If God Should Choose: The Authorized Story of Jim and Roni Bowers

by Kristen Stagg

A gripping story featured on ABC Primetime with Diane Sawyer.Compelling story of love between a man and a woman, and a missionOn April 20, 2001, the plane in which missionaries Jim and Roni Bowers and their children were riding was shot down over Peru in an interception of a perceived drug plane. Roni and their seven-month old daughter, Charity, were killed. This tragedy has touched the lives of millions of people, believers and non-believers alike. If God Should Choose portrays the Bowers' story coherently and completely. This sobering work will leave readers more committed to, in the words of Jim Bowers, 'stay alert to the things that really matter, to cherish [their] loved ones even more, to be ever ready to explain (and live) the truth to friends who do not know Christ personally.'

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction

224 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 2002

Reviews

[Abbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspiring.

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished this story about a missionary couple to Peru. This is the story about a couple that lived single-mindedly for Christ. Even when this accident claimed the life of Roni and her baby girl, Jim Bowers was convinced that God was in control and allowed this to happen for a reason. Many people would question God for the trial that he sent them. This wasn't the case with Jim. He felt peace, knowing God works all things for good for those who love Him.

[David Reese · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the authorized story of Jim and Roni Bowers. We knew this wonderful couple when they were finishing up their coursework at Piedmont Bible College in Winston-Salem. As they served as missionaries in Peru, their missionary plane was shot down without warning by the Peruvian Air Force. Jim and his son Cory survived to tell the story of God's grace and forgiveness in the face of tragedy.

[Honorah Deatrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this several years ago and came across a hard copy and wanted to read it again. The story is captivating and convicting. I just really struggle with the writing style where it is constantly jumping between the “current time” and the history and background. I was tempted to read all the history parts and then go back and read all the current time parts.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspiring

[Penny Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am not a big fan of switching back and forth in time and that lowered my enjoyment of the story.

[Mandy J. Hoffman · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Overview:

The lives of missionaries - Jim and Roni Bowers - are chronicled here in If God Should Choose along with the two young lives of their children. It's part biography and part play-by-play account of the hours before, during, and after their plane was shot down. It's a testimony to God's sovereignty and how He uses our lives in amazing ways.

The Readability:

The 201 pages of this book go by fairly quickly as the story captivates the reader. It recounts their lives in an uncommon way as each chapter begins with an almost hourly retelling of April 19th through the 21st and then reverts to the years gone by - going back and forth between present and past. While it's slightly harder to remember what's happening, this method does keep the reader's attention hostage to the story and it does prevent you from becoming bored with the background details that really are important for appreciating God's grace in their lives.

The Highlights:

For me the biggest highlight of this book was the feeling of connection as the Bowers and I share mutual friends. As I read, I was able to remember various events and stories from a different angle. A highlight for anyone is the understanding of the event. Many of us remember it's basic outline from what we saw on the national news, but reading it from a personal viewpoint brings the story to our own level. And "watching" their testimony unfold through white pages and black ink is heart-wrenching and encouraging at the same time. Reading this stirs up a desire to live with as much passion as the Bowers did.

The Downside:

The only downside is, as I mentioned above, it can be hard to keep track of what's happening when you're bouncing back in forth on the timeline. But really, it's a very small downside and not worth keeping you from this amazing testimony of God's mercy.

The Recommendation:

I highly recommend this book to all readers - all ages. The story is not as graphic as I thought it might be and so I would not have any trouble reading it to my elementary age children. It would be a great challenge for young and old and a wonderful current-day missionary story to share with the whole family.

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Authorized story of Jim and Roni Bowers, missionaries to Peru. Read about their parents' lives and their lives as you read the tragic story of how their plane was shot down in April of 2001, taking the life of Veronica (Roni) and their infant daughter Charity. This was very inspirational to me and I was in awe of how loving and forgiving Jim was throughout the whole ordeal.

[Dionne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed seeing life through the eyes of Missionaries who lived on a houseboat on the Amazon river. My only complaint about the book is that they made the wife out to be almost perfect. No one is and that makes it hard for others to be able to relate. I wish the author would've been a little more honest about her life, the good and the bad.

[Debby · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the story of a missionary family's ragedy when their plane is shot down when falsely suspected of running drugs. I was determined to read the book, but I'll warn you, it's not written or edited well.

[Suesq · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book in 2 days, I couldn't wait to see what happened next in their journey. Gives alot of details on what Missionaries give up and go through in these places I could never imagine going.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book!

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Met Jim Bowers at College Park Church

[momloves2read · Rating 3 out of 5]

These missionaries sound like wonderful people, but unfortunately this book wasn't very well written. I had a hard time forcing myself to finish it. The book had a good message, just needed a better presentation.