A Story Behind the Audiobook

A couple weeks ago, while driving down the road reflecting on a project we had been working on behind the scenes, something suddenly came rushing back to me. It was a phrase I sensed the Lord speak during a personal retreat day back in December of 2015: “You are laying the foundation for your son to be the mouthpiece.” At the time, I had no idea what that meant. Looking back now, I realize God was writing a story neither Christopher nor I could have imagined.

Those were the years when I was interviewing for executive pastor roles, and naturally, I assumed perhaps Christopher was someday going to become a pastor or preacher. As the years unfolded, that path never really materialized. I never ended up in ministry in the traditional sense, and over time it became clear that Christopher was not being called into a teaching pastor role either.

But that phrase never left us.

There has always been a sense that God would somehow use the next generation to carry forward the deeper message He had been forming in our lives. A message centered around surrender, hearing His voice, walking closely with Him, and learning what it truly means to trust Him daily.

As many of you know, that journey eventually became a major part of what shaped From Success to Surrender.

Over the past few months, one of the projects quietly unfolding behind the scenes has been the audiobook version of the book, which is now officially available on Amazon.

What makes this version especially meaningful to me is not simply that the book is now available in audio form, but who ended up becoming the voice behind it.

When it came time to create the audiobook, I knew I wanted one, but honestly, I wasn’t sure how we would get there. Reading has always been a challenge for me, and the thought of personally narrating the entire book felt overwhelming.

At first, we attempted to use AI voice technology to create the audiobook. Ironically, Amazon rejected it because they do not allow AI-generated voice clones. So I tried recording it myself. After spending time with the recordings, we realized it simply was not coming together in a way that felt natural or enjoyable for listeners.

Then a thought surfaced… What if Christopher read it?

At first, it simply felt meaningful. A father writing the story, and a son giving voice to it. But then that word from 2015 suddenly came rushing back to me… “You are laying the foundation for your son to be the mouthpiece.” And in that moment, it hit me. My son was literally becoming the voice of the message.

A couple weeks ago, Christopher and I were talking, and I shared with him that God had recently brought that word back to mind for me while reflecting on the audiobook. What I found especially meaningful was that Christopher shared he had experienced the same recollection himself while recording and preparing the audiobook. Independently, the same word and realization had surfaced in both of our hearts.

For both of us, that moment felt deeply meaningful… Not simply because he was narrating a book, but because it felt like a reminder that God often fulfills things in ways we could never have anticipated at the beginning.

And perhaps even more importantly, that the core message itself is worth carrying forward: a life of surrender, trust, dependence on God, and learning to walk daily in His presence rather than striving in our own strength.

For Lisa and me, this audiobook has become more than just another format for the book. It has become another reminder of God’s faithfulness across generations and across seasons.

The audiobook for From Success to Surrender is now officially available on Amazon, and we would be honored if you would listen, share it with someone who may need encouragement, or simply continue walking alongside us on this journey.

Preview it here →