Between the Door and the Deadbolt

Fear locks the door...
Faith leads you through it.

A true story by Dr. Michael Whitmire

Paperback. Arrives December 2026.

Ask about copies
The front cover of Between the Door and the Deadbolt: white title on dark navy, with a line drawing of a deadbolt and doorknob and a keyhole of blue sky

By 1988, everything felt like it was falling apart. My life had become a mess: emotionally, spiritually, and relationally. I was no longer the man I had been, nor the husband Sandy had married. I felt lost, trapped in patterns I didn't know how to break.

But God had other plans.

Dr. Michael L. Whitmire

What happens when fear follows you from childhood into your calling?

In Between the Door and the Deadbolt, Dr. Michael L. Whitmire shares his journey through fear, anxiety, and the spiritual battles that shaped his life and ministry. From painful experiences in his early years to moments when fear threatened to limit his faith, his testimony offers an honest look at what it means to feel trapped, and to keep trusting God.

Drawing on Scripture and decades of pastoral experience, Whitmire explores the ways fear can disguise itself, the difference between fearing God and living afraid, and the faith needed to move forward when the path is uncertain.

For readers who feel caught between where they are and where God is calling them, this book offers encouragement to face fear, trust His promises, and take the next step.

Front and back covers of Between the Door and the Deadbolt. The navy front shows the title, a line drawing of a deadbolt and doorknob, and a keyhole lit with blue sky. The back has a band of blue sky and the 1988 excerpt.
Format
Paperback
Publisher
Zion Publishing House
Published
2026
Price
US $18.99

Paperback. Arrives December 2026.

Ask about copies

Dr. Michael L. Whitmire

A pastor, a teacher, a coach, and Sandy's husband.

Dr. Michael L. Whitmire is a pastor, author, educator, leadership trainer, and mentor committed to faith, leadership, and service. He currently serves as Senior Pastor of Ocoee Church of God, where he is passionate about strengthening individuals, families, and the local church.

Before entering this season of ministry, Dr. Whitmire spent 38 years in the banking industry, gaining extensive experience in leadership, management, organizational development, and serving people from all walks of life.

Dr. Whitmire holds a Doctorate in Leadership and teaches online doctoral-level courses for a university, where he also serves as Head of the Leadership Department. He conducts leadership training, combining academic insight with decades of practical experience to equip others for purposeful and effective leadership.

Beyond the church and classroom, Dr. Whitmire invests in the next generation by coaching high school football, emphasizing character, discipline, teamwork, and perseverance.

Dr. Whitmire and his wife, Sandy, are the proud parents of their daughter, Callie. Through his writing, he seeks to encourage others through timeless lessons of faith, leadership, personal growth, and life.

When fear no longer controls the heart, faith can lead us into the freedom and future God has already prepared.