Карен Кингсбери - A Distant Shore [calibre]

2 Sex trafficking can look a lot of different ways. It happens to children and adults, male and female. If you ran the world, what would you do to solve this problem?

3 What advice would you give parents of children, so their sons and daughters wouldn’t ever become victims? If you or someone you know has ever been trafficked, what are three things you would teach all children to protect them?

4 Eliza thought she saw God at the far edge of the ocean. Where do you most easily see or feel God’s presence? Share about that.

5 With much loss comes much testing of one’s faith. Talk about a loss you or someone you know has gone through. How did that event change or affect your faith?

6 Jack’s parents were loving and kind, but they were too busy to spend time with their boys. Share about a season when you or someone you know let work take away from family time. What was the outcome?

7 Jack was one of the best undercover agents at the FBI because he wasn’t afraid to die. But he also wasn’t interested in truly living. Are you afraid of death? Why or why not?

8 Do you think the life you’re living now is one where you are truly living? Why or why not? What would you like to change about your life? Be specific.

9 Ike Armstrong never gave up hope that his family was still alive. His adamancy was one of the reasons Jack never gave up looking for Susan and Daniel James. What is something you’ve prayed a long time for? Talk about that situation.

10 The Army, Navy and FBI all worked together with local Belizean police to pull off the raid on the Palace. Which is your favorite branch of the military, or favorite division of law enforcement? If you have personal experience, share that.

11 When Eliza is rescued and taken to San Antonio, she finds herself with little food and no place to live. Many rescued victims return to their traffickers because they cannot make it on their own. How does this make you feel? What can be done about this?

12 Eliza is a victim because she was held against her will at the Palace. But she is also a fighter. How have you made good out of bad or troublesome situations in your life? What would you still like to do to find purpose in your past pain?

13 When Eliza realized she could help take down trafficking rings, she gave up everything to make that happen. How have you volunteered for a cause or helped your community in some way? Did that change your perspective on life? Explain.

14 After losing first his brother, Shane, and then his parents, Jack was determined never to love again. What were some things that worked to change his mind?

15 Imagine how Jack felt when he realized that Eliza was the same girl he had rescued from the beach a decade ago. Talk about some great and mysterious coincidence or circumstance in your life or the life of someone you know. How did it affect you or them?

16 Eliza had never known love or kindness from a man. In what ways did Jack show her both of these? Share your favorite moments from the story.

17 With her hatred toward men, Eliza was certain she would never marry or fall in love. How did her feelings change? Why did they change?

18 Have you or someone you know ever been sure you weren’t going to fall in love or like a specific person only to be wrong? Talk about that.

19 Jack quoted Romans 8:28 in one important conversation with Eliza. And we know that in all things, God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. How have you seen this truth play out in your life? Be specific.

20 God loves to surprise us. Were you surprised when Eliza’s family was there at her wedding? Tell of a time when God surprised you.

21 A Distant Shore is about learning to live again, finding a second chance at life even when all hope seems lost. Tell of a time when you or someone you know found hope and faith to live again. How did that time inspire you?

YOU WERE SEEN MOVEMENT

His name was Henry, and I will remember him as long as I live.

Henry was our waiter at a fancy restaurant when I was on tour for one of my books. Toward the end of the meal something unusual happened. I started to cry. Slow tears, just trickling down my cheeks. My husband was with me and he looked concerned. “Karen, what’s wrong?”

“Our waiter,” I said. “He needs to know God loves him. But there’s no time. We have to get to our event and he has six other tables to serve.”

Henry was an incredibly attentive server. He smiled and got our order right and he worked hard to do it. Everywhere he went on the restaurant floor, he practically sprinted to get his job done. But when he was just off the floor, when he thought no one was looking, Henry’s smile faded. He looked discouraged and hopeless. Beaten up.

That very day I began dreaming about the “You Were Seen” movement. Many of you are aware of this organization, but I’ll summarize it. Very simply, you get a pack of You Were Seen cards and you hand them out. Where acceptable, tip—generously.

From my office in the past few months more than 250,000 You Were Seen cards have gone out. We partner with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association’s plan for salvation and other help links.

And so it is really happening! People like you are truly seeing those in their path each day. You are finding purpose by living your life on mission and not overlooking the delivery person and cashier, the banker and business contact, the server and barista, the police officer and teacher, the doctor and nurse. You are letting strangers see God’s love in action. Why?

Because Christians should love better than anyone. We should be more generous. Kinder. More affirming. More patient. The Bible tells us to love God and love others. And to tell others the good news of the gospel—that we have a Father who is for us, not against us. He loves us so much that He made a way for us to get to heaven.

Hand out a pack of You Were Seen cards in the coming weeks and watch how every card given makes you feel a little better. Go to www.YouWereSeen.comto get your cards and start showing gratitude and generosity to everyone you meet.

Always when you leave a You Were Seen card, you will let a stranger know that their hard work was seen in that moment. They were noticed! What better way to spread love? The You Were Seen card will then direct people to the website— www.YouWereSeen.com. At the website, people will be encouraged and reminded that God sees them every day. Always. He knows what they are going through. Every day should be marked by a miraculous encounter.

www.YouWereSeen.com

ONE CHANCE FOUNDATION

The Kingsbury family is also passionate about seeing orphans all over the world brought home to their forever families. As a result, they created a charity called the One Chance Foundation.

This foundation was inspired by the memory of Karen’s father, Ted C. Kingsbury. Ted always said, “Life is not a dress rehearsal. We have one chance to love, one chance to truly live!”

Karen often tells her reader friends, “You have one chance to write the story of your life!”™ Now, with Karen’s One Chance Foundation, readers can join her in the belief that all of us have one chance to make a difference in the lives of orphans.

In the Bible, James 1:27 says people with pure and faultless religion are those who look after orphans and widows. If you are interested in giving to Karen’s One Chance Foundation and having your dedication printed in one of Karen’s upcoming novels, visit www.KarenKingsbury.com. Below are dedications from Karen’s readers who have contributed to the One Chance Foundation:

One Chance Foundation for A Distant Shore

To all of the NYPD, FDNY, PANY & the DSNY for your bravery on 9/11. We will never forget and will forever remember those lost that day. We heart NY forever! Love, Hope Burke & Kingston Painter