Carol makes you feel as though you are on the journey with her
I’d been keen to meet Carol Alexander for a while. She’d been writing some of the most popular posts on the Beauty for Ashes blog, in spite of the fact that she’s a very busy woman. She’s a preacher, she’s a college dean, and I’d heard others talk highly of her and her husband, Paul. I was lucky enough to be able to have breakfast with both Carol and Paul in May this year, and it was then that she gave me a copy of her newly released memoir, Wild Hope.
I have always enjoyed memoirs—people lead such fascinating and unexpected lives—and this one did not disappoint. What made it particularly interesting for me was that she grew up in Johannesburg and has served the Lord from a young age. I love to read of stories of God’s dealings with others, and God has certainly had His hand on Carol.
Carol tells some amazing stories of God’s faithfulness to her: How her sister was miraculously saved from drowning as a child; how God spared her son’s life after a devastating motor accident (she blogged about it here, although she goes into far more detail in the book); how God provided for her needs great and small (many stories); how God clearly led her and Paul to take over the principalship of Trinity Bible College in North Dakota (awe-inspiring story), and so very many more.
I found the thread of God’s love and blessing in her life, both moving and inspiring. It is the type of writing that encourages you to look for God’s guidance and blessing in your own life. If you read this book, you will be amazed at what God can do with a life fully committed to Him, and challenged to look for God’s guidance and grace in your own life and ministry.
There is a Reflection at the end of each chapter that can be applied to your own life, and the book has many photos from Carol’s life. I highly recommend this book!
From the back cover:
In this compelling memoir, Carol Alexander draws you into each of her experiences from her childhood in South Africa, her sister’s near drowning, challenging experiences in England and Africa, her son’s close brush with death, and her joyous arrival in North Dakota.
She will have you laughing one moment and crying the next. Her heartbreaking pain from some of the unexpected events that shattered her world spill out on the pages challenging you to a deeper faith. Her gritty determination and refusal to become bitter or give up will infuse you with the same wild hope that permeates her life.
Carol’s writings are honest, and transparent, encouraging you to reflect on your own journey and to open your heart and life to a God who is at work through each and every season of life.
Win a copy of Wild Hope—here’s how:
- We have 2 paperback copies and 3 eBooks to give away.
- All you have to do is leave a comment on this blog post. How easy is that!
- Competition available to South African residents only.
Where you can buy the book
- From Carol’s WestBow Publishers: eBook $3.99 or Paperback $17.95
- From Amazon: Kindle $5.99 or Paperback $17.95
Watch the trailer for Wild Hope
Aldyth organised the Beauty for Ashes women's conferences for 21 years since its inception in 1996. An ex history teacher, she and her husband ex-patted in Ghana, Zambia and Burkina Faso for 12 years before moving to Cape Town in 2017. She compiled the Beauty for Ashes Prayer Journal and co-authored the Beauty for Ashes Health Journal for Women with Sally-Ann Creed—a bestseller which was also translated into Dutch. She is a breast cancer survivor of 15 years.
I loved Carol’s book. It was so personal and honest. Particularly for me as I had worked with Carol. In our very first place of full time ministry, Carol was the senior pastors wife and head of woman’s ministry. I admired her very much as a woman of God.
I have heard of Carol’s ministry at conferences in America via a dear friend. This would be a great book to use for encouraging friends who have/are going through difficult life stories. God has given me the gift of encouragement and He helps by showing me what books to add to the words He uses through me.
God bless you all in His service.
I belong to a Christian Book Club, we would love to have another 2 inspirational books to read and share.
I belong to a Christian Book Club and we would live another two inspiring books.
This is a book which every lady should have for all of lifes issues and tissues. All of us goes through trials and tribulations. Thank God for for Carol’s book.
Carol’s ministry and story is extremely amazing and inspiring. I am a young pastor in South Africa and she has helped me a lot and has given me a lot of advice for female ministry! Really an incredible woman of God and would love to read her book.
This sounds like a story all women can relate to on some level. I would love to read it as I am currently struggling to see God’s hand at work in my family’s (and especially in my mother’s) life as we experience the devastating and indescribable effects of dementia on the most wonderful person in my life, my mother.
Wow! what a journey! we have such a faithful God. How He never leaves us, nor forsakes us. I also want to live with more WILD HOPE! I simply love this title.