Welcome to those of you stopping by from our Proverbs 31 Ministries Devotion. You couldn’t have found a better place to talk books, revel in stories, and meet authors who are changing the world one novel at a time.
And one of those authors is Tom Davis. His novel, SCARED, is a She Reads winter selection. One of the things we love about Tom is that he doesn’t just write about challenging situations, he lives them. As President of Children’s Hopechest (and co-founder of Saints Coffee), he spends a large part of the year on the ground in Africa with thousands of children who have been orphaned by the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
His debut novel, SCARED, was inspired by a young girl he met in Swaziland.
Stuart Davis has hit bottom. Once a celebrated and award-winning photojournalist, he is now reeling from debt, a broken marriage, and a crippling depression. The source of Stuart’s grief is his most famous photo: a snapshot of brutality in the dangerous Congo. A haunting image that indicts him as a passive witness to gross injustice.
Stuart is given one last chance to redeem his career: a make-or-break assignment covering the AIDS crisis in a small African country. It is here that Stuart meets Adanna, a young orphan fighting for survival in a community ravaged by tragedy and disease. But in the face of overwhelming odds, Adanna finds hope in a special dream, where she is visited by an illuminated man and given a precious gift.
Now, a dark place that’s a world away from home, Stuart will once again confront the harsh reality of suffering people in a forgotten land. And as a chance encounter becomes divine providence, two very different people will find their lives forever changed.
You can read the first chapter of SCARED here.
We are giving away three copies of SCARED, along with a journal similar to the one used by Adanna in the novel. And the wonderful folks at Saints Coffee will send each of our winners a pound of fresh roasted coffee (roast and flavor of their choice).
If you’d like to take these goodies home, then all you have to do is leave a comment on this post or sign up for our monthly newsletter. Our first place winner will get the journal, a copy of SCARED, and a pound of Saints Coffee. Our second and third place winners will each receive the novel and the coffee.
A while back we had the chance to sit down with Tom Davis and learn a little about the inspiration for SCARED.
One of the main characters in your novel, a twelve year old AIDS orphan named Adanna, was inspired by a real child. Can you tell us a little about the real Adanna and how she compelled you to write this novel?
The idea of Adanna does stem from a real girl I met in Swaziland who was twelve years old at the time. She was a gorgeous little girl filled with life. Her joy was contagious and she just loved being around our group, hugging on various team members and playing games with us in the field. Both of her parents had died from AIDS and she was taken in by her uncle. Sadly, she became a slave for him and his family. Neighbors complained to the authorities that she was being abused and she was removed from the home. The only issue she struggled with besides being shy when she arrived at the orphanage, was one of incontinence. They thought the poor thing had never been potty trained. They took her to the doctor to find out what was wrong. The truth was almost unbelievable. Her incontinence was a result of the sexual abuse she suffered at the hands of her uncle and other men he had sold her to. I walked around the rest of that day in tears. I couldn’t believe someone would treat a child is such an evil way. Then those kinds of stories became more of the norm for me on the trip. The Adannas in Africa are real kids, with dreams and hopes of a good future. A future that won’t exist unless the body of Christ gets involved in their lives.
Though this novel was hard to read in many places, one of the things I appreciated most about it was that you did not pull your punches. You unflinchingly portrayed suffering and heartbreak while weaving in mercy and hope. How did you find that balance? And did you struggle personally while telling this story?
It was quite difficult. I wanted to write a story that was honest. It is graphic in places but I can assure you that orphans in Africa and around the world experience things much worse than what you read on those pages. That was one of the most difficult realities for me to swallow as I researched and wrote the book. Thinking about the abuse millions of innocent children go through every single day is a frightening truth. There came a point in the story when I couldn’t let one more terrible thing happen to Adanna. Originally, I wanted a scene in the book where Adanna was forced to sell her body in order to feed her younger brother and sister. It happens all the time in Africa. But I couldn’t do it.
While reading SCARED I was struck by the characters – not just how real they were, but how they could be any of the people in my life. Which character do you relate to the most? Why?
