Bill Wallace served as a medical missionary in China for nearly twenty years before dying as a martyr for his faith. His story has inspired Christians throughout the world.

Dr. Wallace was buried in an unmarked grave by the Communist Army to cover their crime. Chinese Christians later would risk their own lives to place a simple marker where he was laid to rest that read, “To live is Christ.”  Rarely has a grave marker so accurately summarized a life.  But then, rarely has a person’s life so exemplified the principle expressed in Philippians 1:21, “For me to live is Christ and to die is gain.”

Bill Wallace was an ordinary man who, in the providence of God, lived an extraordinary life.  He was willing to forgo marriage and family; a prominent career; and a comfortable future in America for the sake of ministering to people in need.  His service brought physical and spiritual healing to countless people.

Dr. Wallace lived a life worth examining and emulating. His story will challenge you to a deeper dedication and clearer awareness of the will of God for your life.

 

Ladd Paulson was a dedicated motorcycle police officer who enforced the law and protected the innocent. One night on patrol, a pickup truck going more than fifty miles per hour broadsided Ladd. He was thrown onto the hood, and within seconds, the pickup crashed into a light pole.

 

Miraculously, Ladd was not killed. In a nearby car, nurses witnessed the accident and ran to his rescue. Ladd survived, but the miracles do not stop there. Dependence Day is the true story of ups and downs through injury and recovery. Written by the woman who loves him most, his wife Heidi, the book shares their journey in a very real and transparent way.

 

Although Ladd’s life continues to be filled with pain and discomfort due to his injuries, the Paulson family looks forward. Their experiences have taught them to depend on God, who is faithful always. They stand firm in their beliefs, because the Lord is in control. When human strength is not enough, Heidi, Ladd, and their children cling to their Creator, because His strength is never-ending.

 

Connie Sue Williamson Perkins’s name was never in lights. She was not famous outside her family or community. She was not rich. Wife, mother, grandmother, friend, Connie was an ordinary woman with an ordinary life. Yet to those who knew and loved her, Connie was extraordinary. Her devotion to her husband and family, her commitment to the Lord and to her church, her strong opinions (and willingness to share them), and her lively sense of humor left a lasting influence on everyone around her.

 

This collection of reminiscences written by Connie’s husband, family members, pastor, friend, and caregiver will bring smiles to your face and perhaps even a tear or two. Bill, her husband, shares stories such as how he taught Connie to drive when they were newly married, how the couple coped with their daughter’s serious car accident, what really happened to the neighbor’s old marauding cat, and how a commode full of artificial flowers ended up on the lawn to mark Connie’s birthday. The pieces together form a loving tribute to an ordinary woman who becomes extraordinary as you get to know her. Throughout the essays, God’s hand is at work in the most mundane circumstances, in important life transitions, and everywhere between.

 

Come see how God makes a seemingly conventional life rich and meaningful. By the time you are finished reading, these warm, funny, fond memories will make you feel that you, too, have been blessed to know such an extraordinary woman.

Connie Sue Williamson Perkins’s name was never in lights. She was not famous outside her family or community. She was not rich. Wife, mother, grandmother, friend, Connie was an ordinary woman with an ordinary life. Yet to those who knew and loved her, Connie was extraordinary. Her devotion to her husband and family, her commitment to the Lord and to her church, her strong opinions (and willingness to share them), and her lively sense of humor left a lasting influence on everyone around her.

 

This collection of reminiscences written by Connie’s husband, family members, pastor, friend, and caregiver will bring smiles to your face and perhaps even a tear or two. Bill, her husband, shares stories such as how he taught Connie to drive when they were newly married, how the couple coped with their daughter’s serious car accident, what really happened to the neighbor’s old marauding cat, and how a commode full of artificial flowers ended up on the lawn to mark Connie’s birthday. The pieces together form a loving tribute to an ordinary woman who becomes extraordinary as you get to know her. Throughout the essays, God’s hand is at work in the most mundane circumstances, in important life transitions, and everywhere between.

 

Come see how God makes a seemingly conventional life rich and meaningful. By the time you are finished reading, these warm, funny, fond memories will make you feel that you, too, have been blessed to know such an extraordinary woman.

Jennifer was a “good girl”—so how did she end up pregnant at seventeen? By the time the baby was born, her boyfriend had moved away; he said they could keep their long distance relationship strong, but they didn’t. They broke up, and Jennifer was left alone with a new baby and parents who looked at her differently. She was no longer their little girl; she was now a little mom. Having always wanted to go to college, Jennifer was disturbed by the lack of good educational programs for young mothers. She struggled, not only with her education, but with the way society—and friends—looked at her and her baby. Life was forever changed, and she felt very alone … until she remembered there was someone who would always love and support her, no matter the situation. Moving Forward is the true story of Jennifer Thomas—teenage mother, college graduate, wife, and follower of Christ. As soon as Jennifer turned her face to the Lord, she found hope. Her path rarely went in the direction she had planned, but God always has the best intentions for His children. A personal retelling of a painful path, Moving Forward will move you and make you believe in a limitless Savior.

