Courageous: A Novel

  First one man stood. Adam saw William Barrett join him. Then two of Adam’s own pastors. He watched as Riley Cooper and other deputies from the Dougherty County Sheriff’s Department and officers from Albany Police stood. He saw firefighters he knew, including Caleb Holt. Even Tom Lyman pushed his arms down against his wheelchair and, with great effort, rose to his feet.

  Throughout the room, some men wanted to stand but couldn’t bring themselves to. Others wanted to be anywhere else in the world. Adam caught the eye of a huge bald man who rose to his feet in the back row, a foot taller and two feet wider than anyone around him. No sooner had Brad Bronson stood than he appeared to realize he had done so. He walked to the back of the church as if to leave, then turned and stood against the wall.

  Most of those who stood remained standing, their resolve growing. Some had yet to grasp the extent of commitment and dedication this decision would require, but no one doubted that something remarkable had happened.

  For many men and their families, it marked a new beginning. A fresh chance to win a battle worth fighting and gain a treasure worth keeping.

  After the service, people lined up to thank Adam and speak with him. He was so aware of his weakness and inability and his terror at speaking that he wasn’t even tempted toward pride. What had happened in that auditorium had been God’s doing. Yet in his heart he sensed God saying to him something he didn’t recall his earthly father ever saying: “Well done, my son.” It felt good to be content, not proud, yet not disappointed in himself.

  As he made his way out the door with Victoria, Dylan, and Tom to join the other families for dinner at Campbell’s Steakhouse, he suddenly envisioned Emily’s approving smile. Maybe he was being sentimental, but he sensed it so profoundly he wondered if it was more than his imagination.

  Chapter Forty-six

  Almost a week later, on Saturday, Adam walked into the Dougherty County Jail and went to the check-in line, only to see a familiar face in front of him.

  “Nathan! How was your week off?”

  “Great family time. And feelin’ a lot better. Nice of the doctor to recommend time off after my arm was still killing me and I was shuffling around to serve warrants. I needed some recuperation!”

  “You visiting Derrick?” Adam asked. “How’s he doing?”

  “His heart’s open. Reads everything I give him. Before this is over, I think he’ll be a Jesus follower.”

  “No kidding?”

  “There are some good men in this jail. Solid Bible studies. Lots of temptations, sure, but Derrick goes to the chapel services and meets with the chaplain. I told Derrick I’ll help him, but he’s got to take the initiative.”

  “TJ and Antoine are in maximum security, right?” Adam asked.

  “Oh yeah. And Derrick’s in medium. When I met with the warden and told him how Derrick betrayed TJ to save my life, he assured me they’d never be near each other.”

  Adam put his hand on Nathan’s shoulder. “You said Derrick saved your life, and now you’re saving his. Your part will take a lot longer. But the results will last for eternity. I told Victoria something that really struck me—you ran a prominent gang leader off the road twice. The first time, when you grabbed the wheel, you saved your son’s life. The second time, when you shot him in the shoulder, you saved Derrick’s life. Two crashed cars, both driven by TJ, two young men saved.”

  “You sayin’ I should crash more cars?” Nathan laughed. “Anyway, we’ll see about Derrick. You know, at first Jade really liked him and Kayla didn’t, but she changed her mind. I was the hard guy dad who kept Derrick at a distance. Then, once they found out what he was into, Jade and Kayla wrote him off and wonder why I’m so interested in him now.”

  “What do you tell them?”

  “The grace of God. William Barrett reached out to me. I’m reaching out to Derrick. He said he’s got nobody—well, now he’s got me. It’s too early to say, but who knows? One day he might be a son to me like I am to William. Meanwhile, I get to teach my family about grace. We don’t help people because they deserve it, but because God tells us to love others as He loves us. Hey, maybe someday I’ll visit TJ or Antoine.”

  Adam blinked. “Wow. That thought never occurred to me.”

  “Stranger things have happened when God’s unleashes His grace. How’s Dylan’s Bible study with Tom Lyman?”

