When Words Become Life: Seven Days and Seven Sayings that Changed the Universe (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9781540631336)

Tom Becraft remembers preaching at a swivel-topped piano bench to a captive audience of teddy bears, other stuffed animals and some elusive, Thanksgiving-stuffed siblings and cousins when he was a small child. Still it took many years and much questioning before he was able to commit wholeheartedly to the unavoidable reality of God's calling. Once that happened, his life took many twists and turns as he strived to understand, trust and obey the pull of God's Word, both to live by it and to share it. Today he remains passionate about experiencing God's promises as a way of life and sharing them in non-coercive ways whenever and wherever possible. For the first 25 years of his ministry, he preached, taught and wrote more in Japanese than English, his native language. Following decades of cross-cultural ministry in local parishes and classrooms, he transitioned into full-time healthcare chaplaincy where his specialized knowledge and training in cultural and religious diversity equipped him to companion many thousands of people though both joyous and difficult circumstances. Through the years, he has attended well over a thousand deaths and officiated at over 4,000 weddings. His own marriage to Bonnie Oneonta-Becraft is what he cherishes the most. Bonnie is likewise a minister, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Board Certified Chaplain, who not only collaborated with Tom to create the study questions that accompany each chapter in "When Words Become Life," she was Tom's daily muse and reality checker. Every chapter has been strengthened by her input. Tom previously wrote two books in Japanese, followed by two in English. He and his hospital received the prestigious 2011 Planetree Award for Spirituality and Diversity for "Crossing the Bridge: a Guide for End-of-Life Issues." This hospital-published, 48-page booklet is used extensively in healthcare settings to support families before, during and after the death of a loved one. "Crossing the Bridge" was followed in 2014 by "A Bamboo Grove for the Soul: A Storybook of Spiritual Resources for Caregivers." This self-care resource book is increasingly required reading in university classes for those who are entering caring professions. He is a graduate of Pacific Union College (Bachelor of Theology) and of Andrews University (Master of Arts in Religion. He has also done extensive graduate work in counseling, education and healthcare chaplaincy.