Member Reviews

I really loved reading this book. It was very uplifting and encouraging to know that where you come from is not where you end up

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In Damaged but Not Destroyed, Michael Todd explored how he has been hurt and experienced trauma. He referred to it as H.O.T. (humble, open, and transparent). Even though we are damaged, we can still remember that we are not destroyed. One of the stories, he shared was about how he purchased a fancy car that he couldn’t afford. He made the month payments but couldn’t afford anything extra and he has no spare money if something broke. He let his insurance lapse while it was in the shop. The day it was fixed there was ice all over the road and instead of waiting he went to go pick up his ride. He accidently slid into another lane and hit a car. He got insurance back on the vehicle and then waited a few hours to call back and file a claim. He chose to lie and committed insurance fraud, which is a felony. It took about five years before it all was revealed and the hearings were completed. At this time, he was a youth pastor. He had to turn himself in and was booked and jailed. He did his time and paid the fines and worked in the community. He had to deal with the self-inflicted damage. In the book, he helped readers to heal and deal with their damage. God is able to restore and use everything good according to His purpose.


Another favorite chapter discussed an analogy of the dartboard of damage. There are four common weapons that we all face and can leave a mark. These enclosed words, actions, exposure, and environment. Next, he goes into detail about the common domains of damage: disappointments, false teachings, ignorance, scarcity, abuse, neglect, rejection, and much more. “The darts (weapons of damage) and domains (the where of damage)”. This illustration was very eye opening to see where the darts and the wound and damage can occur. It included some examples of equations and open spaces where you can write down your own thoughts that lead to your damage.




I would recommend this awesome book to anyone is feeling broken, hurt, and damaged. This book will assist readers into realizing that they are not destroyed even if they feel that they are damaged. I immensely loved how he reminded readers that their name is unique and how God knows your name. You don’t have to answer to “addict, slut, felon, or failure”. This is incredible and powerful to remember that our value is in Christ. He also included a special section with verses describing our identity in Christ.




I received this book free from Water Brook for my honest review.”

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Have you ever felt broken or unworthy? Like your past is holding you back? If you have, sadly you are not alone. These have become common emotions in the time we are living. But the good news is this was not how we were intended to feel. Pastor Michael Todd breaks down the life God wants for us in his latest book, Damaged but not Destroyed: From Trauma to Triumph.

Todd brilliantly makes the Word come alive by taking a story (1st and 2nd Kings) thousands of years old and reframing it for today. Using well known Bible characters such as King Saul and David (from David and Goliath) with lesser known ones, Jonathan and Mephibosheth (King Saul’s son and grandson) to prove that though we may be damaged, we are still good.

While this is not a substitute for counseling, it is a great Christian resource. It aims for us to stop focusing on our failures, fixating on our shortcomings, or agreeing to the labels we have been assigned. We are children of God and therefore despite everything we have endured, we are loved and worthy.

You can expect the raw vulnerability Todd is known for. He humbly shares his personal life experiences, lessons he has learned along the way, and tools he has acquired over the years. A section is provided for readers to take a self inventory of where their trauma stem from.

Special thanks to Netgalley, WaterBrooks, and Michael Todd for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

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Big fan of Michael Todd! This book came at a time when I needed it the most. It served as a reminder that you have to put in the work to become the best you possible. I loved that he was transparent and vulnerable throughout the book so that he could be relatable to the readers. Overall, this was a great uplifting book that I would recommend to others.

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This was such a good read i even brought a physical copy even if that i got to read it again i loved it that much

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Damaged but Not Destroyed: From Trauma to Triumph" by Michael Todd is a powerful and inspiring journey through the complexities of overcoming trauma. Todd, with honesty and vulnerability, shares his personal story of resilience and transformation. The book provides valuable insights and practical guidance for those navigating their own paths of healing. Todd's narrative is both relatable and motivating, offering hope to anyone facing adversity. "Damaged but Not Destroyed" is a testament to the strength of the human spirit, making it a compelling read for those seeking inspiration and a roadmap to triumph over life's challenges.

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Pastor Mike truly is a story teller, telling us about his past from child hood through him becoming pastor of transformation church! Through it all he explains that we are not our mistakes and that the Lord God sees us and forgives us, through our trials we are learning lessons and God uses that to teach us and mature us in faith . Reading this for me is such a refreshing thing for me and I truly believe it can do that for anyone who reads this! Michael Todd tells these stories in a way you do not feel judged in sections you can relate too. This book would be such a great book to read with a group of YA and even book club

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Pastor Mike Todd brings a real and fresh outlook to what many Millenial Christians are dealing with. We don't fit in with the old ways but we still feel too old to fit in with the young gen z'ers. He understands that we don't live in a bubble and addresses head-on the cultural influences that are around us and gives a nod to our pop culture. Pastor Mike will walk you through how to identify the hits in life that damaged us and give us the game plan to move forward. He sticks to Scripture to give an accurate roadmap. At the end he reminds us that we are still here, we are not destroyed despite the intentions of the world.