  “Great. You should hear him go on about it. Two of his buddies come with him now. They memorize Scripture. If you’d told me six months ago my son would ask to spend two hours a week with an old man at a retirement center, I would have said you were nuts. But Tom’s like a grandfather to him.”

  “Makes sense—he’s become like a father to you. You and Bobby Shaw doing well?”

  Adam nodded. “He’s slowly coming out of his shell. Once he trusts me, I think we’ll be fine. Javy and Carmen and the kids came over last night. Yesterday he signed up for a naturalization class to help him become a US citizen!”

  “Fantastic!” Nathan slapped Adam’s hands.

  “And Frank Tyson’s paying for the class! You know, I keep thinking about last week at Pearly’s when Javy read us the letter from his father telling him he’d be honored to fly up here and visit his son. When Javy cried, we all lost it.”

  Nathan nodded. “I wasn’t prepared for the effect on our newest group member.”

  “Yeah. Did you ever imagine you’d see Brad Bronson cry like a baby?”

  “He said it was allergies.”

  “And Brad told me the other day he’s thinking of reaching out to a son and daughter in their thirties he’s been out of contact with for years. Amazing.”

  The visitation deputy looked at Nathan. “You can go in now, Deputy Hayes. That’s D building; here’s your pass.”

  Nathan put his arm around Adam, who reciprocated.

  Just then a strong, deep voice said from behind, “If you two would finish with your public display of affection, we could get this line movin’.”

  Adam turned . . . Sheriff Gentry.

  “I was just . . . never mind. Good to see you, sir.”

  Gentry nodded. Then smiled—tentatively.

  Nathan was just a few steps ahead of Adam when the visitation deputy asked, “Who are you here for, Corporal Mitchell?”

  Adam said, “Mike Hollis.”

  She looked at the charts. “He’s in D building, too.”

  “Wait up,” Adam called to Nathan. “We’re headed the same way.”

  One at a time they spread out their arms as security patted them down and checked their weapons in lockers.

  Nathan looked at Adam. “Mike Hollis? No kidding? I figured you were seeing Shane.”

  “I saw him a few days ago. As for Mike, you raised the bar for me by visiting Derrick. I can stand back and watch you, or I can get in there and try to jump higher myself.”

  The two men walked toward D-block in the dim cinder-block hallway, a sterile land bridge between two worlds.

  Nathan Hayes came to visit a young man who’d had designs on his daughter and whose allegiance had been to the gang leader who’d abducted Nathan’s son, beat up his partner, and tried to murder him with a shotgun.

  Adam Mitchell came to visit the man who’d sold drugs to his son and, under the influence, killed Adam’s daughter.

  It took courage for them to walk this hallway to extend grace to these men. But it was easier to walk it side by side than alone.

  In the silence punctuated only by their footsteps, both men thought not of themselves but of a Man who once made a long, lonely march up a hill, who in the world’s worst hour did the most courageous thing ever done.

  At the end of His climb, He spread out His arms and permitted guilty men to drive nails into His hands and feet. He endured untold agony to give undeserving men—like Mike Hollis, Derrick Freeman, Nathan Hayes, and Adam Mitchell—a second chance.

  To most people, none of this—not what these men were doing now, nor what He did two thousand years ago—made sense.
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  From the outside, grace and truth, honor and courage, seldom do.

  Be strong and very courageous.

  Joshua 1:7

  Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve . . .

  But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.

  Joshua 24:15

  Adam (Alex Kendrick, left) and his partner, Shane (Kevin Downes), carefully search a house where they’ve arrived

  Sheriff’s deputies chase a suspect who has taken off running through Albany, Georgia.

  Adam sits with daughter, Emily (Lauren Etchells), and questions his son, Dylan (Rusty Martin).

  The Hayes family looks to God’s Word for wisdom in facing life’s challenges.

  Derrick (Donald Howze, on ground) learns the hard rules of gang life.