Jennifer was a “good girl”—so how did she end up pregnant at seventeen? By the time the baby was born, her boyfriend had moved away; he said they could keep their long distance relationship strong, but they didn’t. They broke up, and Jennifer was left alone with a new baby and parents who looked at her differently. She was no longer their little girl; she was now a little mom. Having always wanted to go to college, Jennifer was disturbed by the lack of good educational programs for young mothers. She struggled, not only with her education, but with the way society—and friends—looked at her and her baby. Life was forever changed, and she felt very alone … until she remembered there was someone who would always love and support her, no matter the situation. Moving Forward is the true story of Jennifer Thomas—teenage mother, college graduate, wife, and follower of Christ. As soon as Jennifer turned her face to the Lord, she found hope. Her path rarely went in the direction she had planned, but God always has the best intentions for His children. A personal retelling of a painful path, Moving Forward will move you and make you believe in a limitless Savior.

“I don’t have any idea what we are doing, where we are going, or if what we are doing is the right thing. I’m just trusting that God will take care of things from this point on.”

 

With those words, Steve and Edwina Champion went to see their daughter for the first time on a cold, gray, winter day in Ukraine. They had never before flown on an airplane when they left their North Carolina home for a country where everything—the language, the food, even the toilet paper—was unfamiliar, and finding a simple can opener was nothing short of miraculous. After many frustrating days of being cooped up in a drab, soulless apartment, they were about to meet Lillyann, the little girl of their dreams.

 

This is the story of one couple’s experience of adopting a child from a foreign country—a child that not only had developmental delays but was deaf. Most of all, it is a story about God’s hand in the lives of everyday people. Adopting Lillyann led Steve and Edwina back to the Lord and made crystal-clear the importance of a loving church family.

 

Although they have since experienced numerous heartaches and trials, the Champions’ conviction that God always intended for Lillyann to be their daughter has never wavered, and their love for her has only deepened. Edwina’s letters to Lillyann capture the couple’s anticipation, anxiety, and joy with a freshness and poignancy that will touch your heart.

It was 1892 when James Earl Mead was born in a one room log cabin on the banks of Barren Creek, Missouri. He was born a leader and a chicken farmer, but he soon felt the call of God pulling him to serve the church and not the family business. At a young age, he served as the music director at Fall Creek Encampment. Then Mead felt God calling him to Texas—the First Baptist Church in Beaumont, in particular.

 

In Beaumont and in Sheveport, in the Baptist Churches there,  Mead found his true calling: to build a strong Baptist religious education program. Through dedication and hard work, he eventually became the leading education director in the Southern Baptist Convention. But even in the most focused religious life, there are inevitable trials.

 

From Chicken to Churches is a memoir that looks back upon one man’s life of faithful service. As a leader, Mead felt responsible for Christian flocks all across the nation. He used his God-given talent to motivate others to do their best for the Master—to teach and witness to the entire world. He inspired countless Christians on their paths to salvation. His emotional memoir will inspire all who read it.

It was 1892 when James Earl Mead was born in a one room log cabin on the banks of Barren Creek, Missouri. He was born a leader and a chicken farmer, but he soon felt the call of God pulling him to serve the church and not the family business. At a young age, he served as the music director at Fall Creek Encampment. Then Mead felt God calling him to Texas—the First Baptist Church in Beaumont, in particular.

 

In Beaumont and in Sheveport, in the Baptist Churches there,  Mead found his true calling: to build a strong Baptist religious education program. Through dedication and hard work, he eventually became the leading education director in the Southern Baptist Convention. But even in the most focused religious life, there are inevitable trials.

 

From Chicken to Churches is a memoir that looks back upon one man’s life of faithful service. As a leader, Mead felt responsible for Christian flocks all across the nation. He used his God-given talent to motivate others to do their best for the Master—to teach and witness to the entire world. He inspired countless Christians on their paths to salvation. His emotional memoir will inspire all who read it.

Ladd Paulson was a dedicated motorcycle police officer who enforced the law and protected the innocent. One night on patrol, a pickup truck going more than fifty miles per hour broadsided Ladd. He was thrown onto the hood, and within seconds, the pickup crashed into a light pole.

 

Miraculously, Ladd was not killed. In a nearby car, nurses witnessed the accident and ran to his rescue. Ladd survived, but the miracles do not stop there. Dependence Day is the true story of ups and downs through injury and recovery. Written by the woman who loves him most, his wife Heidi, the book shares their journey in a very real and transparent way.

 

Although Ladd’s life continues to be filled with pain and discomfort due to his injuries, the Paulson family looks forward. Their experiences have taught them to depend on God, who is faithful always. They stand firm in their beliefs, because the Lord is in control. When human strength is not enough, Heidi, Ladd, and their children cling to their Creator, because His strength is never-ending.

 

“I don’t have any idea what we are doing, where we are going, or if what we are doing is the right thing. I’m just trusting that God will take care of things from this point on.”

