HEART OF A LIONESS Now in Publication

PLANO, Texas - Oct. 6, 2014 - PRLog -- At 37, Irene Gleeson’s life was all but over. Her first marriage had crumbled, her children were on a path of self-destruction, and she had spiralled into disillusionment and depression.  Broke, suicidal, and trawling the night clubs looking for love, Irene made an unexpected discovery of God’s love on the 28 of November, 1982. Standing at the back of a small beachside church, the presence of God embraced her, and in that moment, she was finally free.  With a renewed sense of purpose, peace, and several answered prayers, Irene asked this of her savior: “Jesus, you’ve done this for me, what can I do for you?”

Armed with nothing but faith, courage, and dogged determination, Irene sold her Australia beach home, said goodbye to family, and hauled her tiny caravan 8000 miles to Kitgum—an isolated community besieged by Joseph Kony and his brutal rebel group, the LRA. Under the shade of a mango tree, “Mama Irene” gathered the children of war and taught them to sing, read, and write by scratching letters in the dust. From these humble beginnings in a desolate, war-ravaged community sprouted an amazing ministry.  For the next 20 years, against insurmountable odds—numerous rebel attacks, repeated bouts of malaria, and extreme isolation—Irene forged a ministry that would transform the lives of thousands of former child soldiers.

From the very first pages, Irene’s story grips you and draws you into the incredible tale of how God called a broken woman to a great purpose. The story of “Mama Irene” will take you on a journey of obedience, sacrifice, and unwavering faith. In this moving narrative filled with drama, humor, and deeply personal insights, Irene recounts story after story of God’s miracles amidst the frustrations of running a ministry as an older single white woman. You will be challenged and inspired to find your mission in life, and be reminded that no matter who you are, or where you’ve been, it’s never too late to find your purpose.

About “Mama Irene”

In 1992, Irene Gleeson and her then husband sold

their Sydney beach homes and everything they owned,

and then towed a small caravan to Kitgum on the Sudan

border in order to rescue abducted child soldiers and

children orphaned in the conflict between the Lord’s

Resistance Army (LRA) and the Ugandan governments.

Once there, she gathered 50 children under the shade ofa mango tree. This is where her ministry began. Today,

the 300 staff of the Irene Gleeson Foundation educates,

medicates, and feeds 5,000+ children in Northern

Uganda… and that number continues to grow every dayIrene Gleeson passed away July 21, 2013 after a

courageous battle with cancer.

Available for interview

Nicole Partridge, co-author, is a freelance journalist

and writer whose feature stories have been published in

newspapers and magazines in Australia, the US, UK and

New Zealand. Nicole began her career in marketing and

communications for some of Australia’s largest aid

organizations, before making the move into journalism.

Her stories have appeared in such publications as Marie

Claire magazine, The Guardian (UK), Charisma magazine

(USA) and The Sydney Morning Herald. Nicole makes her

home in Sydney, Australia with her husband Scott and

their two daughters.

John Paul Kiffasi, Executive Director, Irene Gleeson

Foundation. An Acholi by birth, John Paul grew up during

the instability in northern Uganda. John Paul came to work

for IGF in 2000 and has since held a number of key

positions, including Chief Administrator. When Irene was

diagnosed with cancer in 2012 (and later passed in 2013),

John Paul filled the gap in the short term and now leads the

organization.

Trent Fuenmayor, Development Manager, Irene

Gleeson Foundation. A Los Angeles native and graduate

of Princeton University, Trent met and interviewed

Irene for his university thesis. She dubbed him her

“American grandson.” He later introduced Irene to the

people that would become her American Advisory

Board. When Irene fell sick, she asked Trent to leave his

job as Development Officer for the Anglican Church in

Rwanda to take up a leadership position at IGF.

To schedule an interview, please contact Alyssa Warren. Nicole and Trent

will be in the Dallas area from October 7th - 15

. Nicole, Trent, and John Paul are also available for phone or Skype interviews.

I’ve also included a link to a tribute video on Irene Gleeson – the media be interested in viewing this as wellhttps://vimeo.com/70754369