A Hope-Filled Journey Under His Sky [Hardcover]

This book is a very personal reflection on the life of Belinda (BJ) Allder, a young missionary whose life was cut short through cancer. Her father, Bruce, a Christian pastor and educator, explores the influences that shaped BJ into an effective missionary who impacted many people around the world. BJ's own reflections of her journey of life and faith through the battle with cancer are shared through excerpts from her own daily journal. While the emotions expressed are raw, there is a celebration of life and grace in the midst of tragedy. In this authentic and intellectually honest reflection, the focus is on serving in the midst of suffering. How does one make sense of unanticipated and devastating circumstances that came the way of BJ and her family? How does one lean into suffering and allow that response to make a significant impact? How does a pastoral family deal with the faith questions that inevitably come as a result of this journey of suffering? These are some of the questions explored through the retelling of specific events in the life of BJ Allder and her family. In sharing how his daughter Belinda dealt with terminal cancer, Bruce Allder writes about her choice to focus on living each day for God rather than her suffering. Flowing from a deep relationship with Christ formed in her earlier years, Belinda's passion to minister to people is a powerful witness to God's love, grace, and strength. If you want to be both inspired and encouraged to influence the lives of others, this is a must-read. --David B. McEwan, Associate Professor of Theology and Pastoral Theology, Nazarene Theological College, Brisbane, Australia Allder's deeply human and faithful account of his beautiful daughter's missionary life, dying, and death is very aptly named. Allder's beautiful telling of BJ's story of faith, hope, and love, together with his profound theological reflection on meeting God in pain and grief, will surely touch his readers at the deepest levels of theiló<