Suffering With Joy: Letters on Tragedy, Loss, and Hope

by Thomas K. Ascol

On January 22, 2000, my sister, Joy Dyer, tried to pay for a purchase at a department store in Bryan, Texas in her usual way. But for some strange reason, she could not make her hand write out a check. That was the first sign that something sinister was attacking her body. One week later we were told that Joy had a “high grade glioblastoma.” The doctors said that there was no medical hope that she could be cured and that Joy probably had six months to a year to live. That news rocked our family. On January 28, 2021—almost one year later to the day—cancer took Joy’s life.
The letters in this book were born out of a deep love for Joy and Dean by friends and family. We desired to walk with them through this hard journey and support them however we could. My hope is that these letters, originally written to support my sister through her suffering, will provide some comfort and encouragement to other fellow-sufferers who are walking a hard path.

227 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 1, 2024

About the author

Thomas K. Ascol has served as a Pastor of Grace Baptist Church since 1986. He has a BS degree in sociology from Texas A&M University and has also earned the MDiv and PhD degrees from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Ft. Worth, Texas. He has served as an adjunct professor of theology for various colleges and seminaries, including Reformed Theological Seminary, the Covenant Baptist Theological Seminary, African Christian University, Copperbelt Ministerial College, and Reformed Baptist Seminary. He has also served as Visiting Professor at the Nicole Institute for Baptist Studies at Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando, Florida.

Tom serves as the President of Founders Ministries. He has edited the Founders Journal, a quarterly theological publication of Founders Ministries, and has written articles for various journals and magazines. He has been a regular contributor to TableTalk, the monthly magazine of Ligonier Ministries. He has also edited and contributed to several books, including Dear Timothy: Letters on Pastoral Ministry, Recovering the Gospel and Reformation of Churches and By What Standard? God's World...God's Rules. He is also the author of From the Protestant Reformation to the Southern Baptist Convention, and Traditional Theology and the SBC and co-authoring with Jared Longshore the forthcoming (2021) Strong and Courageous.

He and Donna have six children along with 3 sons-in-law and a daughter-in-law. They also have fourteen grandchildren.
See also Tom Ascol .

Reviews

[Adam Kareus · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book, a collection of letters written to family and friends, is powerful. It is powerful becasue of the situation it was speaking into, the incurable cancer of a loved one who went to be with the Lord. And it was powerful because it presents the truth of the Scripture and gospel, the only hope anyone can have in this fallen world.
This book was also personal- I have just lost my brother to the same kind of cancer a little over two years ago. This book's applying of the biblical truth is a balm for the soul and provides a centering of the mind.

[Jordan Howe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr. Tom Ascol’s pastoral heart and brotherly love are on full display as he highlights Christ as our only hope.