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Damaged but Not Destroyed by Michael Todd does not disappoint. With his engaging style and 'HOT' (Humble - Open - Transparent) mode, Pastor Michael brings you along the story of Mephiboseth and King David, and how these biblical characters stories relate to modern day life, with different ways of giving you action steps through acronyms to help you remember the steps as well as defining each step in detail. Damaged, how to identify it, how to work through it, and how to move beyond it in a way that works. A great deal of hope is found within these pages. Kudos!
*I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. This review is my own opinion*

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This was a great book and a great read… i simply devoured it from beginning to end. Such great valuable information for anyone in the beginning stages or any stage of their healing journey. I also read the entire book in Pastor Mike’s voice. lol! It was as if he was ministering to me as if we were one on one. overall it was excellent and I will be recommending this book to those I deem to need it as well as continuing my healing journey myself

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There is not one ounce of my body, mind, or soul that would recommend anyone reading this book or any other book written by Michael Todd. His version of Christianity is false. Prosperity gospel and old heresies are nothing but toxic waste to the millions of people who follow him.
This book tells of his life with a little of Jesus sprinkled in. Just enough to make it pass all the Christian check marks.
The people that continue warning others about Todd's false teachings are amazing. Don't fall for this nonsense!

*I received this digital ARC from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

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I decided to step a little out of my comfort zone by reading a non-fiction book, but I figured I couldn't go wrong my Michael Todd. I was not disappointed!

I loved it! There was so much messages that I needed to hear (well, read) at the time, so I really felt like I was in a crowd listening to Todd give this lecture as if he was talking directly to me. It was that alive and interactive. You are really encouraged to dig deep and think while also requiring you to be 'HOT' (honest - open - transparent). No matter how deep though, Todd makes it easy to understand providing relatable situations as well as examples of his own experience. I love how he used Mephibosheth, a lesser known character in the Bible, and brought him and his story to life... basing relatable example after example after him. It is well written and beautifully explained.

I found the quotes to hip hop songs so relatable and fitting...and it added such a fun tone. Deep and thought-provoking, but filled with humour too.

"What isn’t transformed will be transferred."
"Progression, not perfection."
"H-U-S-H: Hear from God, Understand progressively, and Share intimately, you can get to the Heart of the matter. And the Heart of the matter is that you belong at the table of the King. Every surface, every facet, every flaw, will show the world who made you. Yeah, you’re damaged, but you’re not destroyed. The value is still in you."

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Thanks to NetGalley and WaterBrook & Multnomah for the ARC.
This is my first book by Michael Todd and it was just the book I didn't know I needed. This book will give you the tools to use to break the chains from past traumas and reclaim your identity toward a new healthy journey. You will learn how to do simple steps and get yourself unstuck from the past and be in a better place they way God sees us. I enjoyed all the exercises; looking forward to the study guide. I also know this is a great book for book clubs and reading clubs.

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Through perspective-shifting insights gained by overcoming his own significant challenges, Pastor Michael Todd offers the encouragement you need to identify the damage you’ve experienced in life and practical tools to receive God’s healing. With transparent and dynamic storytelling, Pastor Mike shares about the damaging hits he’s received in life—sexual trauma, dumb choices, generational struggles, and letting coping mechanisms drive decisions. With hard-earned insights and an inspiring look at the biblical story of King David and Mephiboseth, Pastor Mike helps you overcome the lie that the mistakes you’ve made and the pain you’ve experienced have made you unworthy of God’s love and calling.

Damaged but Not Destroyed gives you practical tools to
• pinpoint the impact damage has had in your life
• bring your pain into the presence of God
• learn to see yourself the way God sees you
• realize that healing is about progression, not perfection
• experience His powerful healing at work in your life

You’ll learn how to get unstuck from your past, step into the bold future God has planned for you, and trust deep in your bones that you are handcrafted with love and purpose by the creator of the universe.

I found this book incredibly insightful, it was just what I needed. I have been chained to my past trauma and couldn’t release it, even though it caused me so much pain and regret.

Reading this book was eye-opening to me, it will be a book I return to again and again on my healing journey.

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BLURB:
Through perspective-shifting insights gained by overcoming his own significant challenges, Pastor Michael Todd offers the encouragement you need to identify the damage you’ve experienced in life and practical tools to receive God’s healing. With transparent and dynamic storytelling, Pastor Mike shares about the damaging hits he’s received in life—sexual trauma, dumb choices, generational struggles, and letting coping mechanisms drive decisions. With hard-earned insights and an inspiring look at the biblical story of King David and Mephiboseth, Pastor Mike helps you overcome the lie that the mistakes you’ve made and the pain you’ve experienced have made you unworthy of God’s love and calling.

Damaged but Not Destroyed gives you effective tools to
• pinpoint the impact damage has had in your life
• bring your pain into the presence of God
• learn to see yourself the way God sees you
• realize that healing is about progression, not perfection
• experience His powerful healing at work in your life

You’ll learn how to get unstuck from your past, step into the bold future God has planned for you, and trust deep in your bones that you are handcrafted with love and purpose by the creator of the universe.

MY REVIEW:
I found this book incredibly insightful, it was just what I needed. I have been chained to my past trauma and couldn’t release it, even though it caused me so much pain and regret.

Reading this book was eye-opening to me, it will be a book I return to again and again on my healing journey.

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book in return for my honest review.

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