Stuart, without a doubt. He is me in many ways. My story is the story of a man searching for meaning in life and finding it the eyes of orphans. I think deep inside each one of us is a desire to help suffering children. It’s how God made us! Our hearts should break with compassion for the Adannas in the world. Even though Stuart has had great success in his life, he struggles to live with significance. Don’t we all to some degree? Of course raising godly children and loving our spouses is our first priority. But how can we invest our lives in ‘least of these’ Jesus talks about in Matthew 25? Their is so much eternal impact that comes from feeding the hungry and clothing the naked. That’s my journey and Stuart’s too!
All fiction carries a message – something the author wants the audience to wrestle with. When readers turn the last page of Scared, what do you want them to take away?
“We need the poor more than the poor need us.” Yes, Jesus wants us to care for the poor and love our neighbors as ourselves. But I need to love the broken and care for the afflicted, not because I’m Biblically bound, but because it’s what I was created to do. It’s what makes me the most alive.
I was particularly fond of the character Pastor Walter. He runs the care point in Adanna’s village and does all he can to make a difference. Have you encountered a few real Pastor Walter’s on your travels? How have they impacted your ministry? Your writing?
The Pastor Walters of the world are my heroes and heroines. In every country I’ve been too, I’ve found incredible people who are changing the world around them. Most of them are poor themselves, they don’t have anything to offer except their lives. Then God takes them, just as they are, and uses them for something great. I have to tell you that most of these people are women. Grandmother’s in Russia, “Go-go’s” in Africa who literally carry their communities on their backs. They are the Mother Teresa’s of the world for me. I’m humbled by their commitment and courage to live by faith and trust God to use the little that’s in their hands.
Thanks for hanging out with us today. We’re glad you’re here. We hope you come back. And good luck to all of you entering our marvelous giveaway! Books and coffee, what more could you want?
If you’d like to pick up a copy of SCARED, would you consider purchasing it from Proverbs 31 Ministries? All proceeds from book sales go to support this powerful women’s ministry.
Wow great devotional today and I found a new website She Reads what a bonus and a blessing. My husband and I never had the blessing of having kids so to hear about your brother adopting 4 makes me happy as well as think about adoption maybe we aren’t too old for that yet. Thanks for a great website and insight. And if I win yet another bonus.
This is very inspiring! I would love to read the whole story!
Today’s devotional was just a confirmation of what my friends and I were talking about last night – showing mercy by adopting. I love the theme verse and I’m encouraged to look for ways to show mercy through out my day to the people I come into contact with. Thanx again.
I will be reading this book! thanks for opening my eyes!
Thanks for the great devotional today and for the chance to win the wonderful book . It sounds like an interesting, thought provoking read. I hope I get a chance to check it out.
Thank you for a great devotion!
Patricia Grable
patricia.grable@wsdtx.org
I was touched by the devotional today and now am interested in reading this book! I signed up for the newsletter and look forward to receiving it!
Thanks for the great devotional and the chance to win the book. It sounds like it would be one of those you can’t put down. Hope I’m lucky enough to win but if don’t then thanks anyway for all you do for all of us. I love the web site. Thanks again and God bless. Jean
Thank you for the devotional on mercy. There seems to be a movement going on about that very subject. My pastor at my church has been talking about mercy and how we, the people, are the church, not the building, and we need to reach out to people outside the body of Christ and show compassion and mercy. God is at work and we need to be diligent and keep our hearts and minds open to the ways we can all show mercy everyday. Thanks again for your encouraging words today.
I can’t wait to read this book and share it with my daughter. She has a kind and generous heart and I know It would touch her heart. Thank you for the deep devotional today. It was a good reminder of forgetting about the “me” and branching out to the “others first”.
Being an avid reader for all my life, I always have a book nearby. Lately though, the Lord has been nudging me to consider the quality of my reads. Or perhaps I should say the lack of quality in them. I am so pleased to find a website that encourages Godly literature, uplifting and challenging, not just reading for readings sake. Thank you, SheReads! Kim C.
