Contact: Abigail Davidson, Publicist, WinePress Publishing, 360-802-9758, abigail@winepressgroup.com

ENUMCLAW, Wash., July 22 /Christian Newswire/ -- Carla McDougal knows the statistics about depression:

• Major depression affects approximately 15 million American adults each year.

• Women experience depression about twice as often as men.

• Over their lifetime about 12 percent of women will have clinical depression.

These facts don't faze Carla, founder and speaker for Reflective Life Ministries (RLM) -- a ministry with the purpose to connect women by sharing the truth and message of Jesus Christ.

In her early thirties, Carla discovered how to live behind a mask. She appeared the epitome of a modern Christian woman with a solid marriage, four young children, and an organized home. But, hidden by her masquerade, this Bible study leader waged a lonely battle. "...I believed the lie that Christians couldn't be depressed," she says. "I believed a Christian who struggled with depression just needed a stronger relationship with Jesus. Little did I know God needed to teach me a thing or two about humbleness and compassion!"

Today Carla, Executive Director of RLM, speaks at women's events, retreats, and conferences in the U.S. and internationally, allowing God to use her past experience with depression for His glory. Most recently, she has written a new ten-week in-depth Bible study for women, "Reflecting Him: Living for Jesus and Loving It!" (WinePress Publishing, 2010).

Like Jesus' parables, "Reflecting Him" uses familiar objects and situations (such as the pottery process, the human sensory system, and the sun-earth connection) and draws comparisons that help women become aware of Jesus working in various areas of their daily lives. The Bible Study does not deal with depression, but exudes the joy that the Lord has filled Carla with since she allowed "his hand to pull her from that pit."

Carla grew up in Texas and graduated from Texas A&M University. She now lives in Magnolia, Texas, and attends Faith Bible Church in The Woodlands, where she served as women's director for three years. Carla and her husband, Fred, have been married 25 years. They have four young-adult children.

For more information, to request a review copy, or to schedule an interview, please contact Abigail Davidson by phone at 360-802-9758, by e-mail at abigail@winepressgroup.com, or by fax at 360-802-9992. To purchase a copy of this book, visit www.winepressbooks.com or call 877-421-7323.