

“Encounters With God: A 365-Day Devotional Through Every Book of the Bible” offers a daily reading to accompany your Bible journey.

“The book is targeted for everyone,” said Wentz, who has written several other books as well.

He said it is written in a way that would appeal to those who have been Christians for decades, as well as those just starting out in their walk with God.

“I’ve been a missionary for 25 years,” Wentz said. “So, it came out of my 25 years of being a missionary, and my 32 years of walking with God. All this is gleaning from stories of my life. The encounters with God part is I’m trying to make the Bible come alive. Encountering God can happen in your life.”

He explained his process of writing a book.

“I’ve taken notes on my walk with God and the Bible for 20 years,” Wentz said. “The pandemic happened, and I snapped my fingers and thought, ‘Wait a second, two years just went by. Huh. If I sit down and write every single morning, I think I can get this done in a year.’ And so, in 2022, January, I started writing every single morning, and I got it done.”

The book came out in October.

“What’s unique about it is I do have devotionals on every book of the Bible,” Wentz added.

He has served as a missionary nationally in Chicago for four years, Boston for 15 years, and now serves in East Lansing, primarily on the campus of Michigan State University.

“I get a chance to talk to people from all over the world,” Wentz said.

He also has a worldwide ministry he runs via the internet, video chatting with people from all over the globe.

“I Zoom with people all over the world, and teach them the fundamentals of Christianity and how to share their faith,” Wentz said. “I do that every week. That came out of the pandemic, actually. When the pandemic happened, I found a way to reach the nations.”

His ministry is called the Michigan School of Apologetics.

Word of Life Baptist Church in Alpena is his sending church that supports Wentz in his mission work.

Returning to Olivet Book and Gift is special to him, as he recalls being a new Christian at 18 years old and walking into the store, where owner Mary Rajasekar welcomed him and helped him find some items to help in his spiritual walk. He hopes to help others do the same on Saturday.