This sounds like a good but think-ful book. Thanks for a chance to win it!
This is very timely. The tragedy that has occurred in Haiti has raised awareness of orphans to a new level, in my opinion. I believe that this is part of Father’s plan to stir our hearts into action on the behalf of the children. Looking forward to reading this book.
Jeannie Pace
This year is going to be less fiction and more nonfiction for me, too. The book looks like one to speak to the soul and hopefully prod more prayer and giving. And a journal, too, oh, wonderful!
Ephesians 6:12 (The Message) – A Fight to the Finish
10-12 And that about wraps it up. God is strong, and he wants you strong. So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way. This is no afternoon athletic contest that we’ll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels.
Ephesians 6:12 (Worldwide English (New Testament))
12So use everything that God has given you, that you can fight when the bad time comes. You will need to do everything you can do to stand!
“Together we will unite in prayer, ‘binding’ all evil upon this earth and ‘loosing’ all the Lord’s heavenly warring angels to come down and do battle”. For it is, as stated in many versions of the bible above in Ephesians 6:12.
I do believe there is divine providence all around (but we have to look for it), and as Tom Davis (the author of ‘scared’) says, “the future that won’t exist unless the body of Christ gets involved in their lives.” We all need to help, however small, whether by prayer or by financial aid, or sheer physical effort; as that is what we were created to do. As Tom Davis states, “There is so much eternal impact that comes from feeding the hungry and clothing the naked.”
I also believe that God can and does use each and every one of us, even the ones who don’t have anything to offer except their own lives, such as me. My prayer: “Lord take me for who I am, and use me for something great”.
I am humbled by reading the first chapter of your book Tom, on this review.
When I read “Scared”, I found the book so real and had a way of putting myself into the situations that Adanna endured. The strength this young girl had during her assults, the loss of her mother, the flood that ravaged her home and area. In my mindseye, I could see Adanna enduring and fighting to save loved ones. I might add, I also got mad at what she had to endure. Tom, you have a beautiful gift from God and I ask that He will continue to bless you in your writings. I’m looking forward to your new book.
I love what you are doing with the SheReads website. Keep it up!!
How inspiring—I am looking forward to reading this book
Thanks for the devotional today, it was encouraging and inspiring…to remember to show mercy, even behind closed doors…I like that. Thanks also for a chance to win a great prize, so fun!! Love the website!
Thank you for reminding me of mercy. Seems to be something most important yet easily forgotten in my daily walk. I look forward to reading Scared. I know it will impact my life and encourage my faith. I am new to She Reads and have already found your site quite valuable.
Thank you for the reminder that social justice comes with many faces and we have an opportunity to make a difference with even the smallest of gestures. You story is an inspiration.
Looking forward to reading this book. It sounds wonderful and heart-changing.
Sounds like a very interesting book to read. Thanks for leading me to a new site, She Reads.
Thank you so much for your inspiring story. I am always looking for inspirational and uplifiting books and devotionals. I frequently go to the local Christin bookstore looking for a “great find”. This website will be such a great resource. All this and a chance to win this wonderful book! I am glad I found your website, She Reads.
God is definitely at work! Last night I turned to a devo on Mercy in my couples devotional. I needed to read about mercy! I need to fall in love with mercy! I need to offer mercy in my marriage! I long to offer mercy whenever, however, and as often as I can. And this morning I open my P31 devo and read about…
mercy. I am standing on holy ground!!!
My husband and I are childless and in our late 40′s. Perhaps we need to read this book. Thank you – for the chance not only to score a copy of the book, but to chew on a first-hand encounter with Mercy. I am indebted!
caroline schulz
What a wonderful devotional. Being merciful – like Jesus. Wherever I am. Amen.
That looks like a heartbreaking but worthwhile read. I am an avid reader, but have not visited this sight before. Thanks for the link.
Thank you for the wonderful devotions/ inspiration. Mercy… what a timely word. I know I need to recieve it and to give it as I want to recieve it. Lord open our eyes to your truth.
