When the evening news reported a dead baby abandoned in a local dumpster, Linda Znachko's comfortable life changed. She was suddenly convicted—-God was asking her to provide a dignified burial for this tiny lost child. Linda said yes. She had no idea where that first small yes would lead. Linda found herself in places she never dreamed she would be: at the graveside of the child of an abused mother; by the side of a mother fighting for her lost child; and at the funeral of a Texas stripper who died two days before her baptism but left a legacy of love behind. When Linda stepped out of her comfort zone and into these implausible places with people she was unlikely to otherwise encounter, she discovered the life she never knew she wanted—-a life of saying yes to God whenever He asks. Today, Linda has a ministry that gives children a name in life, and dignity and honor in death. When she shares her stories of broken lives redeemed, other broken people respond, and so the ripple effects of that long-ago yes continue to spread, touching lives that yearn for healing, and underscoring the fact that every life matters to God.

There are an estimated 20 million orphans in the country of India. Thanks to Kelly and Scott Parkison, that number has decreased by one. Having promised to never return to India after her experience on the reality show The Amazing Race, Kelly never dreamed she would one day be a mother to a beautiful Indian girl named Lyla. This is the amazing and true story of how God uses the most unlikely circumstances for His greater purpose. Calling the Parkison’s adoption story a rollercoaster ride of emotion would be an understatement. After almost every major decision in the Parkison’s adoption process, God put a twist in their carefully laid plans only to lead them to greater opportunities. Faced with an overwhelming amount of fundraising, mountains of adoption paperwork, an unexpected pregnancy, a medical issue to patch with their new daughter, and the adjustment of bringing their child into a new culture, the Parkisons clung to God through their whirlwind adoption of Lyla. Their heartwarming story is a beautiful testament to the gift of adoption on this earth and the love of God for all of us as His children.

Each chapter is based on phrases from the worship song "He Knows My Name" and communicates the wonder of how God knows each of us in an unspeakably intimate way. Emphasis is on the love of God toward us and the significance of God calling us His children. He knows us, loves us, sympathizes with us, listens to us, has a future for us, forgives us, and delights in us. The chapters end with a prayer acknowledging these truths, promoting worship and gratitude to the Father. Personal testimonies are included from people around the world who have been touched by the Father's love through the words to the song "He Knows My Name."

Police found John Doe No. 24 in the early morning hours of October 11, 1945, in Jacksonville, Illinois. Unable to communicate, the deaf and mute teenager was labeled “ feeble minded” and sentenced by a judge to the nightmarish jumble of the Lincoln State School and Colony in Jacksonville. He remained in the Illinois mental health care system for over thirty years and died at the Sharon Oaks Nursing Home in Peoria on November 28, 1993. Deaf, mute, and later blind, the young black man survived institutionalized hell: beatings, hunger, overcrowding, and the dehumanizing treatment that characterized state institutions through the 1950s. In spite of his environment, he made friends, took on responsibilities, and developed a sense of humor. People who knew him found him remarkable. Award-winning journalist Dave Bakke reconstructs the life of John Doe No. 24 through research into a half-century of the state mental health system, personal interviews with people who knew him at various points during his life, and sixteen black-and-white illustrations. After reading a story about John Doe in the New York Times, acclaimed singer-songwriter Mary Chapin Carpenter wrote and recorded “ John Doe No. 24” and purchased a headstone for his unmarked grave. She contributes a foreword to this book. As death approached for the man known only as John Doe No. 24, his one-time nurse Donna Romine reflected sadly on his mystery. “ Ah, well,” she said, “ God knows his name.”

A small boy with a very long name is challenged by his grandmother to find out her real name.

God made everything and God knows everything. He even knows my favorite color. What's your favorite color? Surprise God already knew it God knows my name. He even knows how many hairs are on my head. Can you count how many hairs are on your head? God can count every star up in space. He put every one in its place God sees me when I go out to play and when I go to bed. He can watch over me because He never sleeps. When I hide in my favorite hiding place, God can find me Nothing can hide from God. When a sparrow falls to the ground or when I fall to the ground, God knows He always knows how I feel. God understands when I feel sad, glad, mad, or bad. He cares when I feel embarrassed, scared, or excited. Before God made the world, He knew about me. Before I was born, God knew what would happen every day of my life. God knows my name. And He knows the names of everyone in the whole wide world * God knows all about us and He loves us . . . even when we do bad things. He calls these bad things sin. Everyone who sins must be punished, but God loves us so much that He did a wonderful thing. He sent His own Son, Jesus, to be punished in our place Now we can live with God forever in Heaven if we believe and accept God's gift of Jesus to us. If you believe these things in your heart, talk to God right now and say, "Dear God, thank You for loving me so much that You know all about me. I know that I have done bad things and I am sorry. Thank You for sending Jesus to take the punishment for my sin. Please come into my heart and help me love You more every day. Amen." If you want to learn more about God, ask an adult to help you write your name and address below and send it to us for a free booklet. *Text excerpted from God Knows My Name by Debby Anderson, (c)2003, Crossway Books.

A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER "Know My Name is a gut-punch, and in the end, somehow, also blessedly hopeful." --Washington Post Universally acclaimed, rapturously reviewed, and an instant New York Times bestseller, Chanel Miller's breathtaking memoir "gives readers the privilege of knowing her not just as Emily Doe, but as Chanel Miller the writer, the artist, the survivor, the fighter." (The Wrap). Her story of trauma and transcendence illuminates a culture biased to protect perpetrators, indicting a criminal justice system designed to fail the most vulnerable, and, ultimately, shining with the courage required to move through suffering and live a full and beautiful life. Know My Name will forever transform the way we think about sexual assault, challenging our beliefs about what is acceptable and speaking truth to the tumultuous reality of healing. Entwining pain, resilience, and humor, this memoir will stand as a modern classic.