Today we’d like to introduce you to Alexys V. Wolf.
Thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, how did you get started?
I am Alexys V. Wolf, author, publisher, minister, and muralist. I was born in the late 1960s in Elkhart, Indiana. Our family of four moved to Lexington, South Carolina, in 1974, and I accepted Christ as my Savior that same year. I loved God and desired to serve Him the best I knew how. I was a timid, introverted child. I was unkempt, gangly, and bullied at school, starting in 4-K through high school. I always felt like an ugly duckling and was super self-conscious about my appearance. Regardless, I was fearless everywhere except school. At school, I looked at the floor, making eye contact with no one. I keep my head down with my books tightly clasped to my chest. When I was nine or ten, I told my parents, “When I grow up, I’m going to be a writer!” They laughed hysterically because I wouldn’t say I liked reading and was a lazy student with poor grades. Academically, my older sister, Dana, was an A-B student. Teachers regularly compared me to Dana and was scolded, “Too bad you’re not like your sister.” It certainly did nothing for my self-esteem, which was already at rock bottom.
Additionally, I had been drawing since I could hold a crayon in my tiny fingers! That was one area where family and friends highly praised me—I knew I would be an artist one day. I could see it, just as I could see myself becoming a writer, yet only one of those declarations [visions] seemed likely. Fast forward several years, and I married a month before turning twenty-one. I thought I was marrying a soon-to-be preacher, which thrilled me. Little did I know he was rooting for the wrong team—Team Satan! He was indeed a devil in disguise. Over time, though not too much, I became aware of his affinity for underage girls, women, lying, cheating, theft, and way too much to pen here. He was a demon in human flesh. Because he could not keep a job, one day, he came home and announced, “I joined the US Army!” Within a week or two, he was off to boot camp. Just like that, my world was turned upside down. I experienced my first miscarriage during his training.
After AIT, we flew to Germany. Many horrible things happened, most of which I chronicled in my autobiography Gauchos, God, and Great Expectations. When he left me with a note on the coffee table, things went from bad to horrendous. Regardless, I began pursuing canvas painting. I had primarily only drawn, but painting became my passion. Eventually, I remarried a young officer. That went about as poorly as any rebound marriage could. He was and is a wonderful man, but I couldn’t get my head or heart in the game. My heart was shattered, and I was attempting, in my immaturity, to replace a bad marriage with what I had hoped would be a good one. Wrong again! After moving to Saudi Arabia with him, I had nothing to do, so I drew and painted. The Saudi man who owned our American compound was quite wealthy and generous. Because he owned countless businesses, one was a print shop; he turned my pointillism camel into mugs, stationery, and prints. From there, I started getting paying customers, so I developed my business, The Camel’s Brush. Only two years into the marriage, I left my husband, citing, “I just can’t do it. I love you, but I’m not ‘in love’ with you.” Another brutal divorce. The first time I married, I married poorly. The second time I married, my husband married poorly! I was a mess to the nth degree.
By 1999, I was painting murals for wealthy clientele. I endured two painful marriages and divorces, six miscarriages, and more heartbreak than I can express. By February 2000, I re-surrendered my life to Christ. This time, it was an entirely different relationship than before I entered my seven years of rebellion against God. I told the Lord, “The church’s way didn’t work. The world’s way didn’t work. Please, God, show me who You are.” At that, the Lord began to reveal Himself in ways I cannot express in mere words. I dove into His holy Word, longing to know Him intimately. I repented of my ungodly lifestyle and prayed, “Lord, show me every wicked way in me so I may confess, repent, and be made whole.” However, a few months in, I dated an atheist briefly. After a few weeks with him, I ended the relationship. I repented of fornication, but the deed was done—I was pregnant. Soon, I suffered my seventh miscarriage.
By 2001, I began penning my autobiography. It wasn’t much of anything then, and I had no intention of printing it. By May 4, 2002, I married Michael, the man for whom I should have waited since I fell in love with him in August 1983, in algebra class at Lexington High School, A-hall, Ms. Ward’s class. It was love at first glance—for me, not him; he required an extra sixteen years!
