Local author, 25, offers spiritual help to youths

8/3/2002

A commercial loan officer at an area bank who has a passion for writing will sign copies of a book he wrote for teens from 2 to 4 p.m. today at Barnes and Noble, 4940 Monroe St.

Eric Cicak, 25, said he wrote How about Some Fruit? to help adolescents through the “awkward age” when many get off the right path and make bad choices about smoking and alcohol.

“I thought if kids have a small concept of how much God loves them and the plan God has for their lives, they could stay closer to God through those tough years,” Mr. Cicak said. “When I was an adolescent myself, I got away from my religious background, but due to some experiences I had in college, I came closer to God.”

His book is based on his own faith journey and employs as a theme the “fruit of the Spirit” listed in the book of Galatians as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Mr. Cicak said he will be teaching several classes using his book at Heritage Christian Church, where he is a member, and at Zion United Methodist Church. The book is suitable for Bible studies and youth ministry, he said.

A resident of Walbridge who works at Genoa Bank, Mr. Cicak also plans signings of his book at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Thackeray's in the Westgate Shopping Center; from 2 to 4 p.m. Aug. 10 at the Family Christian Store, Sylvania Avenue and Secor Road, and at 4 p.m. Aug. 23 at the Family Christian Store, 1400 South Holland-Sylvania Rd.