  Javier (Robert Amaya) and his wife, Carmen (Angelita Nelson), worry over a dilemma he faces at work.

  Emily dances in the sunlight as her father, Adam, looks on.

  Fathers in the film bow their heads in prayer, seeking God’s help with the challenges in their lives.

  Starting gun of the Father & Son 5K

  Adam Mitchell leads the men of the movie Courageous in resolving to be godly fathers.

  Members of the cast and crew gather for a morning devotional and prayer at the start of each day on set.

  Donald Howze takes direction from director Alex Kendrick.

  Director of photography Bob Scott captures the action.

  Preparing for a gripping chase scene on a lonely Georgia country road.

  Robert Amaya (center, red ball cap) preps for shooting a construction scene, helping build a backyard shed.

  The film crew captures Ken Bevel (Nathan Hayes) chasing a suspect on foot in an action scene.

  A crime suspect crouches in wait, hoping to avoid sheriff ’s deputies.

  Courageous cowriters Alex (right) and Stephen Kendrick watch shooting on the set.

  Crew members on a location shoot prep a sheriff ’s squad car for the next scene.

  Crew members on a location shoot prep a sheriff ’s squad car for the next scene.

  Randy Alcorn (center), writer of the novelization, visits Stephen (left) and Alex Kendrick on the set.

  Young talent takes a needed juice break from working in the hot Georgia sun.

  Acknowledgments

  From Randy Alcorn

  A special thanks to my wife, Nanci, who made many personal sacrifices in the four months of seemingly endless work I poured into this project. Without your partnership, friendship, and encouragement, I would be lost. My daughters, Karina and Angela, and their husbands, Dan and Dan, discussed with me different aspects of the book along the way, and I appreciate their help.

  My thanks to Stephen and Alex Kendrick, the writers of the Courageous screenplay, which provided the framework for this novel. About 20 percent of the book comes directly from the movie; the other 80 percent I had to invent to make this into a novel. So if there’s something the reader doesn’t like, chances are it’s my fault.

  I am deeply grateful to Captain Craig Dodd, who drove me through the streets of Albany and shared many insights into gangs, drugs, street crime, and the consequences of fatherlessness. Craig kindly received many phone calls about police and jail procedures. Craig, sorry I couldn’t use more of the priceless information you provided me. When I did use it, I hope you’ll find it mostly accurate and that you’ll enjoy the story.

  As always, thanks to my friends at Tyndale, including Karen Watson and Ron Beers. And to my Tyndale editor, Caleb Sjogren.

  I could not have completed this project without the tireless help of Doreen Button, my colleague at Eternal Perspective Ministries, who worked countless hours, including way into the night and on a number of weekends, making editing suggestions. Doreen, I am profoundly grateful to God for your help.

  Thanks to Stephanie Anderson, who made herself available on short notice to help reduce word count on drafts. And to Bonnie Hiestand, premier typist, who can read my handwriting sometimes even when I can’t. And to my assistants, Kathy Norquist and Linda Jeffries, without whom I would never have time to write a book.

  Tim Newcomb and Steve Tucker looked over the first draft and offered helpful comments. Bob Schilling assisted with some research. I appreciate your help, my brothers.

  A special thanks to my cop buddies Jim Seymour, Claudio Grandjean, Brandon Gentry, and Dave Williams, all part of my church. Jim, you went above and beyond, dropping by my house in your police cruiser and showing me on my front porch how the Taser operates. Thanks for not actually tasing me, Nanci, or our dog Moses.

  Bill Leslie and Tom Skipper were my Spanish-speaking helpers, who assisted me with portions related to Javy. Thanks to all my go-to friends who helped with fact-checking in their area of expertise. They include Doug Gabbert, who made a crucial car recommendation for the story line. Thanks also to Sawyer Brown Rygh and Chase MacKay.

  Words can’t express how much it meant to me to have our EPM prayer partners praying for me during the long and difficult writing process. God knows who you are. I trust that He answered and will answer your prayers and reward you for participating in this book and whatever impact it may have.