By 2006, the Lord opened the door to prison ministry. I wrote all the lessons for my sermons, Bible studies, small groups, and one-on-one counseling. By the end of 2006, I had stacks of printed lessons. I looked at Michael and said, “I think I have a book here!” I’m uncertain if he took me seriously, but that stack became my first eight books! After those eight, I now have forty-two and counting as of the close of 2023. Honestly, I never had what some would call a “dream.” I see what is before me and which doors the Lord opens in the moment and go with it. I never daydreamed about being anything I have become. When I was a teen, I regularly counseled other teens and would casually say, “I think I’d like to be a counselor.” However, I didn’t ponder it endlessly; I went about my regular 8:30-5:00 job. It’s as though opportunities fell, and continue to fall, into my lap. For example, I aided my friend with her manuscript in 2019. At its publishing completion, she called and said, “The Lord gave me a word for you. You are to open your own publishing business.” I had no desire for that at all. Still, I quickly realized it was the Lord, so I had a logo designed, spent a year restructuring my previously published books, added my logo, and suddenly, people began calling. It has all been word-of-mouth, which I prefer. I do not advertise. I don’t do contracts. I publish Christian or morally sound books through my ministry, The Fiery Sword Global Ministries DBA The Fiery Sword Publications.
I charge significantly less than other companies because it is part of the ministry to help folks see their publishing dream materialize. I have learned that relaxing and following the Holy Spirit’s lead instead of telling the Lord my desires and hoping He will follow my lead is far superior and virtually stress-free. His yoke is easy, and His burden is light, which is true (Mathew 11:28-30). I live in peace amid life’s chaos, and it’s beautiful! Michael and I have been married twenty-one years and counting. He remains the love of my life. We have two grown daughters, one biological and one adopted; they are only six months apart, so we raised them as twins. My youngest daughter is unofficially adopted and remains connected to her biological family as well. They are amazing young women! The “so what” of my story is no eternal success, peace, or rest outside of following the Lord Jesus Christ. Religion did not satisfy me; it can only take one so far.
The world’s lusts did not satisfy; they only caused more profound pain, suffering, and death. Neither induce life. Utterly surrendering to Christ—spirit, soul, and body—can and does usher life eternal. Jesus alone offers peace and healing in a world overflowing with chaos, confusion, condemnation, shame, guilt, brokenness, sorrow, heartache, heartbreak, etc. I am who and what I am because I finally walked through The Door (John 10:7-9) in word and deed. Christ is the air I breathe. I began as a shy, insecure person deemed as “nothing” or “less than nothing” by most of my peers. Eventually, I took all life’s pain, relinquished it to God, and allowed His healing to overtake me. Now, I am as fearless as anyone I have ever met. I have no fear of man’s opinions or personal failure. The Lord has freed me from all that. Now, I bravely face every obstacle like an adventure, trusting the Lord will cause all things to work together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). I boast only in the One who could cause the impossible to become possible (I Corinthians 1:31 & Matthew 19:26)! ~ Alexys V. Wolf, www.thefierysword.com.
Would it have been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Twice divorced, endured 7 miscarriages, and now happily married, our eldest daughter has been chronically ill for most of her twenty years on earth. My husband and I are still seeking the proper medical attention, though we have been unsuccessful thus far. We have struggled financially, given our daughter’s condition and massive medical expenses.
Let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Before becoming a minister, author, and publisher, I had my for-profit business, “The Camel’s Brush,” where I painted murals on walls, ceilings, furniture, canvas, etc.
What are your plans for the future?
I hope to travel the world with the Gospel of Christ. However, I already do with my books in multiple countries, including Kenya, the Philippines, Canada, Australia, England, and more. I will write more, publish more of other people’s books, and continue spreading the Gospel to the earth’s four corners.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.thefierysword.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexyswolf/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alexys.wolf
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexys-v-wolf-8aa617296/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_a0fPm7V0OWZsDaDPIeSBA
