I Once Was Lost: One Woman's Exodus From the Depths of the Church

In I Once Was Lost , Shannon Nuszen shares her deeply personal and emotional journey from a devoted Evangelical missionary to an Orthodox Jewish advocate. Raised in a devout Christian home, she was fully committed to spreading the gospel, particularly to Jewish people, believing she was fulfilling her life’s purpose.

However, everything changed when she encountered Jewish scholars who challenged her to examine the original Hebrew texts of the Bible. With the guidance of knowledgeable rabbis and the Let’s Get Biblical series by Rabbi Tovia Singer, she embarked on a path of rigorous study that ultimately led to a life-altering realization—the very faith she had dedicated herself to was built on misunderstandings of Jewish scripture.

The transformation was not without pain. Nuszen faced deep emotional turmoil, fractured relationships, and the daunting task of integrating into the Jewish world. Yet, through these struggles, she found her true spiritual home and emerged as a passionate defender of the Jewish community.

Now, through her work with Beyneynu , she educates others about the missionary tactics she once used, working to protect Jewish identity and faith. With vivid storytelling and heartfelt poetry, I Once Was Lost takes readers on a powerful journey of faith, discovery, loss, and ultimately, redemption.