I Never Signed Up for This: One Mother’s Journey to Surrender Her Children to Their Calling    

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Leader’s Edge: Church Mission Leadership

I Never Signed Up for This: One Mother’s Journey to Surrender Her Children to Their Calling

By: Ann Bowman

Ann Bowman, 2025 

133 pages      

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Summary

I Never Signed Up for This by Ann Bowman tells the story of a mother who was asked by God to release two of her adult children to serve him overseas. Beginning with the question “Can a woman who is angry at God be used by God?” (Page 5), Ann recounts her journey from anger, resentment, and pride to staunch spiritual supporter of her children and their ministries. She gives practical suggestions for making this transition as well as creative ways that she was able to support her children and grandchildren. In the midst of their ministry overseas, one of her children and their family went through a series of difficult and traumatic events related to the political situation in their new home. The second half of the book details the support the family needed to recover from these events. Again, the author provides concrete, practical ideas that families and churches can implement to support missionaries who go through many difficult situations from the expected experiences of culture shock to the extremes of life in unstable locations.  

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