This was inspiring to read about, and i would love to read the whole book. Our community is hosting Summer of Hope with children coming from Ethiopia, Columbia and Philippines to spend a month with a Christian families, with the hope that they will be placed in a family for adoption as well. This verse from Malachi — to do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with your God — is one of my favorite verses. thanks for the great devotion today!
Wow! Sounds like a great novel and a great cause. My heart aches for the orphans around the world.
Your devotional really touched my heart today. I know God wants me to do something with it in my life. Pray that I know his will and follow through.
Thank you
Sounds like a great book. I read one that Jenna Bush wrote about her experiences with Unicef. It was along the same line and very touching as well. There are so many children out there who need our help desperately. I wish I had the means to help more of them.
You talked about mercy and the novel Scared. I am having a hard time right now with mercy toward my husband. He is not going to church with us right now, he has an excuse, but that is all it is. I am trying so hard to leave it in God’s hands and spend my time in prayer toward my husband, but I just want God to work a little faster in bringing my husband around to the importance of heading his family the way God wants him to. Pray that I will have mercy toward my husband.
This is going on my reading list immediately. Thank you for sharing this story.
Wow, what a story. Africa is an amazing place, it gets into your soul like no place else I’ve been.
I am always looking for a good book for my 15 year old son. He has a strong interest in photography and a Christian heart, which makes “Scared” look like great option. My problem is that his school requires that there be an AR reading test available for the book, and I don’t see that one is available. Hopefully there will be one in the future?
I have a copy of Scared and my fifteen-year-old got to it before me and loved it. It greatly impacted his life but he did say it was hard to read at times because he know that it’s based on truth and not just fiction. I can’t wait to read it next!
Tom, I loved when you said, “In every country I’ve been too, I’ve found incredible people who are changing the world around them. Most of them are poor themselves, they don’t have anything to offer except their lives. Then God takes them, just as they are, and uses them for something great.”
Isn’t that all that God wants from each of us? I am going to quote you at my women’s conference this weekend. We are all gifted to change the world around us by simply offering our lives to God and allowing Him to use us for something great. He is doing the same with you. Thank you for your ministry!
I truly admire the work!!!! I’ve been blessed just reading about it. this is a definitely “must read” on my list!
i’ve not read one of your books before i will be getting this one to read. thank you for using your talent to benifit people like me.
I can hardly wait to read the book, “Scared”! I like novels based a true story and to have it be a Christian story is a double bonus.
I am so inspired. What a wonderful story. What an awesome God we have. He knows exactly what we need and when we need it. He sends His message to us in so many ways. This is just what I needed today a reminder on showing mercy and compassion. Thank You. Blessed by Him, Tracey
That was the best 11 pages of reading I have experienced in a long time. If the rest of the book is any indication of the first chapter, I can’t wait to read the rest!
I have never heard of your blog and book group until today. I get the daily posts from Proverbs 31 Ministries. I am amazed at the timeliness of this post. My husband and I have been dealing with fertility issues for 5+ years and have really been praying about pursuing adoption. I met with a wonderful prayer warrior just this morning who prayed with my Hannah’s prayer and Psalm 113 and asked God for His continued guidance and wisdom…and here yet another mention of adoption and God’s work to redeem His lost children back into His family. I look forward to reading more. God Bless. -Jennifer
Wow, beautiful Journal. Thank you for such a wonderful site, I enjoy everything you are doing.
wow, amazing story, can’t wait to read it
My church is very involved with missions in Rwanda so I look forward to reading this inspiring story. I would also love to win the journal, book, and coffee!
Looking forward to reading! Thanks for leading me to this site and the opportunity to enter!
Our family is in the middle of adopting our daughter from Ethiopia (our dossier is in Ethiopia and we are waiting for our referral). I’d love to read this book to help us further understand and connect with where she is coming from. I’d love to win your give-away because money is especially tight right now as we are paying for our adoption.
Wow! i would love to win this book. We are planning to head to Haiti on a short term mission in December. I realize that Haiti is a different third world nation but I think I could gain some unique prospective from Scared. And a little coffee always helps
Awesome…