ANN BOWMAN

[ New Book ]

I Never Signed Up for This

One Mother's Journey to Surrender Her Children to Their Calling

Amazon Kindle $7.49 Amazon Paperback $12.95

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woman looking out

"God, you're sending MY child?"

Ann thought she supported missions — until her own children chose to live and minister in foreign countries. From the day she waved good-bye at the airport, Ann began a journey of grief and shame. Grief arose when her dreams of life with grandchildren living nearby were crushed. Shame came when she could not rejoice in the life God had chosen for her daughters.

Turning to God with absolute honesty, Ann found tenderness and compassion, not the condemnation she expected. He walked with her through a difficult season of surrender until she learned to become a vital support to her missionary family’s life overseas.

Table of Contents

Endorsements

Raw, beautiful, and so relatable, Ann’s memoir of being a reluctant missionary parent is a must-read for any parent sending their children and grandchildren off to serve in far away lands.
Lauren Wells, Author and CEO of TCK Training

There is much to learn from Ann’s spiritual, psychological, and familial journey that moves her from a place of resistance, fear, and grief to a place of peace as she embraces and participates in her children’s call to a lost world.
Cindy Wiles, Executive Director, Restore Hope

By choosing to lay aside her dreams for a “predesigned perfect life,” Ann has convinced me that God doesn’t owe me anything, but he promises to give me everything I need—because He is all I need—even if I never signed up for this. .
Tori R. Haverkamp, Author of The Missionary Mama's Survival Guide

This is the first book I have ever seen that tells the story of missions from the perspective of those who stay and that shows the impact it has on the larger family. Much is made of the sacrifice of missionaries, but the context of that sacrifice is so much bigger.
Meredith, a missionary serving in Eastern Europe for over 30 years

In the chapters of Ann Bowman’s book, the reader gets an honest and intimate picture of a mother's heart as it wrestles with God. For her, the wrestling is in His call on her life to surrender not one, but two children (and grandchildren!) to the mission field in foreign lands.
Julia Diane Cost, Pastoral Counselor, Global Counseling Network

Book Material

About Ann

Ann Bowman is an author and speaker for women’s events. She has years of teaching women’s Bible studies, and her articles have appeared in various magazines and blogs. With two daughters serving globally, Ann draws from that experience to mentor young women serving in missions through Thrive Ministry. She also earned her certification as a TCK debriefer through TCK Training. Ann and her husband reside in Texas. Together they raised four adventurous children who now live across the globe.