  Others who helped, some probably without remembering, include Ron and Ione Noren, Tom and Donna Schneider, Don and Pat Maxwell, Rod and Diane Meyer, Steve and Sue Keels, Chuck and Gena Norris, Rick and Amy Campbell, Jay Echternach, Todd DuBord, Tony Cimmarrusti, Mark Kost, Paul Martin, Gregg Cunningham, Kress Drew, Robin Green, Stu Weber, and Scott Lindsey.

  Far and above all others, I thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who sustained me through the unusually difficult process of this book, especially in the latter stages. As Psalm 107:1 says, “Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!” You are good, Lord, and even when times are hard, I praise You for your steadfast love to me.

  From Alex and Stephen

  Christina and Jill (our wives)—your patience and support is wind in our sails. We cherish you dearly!

  Joshua, Anna, Catherine, Joy, Caleb, Julia, Grant, Cohen, Karis, and John (our kids)—may you grow in faith and strength and become mighty in your influence for Jesus. He is Lord and He loves you! So do we!

  Larry and Rhonwyn Kendrick (our parents)—for over forty years you have loved us and cheered us on. Thank you for training us up to know the Savior and to seek Him!

  Jim McBride and Bill Reeves (agents)—You guys have taken the hits, handled the headaches, and been amazing partners and friends. May God bless you many times over for your faithfulness.

  Randy Alcorn (writer)—Keep writing, serving, and giving. Your ministry impact will no doubt continue to grow. There are not many like you.

  Karen Watson and Caleb Sjogren (editors)—Thanks for believing in us and taking this journey with us. Your help, insight, and partnership has been a blessing.

  Sherwood Baptist Church (home base)—You make the harder road seem sweeter and the challenges more bearable. Thank you for loving Jesus. We are blessed to be a part of this family!

  A Personal Message from the Kendrick Brothers

  Thank you for reading Courageous! We hope you were encouraged and inspired by the journey of these fathers and their families. Now that you have read the novel, we want to boldly challenge you in your own spiritual journey. How will the story of Courageous influence you? Will you allow the message of faith and love to penetrate beyond the pages of this book?

  If you do not have a relationship with Jesus Christ, we want you to know that He is the real deal. We’re not talking about religion but a relationship with Jesus. He alone has proven to be the missing link to God that people are longing for . . . and desperately need. One that you need.

  His entire life demonstrates His uniqueness as God in the flesh. His virgin birth, sinless life, powerful teachings, amazing miracles, unconditional love, sacrificial death, miraculous resurrection, and impact on the world are all unique to Jesus Christ alone. Try reading Matthe
w, Mark, Luke, and John in the Bible and see for yourself what those who were with Him witnessed firsthand. He not only is qualified to forgive your sin, but He can change your heart and make it pleasing toward a holy God. It is foolish to trust in your own goodness to get into heaven. Only God can make us clean through Jesus Christ.

  The Scriptures say that all of us have fallen short of God’s righteousness (Romans 3). We’ve all broken His commands. Each of us has lied, lusted, and hated. That’s why we could never stand before Him. We are guilty of many sins. He requires righteousness to enter heaven.

  That’s why He lovingly sent Jesus. His death on the cross was necessary to make things right between us and a holy God. He didn’t have to do that. That’s just love in action . . . personified.

  Regardless of where you are, let us encourage and challenge you, on behalf of Christ, to do what David Thomson did and surrender your heart afresh to God. Romans 10:9 says that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as your Lord (Master or Boss), and you believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, then you will be saved.

  If you are already an obedient follower of Christ, then we want to encourage you further in your spiritual journey. We challenge you to let the faith and integrity that Christ brings influence your relationships, children, daily habits, and work environments the way Adam, Nathan, and Javier did. Do you model honesty and the Golden Rule in how you treat others? Have you dedicated your personal ethics and work environment to God? Are there people you need to get right with that you have wronged in the past? Don’t wait any longer. Do it!