In the Land of the Living
In the Land of the Living is a story that was written with a purpose close to my heart: to give young people a safe space to encounter some of life’s hardest realities within a biblical, Christ-centered framework. Today’s students face a world full of difficult truths — brokenness, addiction, abuse, and loss are no longer distant topics but realities that they will inevitably encounter, either personally or through others. It is critical that we, as Christians, and especially Christian educators, address these issues from a place of hope and truth. This isn’t just a unique opportunity for students; it’s an urgent need.
If students don’t learn how to engage with these issues from a Christian perspective, they will be left to interpret them through a secular lens—a lens that is incomplete, even fatalistic, and dismissive of the power of God’s grace. In a culture where hopelessness grows more prevalent every day, we cannot afford to stay silent on these matters. In the Land of the Living meets this need by allowing students to see how faith can transform, not ignore, suffering. The story shows them that faith is not a mask or a quick fix but a real, life-giving response to even the darkest circumstances.
In the book, Duncan’s journey is filled with real challenges—loss, trauma, and complicated family dynamics. Yet instead of offering easy answers or sanitizing reality, the story grounds these experiences in God’s redemptive power. Through Duncan’s struggles, students are invited to explore their own questions about suffering and forgiveness, all within a safe and biblically guided context. This is a story that speaks to the heart of what young people need today: a vision of faith that faces reality head-on, rooted in the hope and healing found in Christ alone.
By including In the Land of the Living in your curriculum, you provide students a unique chance to engage with these topics without the sensationalism or despair often found in secular media. This book does not shy away from brokenness, but it continually points back to the love and grace of God. It helps students see that, while the world is indeed fallen, they don’t have to face it alone or in despair. They can look at life’s hardest questions through the lens of God’s promises, understanding that their faith has real answers to real problems.
As Christian educators, you have a powerful role in shaping how students understand their faith in relation to the world around them. I believe In the Land of the Living is a valuable tool that you can use to help them build a resilient, compassionate, and Christ-centered perspective. This is a chance to prepare them to face the realities of life not with fear or hopelessness, but with a faith that is durable and grounded in truth.