Friendship 911 Collection: My friend is struggling with.. Divorce of Parents

By Josh McDowell and Ed Stewart

When fifteen-year-old Jessica Ingram hears those words she knows she will never be the same. Suddenly her family-and her emotions-are in pieces. She feels as though her whole world is coming apart.

Do you know any students like Jessica who are facing the separation or divorce of parents? What can you say or do to help? What do they need most right now? Perhaps more than any time in their lives they need a "911 friend"-a friend who "…is always loyal and a brother [and sister who] is born to help in time of need" (Prov. 17:17).

Through the aid of a gripping true-to-life story, Josh McDowell along with Ed Stewart offers biblical insights and practical instruction on what your friend can do when faced with the break-up of a home. But more importantly, you will discover how to become a true source of comfort, encouragement, and support to him or her during the ordeal. This book is designed for you to read first and then give to your friend.

And if you are that person faced with your parent's divorce, you will learn what to expect in the weeks and months ahead. But more than that, you will discover how to experience the comfort, encouragement and support you need from both God and a friend-most likely the friend who gave you this book.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson
• Release date: Jul 16, 2000
• ISBN: 9781418584429

Josh McDowell

For over 60 years Josh McDowell has provided breakthrough moments for more than 45 million people in 139 countries about the evidence for Christianity and the difference the Christian faith makes in the world. Through his work with Cru and the global outreach of Josh McDowell Ministry, millions of people worldwide have been exposed to the love of Christ. He is the author or coauthor of more than 150 books, including such classics as More Than a Carpenter and Evidence That Demands a Verdict.

Book preview

Divorce

of

Parents

Josh McDowell

& Ed Stewart

MyFrndStrglng_w_2fDivorce_fnlPas_0001_001

© 2000 Josh McDowell and Ed Stewart. All rights reserved.

No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means— electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or other—except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher.

Scripture quotations used in this book are from the Holy Bible, New International Version. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

McDowell, Josh.

My friend is struggling with—divorce of parents / by Josh McDowell and Ed Stewart.

p. cm. — (Project 911 collection)

Summary: Describes what it is like when your parents divorce and suggests ways to deal with this situation from a Christian perspective.

ISBN 0-8499-3794-9

1. Children of divorced parents—Psychology—Juvenile literature. 2. Divorce—Religious aspects—Christianity— Juvenile literature. 3. Divorced parents—Juvenile literature. [1. Divorce—Religious aspects—Christianity. 2. Christian life.] I. Stewart, Ed. II. Title. III. Series

HQ777.5 .M384 2000

306.89—dc21

00-023365

CIP

Printed in the United States of America

00 01 02 03 04 05 QDT 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Contents

Acknowledgments

Jessica's Story

Appendix

About The Authors

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the following people:

David Ferguson, director of Intimate Life Ministries of Austin, Texas, has made a tremendous contribution to this collection. David’s influence, along with the principles of the Intimate Life message, is felt throughout each book in this collection. David has modeled before us how to be God’s comfort, support, and encouragement to others. We encourage you to take advantage of the seminars and resources that Intimate Life Ministries offers. (See pages 51–55 for more information about how this ministry can serve you.)

Dave Bellis, my (Josh) associate of twenty-three years, who labored with us to mold and shape each book in this collection. Each fictional story in all eight books in the PROJECT 911 collection was derived from the dramatic audio segments of the Youth in Crisis Resource, which Dave personally wrote. He was also responsible for the design and coordination of the entire PROJECT 911 family of resources (see pages 56–59). We are so very grateful for Dave’s talents and involvement.

Joey Paul of Word Publishing not only believed in this entire project, but also consistently championed it throughout Word.

JOSH MCDOWELL

ED STEWART

Jessica's Story

Fifteen-year-old Jessica Ingram knew what this evening’s family meeting was about, even though Mom would not tell her anything specific. Jessica’s sister, Karen, and brother, Mark, knew too. You’d have to be blind, deaf, and brainless not to understand what was going on. Dad and Mom were planning to announce to their three children that their trial separation had not worked and that they were getting a divorce.

The Divorce Meeting would be as horrible as the Separation Meeting had been three months earlier, Jessica knew. She would rather dive into a vat of sulfuric acid and disappear forever than be here tonight. Not literally, of course. She knew suicide was really a coward’s way out of 1 anything, besides being a sin. But what was the point