Idaho pastor celebrates the release of a new book
Beyond the Handshake: A Life Devoted to Meaningful Relationships
Celebrating the release of Jerry Coleman’s third book
By JoEllen Claypool
Meridian, Idaho – In an age defined by hurried conversations, digital distractions, and surface-level connections, one pastor and author has spent decades calling people back to something deeper.
With the release of Beyond the Handshake: How to Build Meaningful Relationships, Volume 3, Jerry Coleman completes a trilogy that reflects not only his personal journey but also his lifelong commitment to strengthening relationships rooted in faith, intentionality, and Christlike love.
At 87 years old, Coleman writes from a lifetime of experience shaped by hardship, healing, and spiritual growth. Now he offers wisdom to readers seeking to build stronger connections with God and others.
Jerry has been a lifetime Southern Baptist pastor in California, Washington, and was on staff for ten years at Central Valley Baptist Church in Idaho.
His Journey Was Shaped by Faith and People
Coleman’s message is born from truth learned early in life, and he has carried it with him ever since. In his acknowledgments, he recalls a quote from Charlie “Tremendous” Jones: “You will be the same person you are now in the next five years with the exception of two things: the books you read and the people you meet.” This conviction has guided Coleman’s ministry, his writing, and his personal connections with others.
His own story includes significant challenges—a battle with tuberculosis, personal struggles, and painful realities that can strain personal ties with others. Through each season, God placed people in his life who went “beyond the handshake,” people who invested their time, encouragement, and wisdom to help him grow.
Those experiences helped him pen his first two books. The original Beyond the Handshake explored how mentors and friends helped him through illness and personal difficulties. Volume 2, Beyond the Handshake: From a Struggling Marriage to a Great Marriage, offered an honest account of marital healing, loss, and the restoration that God brought into his life.
Volume 3 broadens the scope to address the most universal human need: meaningful relationships.
A Message for a Distracted World
Phyllis Vavold Nettleton, a respected Christian author who wrote the foreword to Coleman’s new book, highlights the urgency of his message. She notes that in a society increasingly consumed by technology, many people struggle to form deep, authentic connections.
Coleman’s book provides a practical roadmap for overcoming these barriers. Drawing from Scripture, personal experience, and decades of pastoral ministry, he emphasizes that bonds do not develop accidentally. They require intentional effort, attentive listening, and genuine care.
One of the central lessons Coleman emphasizes is the importance of listening. He writes that many people listen only long enough to prepare their own response. This habit prevents the formation of deep relationships.
Instead, Coleman encourages readers to follow Christ’s example of building friendships through questions and compassion as seen in examples of His interactions with Mary and Martha, His conversations with His disciples, and His willingness to engage individuals personally.
A Foundation of Community
Coleman’s writing reflects a deep understanding that believers were created for community. He shares personal stories from the heart that illustrate how easily misunderstandings can occur and how important it is to communicate with humility and care.
His own transformation began during his military service in Alaska, where he committed his life to Christ. From that point forward, mentors and fellow believers helped him develop relational skills, teaching him how to listen, ask thoughtful questions, and invest in others.
One of the strengths of Coleman’s book is its practical application. He offers readers specific questions designed to deepen connection over time. These include asking about a person’s background, influences, priorities, and goals—not out of curiosity alone, but out of genuine interest and care.
He emphasizes that lasting relationships are built gradually. Trust develops through consistency, transparency, and mutual respect.
He also provides simple, yet powerful, relational practices, such as complimenting others sincerely, being the first to offer a greeting, showing appreciation regularly, and offering hope and encouragement
While Coleman gives practical guidance for human relationships, he is clear about the foundation for all meaningful connection: a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Prioritizing this over the distractions that often pull us away from what matters most will result in bonds naturally growing stronger.
The Role of Encouragement and Support
Coleman is quick to acknowledge those who helped bring his latest book to completion. Most significantly, he honors his wife, Claudia, whose encouragement proved essential when discouragement nearly ended the project. After accidentally destroying half of his notes, Coleman considered abandoning the book entirely. It was Claudia’s support that helped him begin again and finish this new volume.
Her role reflects the very message Coleman shares throughout his writing: relationships have the power to sustain, strengthen, and restore.
Through his writing, Coleman encourages readers to examine their own interactions and to invest more intentionally in the lives of others. His words remind believers that every conversation, every act of kindness, and every moment of listening has the potential to reflect Christ’s love.
As Jerry Coleman releases Beyond the Handshake: How to Build Meaningful Relationships, Volume 3, he offers readers not just a book, but an invitation to grow, to listen, and to love more deeply.
His life demonstrates that it is never too late to learn how to strengthen connections. He continues to share the lessons God has taught him, leaving behind a legacy that will encourage readers for years to come.
In a world where relationships are often reduced to brief greetings and casual exchanges, Coleman reminds us of the power of going beyond the handshake—and into the kind of Christ-centered relationships that truly change lives.
Jerry’s books can be found on Amazon.
- Beyond the Handshake
- Beyond the Handshake: From a Struggling Marriage to a Great Marriage
- Beyond the Handshake: How to Build Meaningful Relationships
JoEllen Claypool is a published author and frequent contributor to UI Connections. She and her husband, Dallas have served over two decades at Sand Hallow Baptist Church in Caldwell, ID.