christian biography

On May 13, 2008 Isabella Maria was born, the eighth child of Rick and Karen Santorum. While the family rejoiced, they were also saddened. Isabella was born with a rare genetic condition called Trisomy 18, or Edward's Syndrome. She had an extra eighteenth chromosome in every cell in her body, making a genetic code doctors call "incompatible with life". Only ten percent of children born with this condition are born alive, and ninety percent do not make it to their first birthday. The Santorums refused to accept this fact, and made plans for Isabella's life with her family. During the next seven years, the Santorum family adjusted to life with a special-needs child and watched her transform their lives. Bella was a joy to live with and she became an inspiration to everyone around her.

A shy, small-town girl from Kiln, Mississippi, Deanna had always been perfectly content to let her famous husband steal the spotlight. Though married to the NFL's only three-time MVP, she preferred to live a life of quiet anonymity. But on December 22, 2003, the spotlight shifted. When television cameras zeroed in on a somber Deanna watching her grief-stricken husband lead the Green Bay Packers to a Monday night victory over the Oakland Raiders immediately following the death of his father, Deanna's anonymity was lost, and her life changed forever. Tragedy struck again the following October when Deanna's younger brother, Casey, was killed in an ATV accident. Four days later--still reeling from the loss of her brother--Deanna was diagnosed with breast cancer. Through it all, however, Deanna has emerged a survivor. Deanna's story is living testament that with faith, hope and love, ordinary people can overcome even the most extraordinary circumstances.

Recounts author Abraham Nhial's experiences as an orphan in Sudan during the civil war, when his village was ravaged for not embracing Islam, covering his travels to Ethiopia, where he endured refugee camps before finding salvation through Christianity and resettling in the U.S.

Sarah Thebarge, a female cancer survivor, befriends a family of displaced Somali refugees, battling cultural barriers and sharing their struggle for survival to establish unlikely love and friendship.

Aaron Hartzler discusses his life as a Christian boy who was always expecting the Rapture and slowly realizing that he had different beliefs.

Presents a biography of writer and religious philosopher C. S. Lewis, providing information on his childhood in Ireland, his literary influences, and his achievements in philosophy, theology, and fiction.

A memoir in which self-proclaimed misfit Marcia Ford describes her life, her battles with alcoholism and depression, and her long struggle to find a sense of personal and spiritual belonging.

Dayna Curry and Heather Mercer describe their work as missionaries in Afghanistan, discuss their experiences after being arrested by the ruling Taliban government for telling people about Jesus, and tell about their rescue in November 2001 by U.S. Special Forces.