Audra Jennings

An interview with Beth Guckenberger, Author of Tales of the Defended Ones     What do adopted children from Ethiopia, a child in slavery in Cambodia, a special-needs orphan from Mexico, and a foster child in the U.S. have in common? They are all real children whose lives of heartbreak and abandon became stories of hope skillfully and lovingly told in Beth Guckenberger’s latest book, Tales of the Defended Ones (Standard Publishing / January 28, 2013 / ISBN: 978-0784736975 / $ 8.99) .   Q: Tales of the Defended Ones is the second release in the Storyweaver series. Can you share more about your vision for the series and what you hope readers will gain from reading your books? I hope it spurs between children and the adults in their lives conversations of substance about real issues. I want children to learn with God’s worldview how to pray and go and understand slavery, adoption and orphan care. I pray it takes the cause and makes it personal through these t...

Beth Guckenberger  is celebrating the release of her new book in the Storyweaver series, Tales of the Defended Ones, with an iPad giveaway and Facebook party {4/25}.    One fortunate winner will receive: An iPad Mini A Tales of the Defended Ones small group kit (books and DVD) So grab your copy of Tales of the Defended Ones and join Beth and friends on the evening of the April 25th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!) Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on April 24th. Winner will be announced at the  "Storyweaver" Author Chat Party on April 25th . Beth will be chatting with guests, answering questions, and offering tips about beginning a dialog with children and youth about the orphans around the world, the basic needs of children living in poverty, and what we can all do to help. (It’s okay if you haven’t read the...

New book and curriculum open the doors to talking to children about missions and orphans As we start planning the summer for our children—signing them up for t-ball, summer drama camp, trips to see grandparents, vacation Bible school—we often forget how fortunate we are to be able to offer such opportunities to our children, especially when many children around the world don’t get to participate in activities like these. In her new book Tales of the Defended Ones (Standard Publishing / January 28, 2013 / ISBN: 978-0784736975 / $ 8.99) , Beth Guckenberger skillfully and lovingly tells the stories of adopted children from Ethiopia, a child in slavery in Cambodia, a special-needs orphan from Mexico, and a foster child in the U.S. all with one thing in common. They are all real children whose lives of heartbreak and abandon became stories of hope.  Not only has God provided for these children, Guckenberger shares how we, too, young and old, can help defend these children w...

  Get Back Up: Trusting God When Life Knocks You Down Author Sheryl Giesbrecht shares inspiration for overcoming the challenges of life Did you know it is possible to survive a freefall from the Willis Tower in Chicago or a skydive with a failed parachute? It will hurt, and it will take some time to heal, but it is possible. Our lives can be a lot like that freefall, but we can survive whatever challenges God puts in front of us if we just get back up. In Get Back Up: Trusting God When Life Knocks You Down (Wheatmark/March 2013/ISBN: 978-1-60494-854-7/$ 12.95/also available in e-book) , Sheryl Giesbrecht shares her personal story of triumph over tragedy to help readers understand they can not only survive their adversities, but thrive. As much as we would like it to be, life is not always easy or fair for Christ followers. Giesbrecht learned this truth firsthand but also discovered that from the depths of past pain, it is possible to be raised up. It is possible to ...

Mission: Nothing is Impossible Missionary Rose Marie Miller shares her journey to discovering Nothing is Impossible with God for herself Nothing is impossible with God. That’s what Rose Marie Miller had always heard, but for a long time it didn’t seem to ring true to her. Even while serving in ministry, she kept God at a distance, building walls of self-protection and self-reliance. She wanted to avoid weakness and vulnerability at all costs. Then, God powerfully transformed her heart. In Nothing is Impossible with God: Reflections on Weakness, Faith, and Power ( New Growth Press , October 2012, ISBN 978-1-936768-68-4, $ 15.99, also available in eBook) , Miller shares how God revealed his grace and forgiveness, changing her life in ways she never thought were possible and welcoming her into new, missional life of discipleship. For many years, Rose Marie served alongside her husband, Jack, as they ministered to people in their home, planted the New Life Presbyterian...

Watch the latest video at <a href="http://video.foxnews.com">video.foxnews.com</a> Turning Talents Into Miracles Hoops of Hope founder Austin Gutwein encourages teens to use their talents for God Austin Gutwein has a message to share with his fellow teens: God made each of you unique so that He can use you for a special purpose. In his book “ Live to Give: Letting God Turn Your Talents into Miracles ” (Thomas Nelson/August 7, 2012/208 pages/ISBN 978-1400319930), Gutwein challenges that regardless of age and talent, God can use you to make a difference. Though He could do it all Himself, God created humankind with a mission: to take care of His creation. At eighteen years old, Gutwein speaks with wisdom and has the experience to reinforce his message. When Austin was just nine years old, he watched a video that showed children in Africa who had lost their parents to AIDS. Gutwein realized these kids weren’...

An interview with Beth Guckenberger, Author of Tales of the Not Forgotten With the help of missionary and author Beth Guckenberger, parents and Sunday school teachers can introduce children to the wonderful things that God is accomplishing around the world through Tales of the Not Forgotten (Standard Publishing/May 1, 2012, ISBN 978-0-7847-3528-2) . Written for ages 8 and up, Tales of the Not Forgotten shares a collection of four real-life stories of children from impoverished circumstances and paints a picture of God’s dynamic movement in their lives. The first in the Storyweaver series, Guckenberger inspires readers to trust that God is weaving a story in the lives of each us, writing endings they would never imagine. She takes young readers on a journey to faraway lands, introducing them to faces the world often doesn’t see, but are not forgotten by God. Guckenberger and her husband are founders of Back2Back Ministries, an international Christian non-profit organiza...