 

With those words, Steve and Edwina Champion went to see their daughter for the first time on a cold, gray, winter day in Ukraine. They had never before flown on an airplane when they left their North Carolina home for a country where everything—the language, the food, even the toilet paper—was unfamiliar, and finding a simple can opener was nothing short of miraculous. After many frustrating days of being cooped up in a drab, soulless apartment, they were about to meet Lillyann, the little girl of their dreams.

 

This is the story of one couple’s experience of adopting a child from a foreign country—a child that not only had developmental delays but was deaf. Most of all, it is a story about God’s hand in the lives of everyday people. Adopting Lillyann led Steve and Edwina back to the Lord and made crystal-clear the importance of a loving church family.

 

Although they have since experienced numerous heartaches and trials, the Champions’ conviction that God always intended for Lillyann to be their daughter has never wavered, and their love for her has only deepened. Edwina’s letters to Lillyann capture the couple’s anticipation, anxiety, and joy with a freshness and poignancy that will touch your heart.

“Shall we attempt to save the mother or the unborn child?” That was the question facing the frightened parents and two doctors called to help with the complicated home birth in rural southern Louisiana. By the grace of God, both mother and child—Minton Oliver Newman—survived. The sturdy red oak tree sheltering the humble little house became for Minton a symbol of God’s presence and strength, serving as both comfort and inspiration throughout his life.

 

Eighty years later, Minton has completed this autobiography, moving from memories of his hardworking parents to his most cherished legacy: his large, loving family. Along the way, he recalls his rise from farm boy to college graduate, a thirty-year career in the air force plus fifteen more as an educator, and finally a busy and fulfilling retirement. A lifelong Christian, Minton is quick to credit God with his personal and professional success.

 

Photos and details bring Minton’s story to life, evoking a sense of place and time, events and loved ones. Yet this is more than a collection of facts or a list of one man’s accomplishments. Minton is not afraid to engage in serious reflection or to be honest about his feelings, such as the pain of losing his wife of fifty-three years and an adult son four years later, and the joy of discovering love again. It is this very humanness, and his love for family and God, that make this memoir such a treasure.

“Shall we attempt to save the mother or the unborn child?” That was the question facing the frightened parents and two doctors called to help with the complicated home birth in rural southern Louisiana. By the grace of God, both mother and child—Minton Oliver Newman—survived. The sturdy red oak tree sheltering the humble little house became for Minton a symbol of God’s presence and strength, serving as both comfort and inspiration throughout his life.

 

Eighty years later, Minton has completed this autobiography, moving from memories of his hardworking parents to his most cherished legacy: his large, loving family. Along the way, he recalls his rise from farm boy to college graduate, a thirty-year career in the air force plus fifteen more as an educator, and finally a busy and fulfilling retirement. A lifelong Christian, Minton is quick to credit God with his personal and professional success.

 

Photos and details bring Minton’s story to life, evoking a sense of place and time, events and loved ones. Yet this is more than a collection of facts or a list of one man’s accomplishments. Minton is not afraid to engage in serious reflection or to be honest about his feelings, such as the pain of losing his wife of fifty-three years and an adult son four years later, and the joy of discovering love again. It is this very humanness, and his love for family and God, that make this memoir such a treasure.

 

No one is exempt from experiencing the loss of a loved one in this life; when it occurs, one is never fully prepared for the aftermath. A story of survival and acceptance, My Trail of Tears: A Message of Hope Unveiled examines author Katherine S. Hamrick’s journey of widowhood for which no amount of education or life experience could fully prepare her.

 

At just thirty-two-years of age, her husband, Brian Hamrick, died suddenly after a brief illness, leaving Katherine with two boys ages one and four. In this inspirational memoir, she narrates her story as she navigates her new roles as both a single parent and a widow, dealing with the reality of losing her spouse with no warning.

 

With photos included, My Trail of Tears depicts the hand of God at work during her time of grief and explains how God brought about the acceptance of her loss, using this time to draw nearer to Him and bless her in the process. Katherine shares her journey to show how a person can move on from experiencing tragedy to eventually being able to bring God glory again. In her detailed account of the behind-the-scenes part of her life, she shows how Christ works all things for His good purpose and how He healed her broken heart.

 

No one is exempt from experiencing the loss of a loved one in this life; when it occurs, one is never fully prepared for the aftermath. A story of survival and acceptance, My Trail of Tears: A Message of Hope Unveiled examines author Katherine S. Hamrick’s journey of widowhood for which no amount of education or life experience could fully prepare her.

 

At just thirty-two-years of age, her husband, Brian Hamrick, died suddenly after a brief illness, leaving Katherine with two boys ages one and four. In this inspirational memoir, she narrates her story as she navigates her new roles as both a single parent and a widow, dealing with the reality of losing her spouse with no warning.

 

With photos included, My Trail of Tears depicts the hand of God at work during her time of grief and explains how God brought about the acceptance of her loss, using this time to draw nearer to Him and bless her in the process. Katherine shares her journey to show how a person can move on from experiencing tragedy to eventually being able to bring God glory again. In her detailed account of the behind-the-scenes part of her life, she shows how Christ works all things for His good purpose and how He healed her broken heart.