Author: Robert Alan Ward
Located in: Show Low, Arizona
Submitted: June 02, 2018
Tell us a little about yourself. When I first believed in Christ as a young man almost eighteen, it was like someone turned on the lights in a dark room. I am married and living in the White Mountains of Arizona with my wife Gisela. We are passionate followers of Christ, whom we believe is the only hope for our very lost world. We have five children, twelve grandchildren, and hope to stay around long enough to one day tell you the number of our great-grandchildren.
What was your motivation behind this project? When I read "The Pilgrim's Progress" by John Bunyan as a young man, it captured me like few books have ever done. When I prayed near the end of 2016 as to what my next writing project might be, I believe the Holy Spirit directed me to write the story behind the writing of John Bunyan's classic. At the time I knew relatively little about the author. Doing extensive research, it took me a little more than a year to finish "Forged from the Wilderness." I tried as much as possible to capture the England of his day, with all its political and religious turmoil. The battle was the same then as it is today, between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of darkness.
What do you hope folks will gain from this project? I hope that all who read "Forged from the Wilderness" will find it a captivating, life-changing experience. I have but two burning passions in life: to become all that God has made me to be and to help as many others as possible to become all that God has made them to be.
How were you personally impacted by working on this project? John Bunyan lived by conviction, no matter what the personal cost. In the end he triumphed, as do all who walk the narrow path that leads to eternal life. It costs to follow Christ. It costs more not to. I choose the former.
Who are your influences, sources of inspiration or favorite authors / artists? The Bible, John Bunyan, Jonathan Cahn, Ravi Zacharias, Chuck Colson, Francine Rivers, Richard Wurmbrand, and Bodie Thoene.
Anything else you'd like readers / listeners to know: Sometimes it may appear that we who follow Christ are losing. But the only score that matters is the score at the end of the game.
