Walking Him Home: Learning to Hope Again After Loving and Losing Andrew Chan on Death Row

by Naomi Reed, Naomi Reed

On the 27th April 2015, Feby Herewila married Andrew Chan. 35 hours later Andrew was executed by firing squad.
Part of the Bali Nine, Andrew had been in Kerobokan Prison for ten years for drug smuggling. Feby was Andrew's close supporter and confidante, a lay pastor who had met him in prison and had ministered alongside him for three years. Together, they shared a common vision and faith in a powerful God of love and restoration.
Andrew's story made headlines, but now Feby tells her compelling story. After wrestling with grief and suffering, she shares how God's healing and faithfulness is enabling her to step into her new life and ministry.
Content As Feby Chan learns to rebuild her life, faith and purpose after her husband was executed by a firing squad in Indonesia, this inspiring and powerful story shows how God can bring hope out of tragedy and bring healing to even our deepest pain.
- Tells the story of Andrew Chan from a different perspective - Shows the transforming power of God in people's lives - Encourages us to see that God's forgiveness is open to anyone, whatever they have done - Will encourage people going through difficult situations that Jesus can heal the pain in time and allow you to hope again - Looks at the real pain of losing a loved one - Honest look at when prayers are not answered in the way we hope - Inspiring story of one woman's faithfulness to God - Perfect gift to encourage someone in their faith - Ideal reading for anyone who loves to see God at work - Colour photos - an 8 page insert included

138 pages, Paperback

Published April 9, 2021

About the author

Naomi Reed is a Christian writer and speaker who grew up in Sydney and studied physiotherapy with her husband Darren. After working at Sydney hospitals, they spent six years serving in Nepal with the International Nepal Fellowship. During this time, Naomi worked at Green Pastures Leprosy Hospital and enjoyed fellowship at their local Nepali church. She also home-schooled their three sons and struggled through seven monsoons. At one point, fearing she may not make it through another 120 days of rain, she began to write. The months of typing by candlelight helped her to see God’s purposes through different seasons and (somewhat surprisingly) became her first book, ‘My Seventh Monsoon’. Back in Australia, ‘My Seventh Monsoon’ was warmly received and Naomi continued writing – firstly the sequel, ‘No Ordinary View’ (which won the ACBOY award, 2009) and ’Over My Shoulder’ – a look at the impact of personality on cross-cultural mission.

Reviews

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Feby believed the gospel of Christ and chose to live her life according to God's pattern, prayer became the foundation of every day, and shaped her ministry within her local church family and beyond. She never imagined becoming a prison visitor, then chaplain to Andrew Chan during the years he spent on death row, nor the extraordinary way in which their relationship would evolve to the point of a simple wedding ceremony hours before his execution. Feby shares candidly, her journey through grief to a life of fulfilling a "dream" that she and Andrew shared. Her story is astonishing and inspirational.

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a book that I needed to read in this season of my life as I struggle with doubts and fear. It is a short book which can be read in one sitting but it is compelling and so down to earth and encouraged me so much in my own inner struggles.
Feby allowed herself to be vulnerable throughout the book- enough to share her anger both at God and Andrew after her prayers for Andrew’s life to be spared here on earth.
Her testing through this time was severely tested, but this beautifully written book shows how God turned that test into a powerful testimony of God’s love for her and His ongoing purpose for, and calling upon her life without Andrew by her side.
An absolute gem of a book.

[Mlee · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful account of Feby's life with Andrew and a helpful reflection of her grief and grappling. I appreciated her honesty about how hard it was to trust God and I learnt more about prayer from her own prayerfulness.

[Sage · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick read. Inspiring to see Feby and Andrews faith. Heartbroken for Andrews loved ones but so encouraged to see God at work. The way Andrew handled his execution was both humbling and challenging.

[Mel Jaeger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read with Alex. Love the sound of the prayer towers they have in Indonesia.

[The Page Ladies Book Club · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Review…Walking Him Home by Joanne Tubbs Kelly

On the 27th April 2015, Feby Herewila married Andrew Chan. 35 hours later Andrew was executed by firing squad. Part of the Bali Nine, Andrew had been in Kerobokan Prison for ten years for drug smuggling. Feby was Andrew's close supporter and confidante. Andrew's story made headlines, but in Walking Him Home Feby tells her compelling story. After wrestling with grief and suffering, she shares how God's healing and faithfulness is enabling her to step into her new life.

This was an emotional and inspiring story. This was one of those stories that you lose yourself in and while you're there you feel every emotion you can think of and then some and then even after the last page it stays with you. The writing is descriptive, powerful and compelling. It's a love story, one filled with the good, the bad and the ugly. It's heartbreakingly real! Wonderful read! Thank you Book Sparks and Joanne Tubbs Kelly for sharing this story with me!