LIFELINE CHILDREN’S SERVICES, GRUPO NELSON PUBLISHERS CO-HOST BOOK LAUNCH AND SIGNING FOR
WHOSE AM I?, BILINGUAL BOOK BY JACKIE DARBY AND AIXA DE LÓPEZ
DARBY’S ABANDONMENT IN A GARBAGE DUMP AS AN INFANT, MIRACULOUS DISCOVERY BY MISSIONARY NURSE AND FUTURE ADOPTION IS BACKDROP OF TRANSFORMATIVE STORY
Book helps adopted and foster children learn the truth about their worth and identity in Christ
(Nashville, Tenn.) March 14, 2024 — Lifeline Children’s Services, the largest Evangelical adoption and child welfare agency in the United States, and Grupo Nelson Publishers recently co-hosted a book launch and signing event for the new Grupo Nelson bilingual children’s book, Whose Am I? by Jackie Darby and Aixa de López.
Held at The Ridge Birmingham, Herbie Newell, president and executive director of Lifeline Children’s Services commented, “The stories we encounter in books play an important role in helping us navigate complex situations in life, especially as children.Every child should see the beauty in their own story, and Whose Am I? is an excellent tool for families who have been brought together through adoption or foster care.”
Based on the true adoption stories of Jackie Darby and Aixa de López’s daughter, Darly, the illustrated bilingual book shares real life experiences about adoption, redemption, and finding our true identity in Christ. The book presents the story of two characters whose lives are intertwined due to a strong bond formed by their adoption stories: Darly, a preteen girl with a thousand questions and feelings surrounding her story, and Jackie, her mentor and good friend, who has a beautiful and powerful testimony to share with her. Throughout their interaction you will learn that as a baby, Jackie was abandoned in a garbage dump, where a missionary nurse miraculously found her and took her to an orphanage, which was contacted by a foreign couple who wanted to adopt.
Whose Am I? is a book for both children and parents, asking questions and starting conversations that are often difficult for families to address. The authors blend their life experiences to offer a resource in hopes of bringing light and healing to an issue that often causes tension in families.
“As a two-time adoptive mother and spokesperson and volunteer for Christian Alliance for Orphans in Latin America, I see the need for resources that not only address the topic of adoption, but do so with a basic understanding of trauma and most importantly, that point to eternal truths and to the Person who finally resolves in Himself all doubts of identity,” remarked de López
“My prayer is that this book will be an important tool to start many honest conversations between parents and adopted children about the topic of adoption,” echoed Darby. “But it’s also for ALL children, because from a young age they need to understand that their value and true identity are in Him!”
“As an illustrator and mother of Darly (the little co-star of the book) I am deeply grateful and happy to be able to capture part of our stories for hearts that need it today. We very much want it to be read with children in families, schools, libraries, churches and other spaces, even if they were not adopted. “We ALL need to grow in empathy and see in these stories our own adoption in Christ!” – Aixa de López
“This book means hope and healing from God in my life. It is a gift from God, a dream come true. I have a Heavenly Father who loves me and knew me before forming me in my mother’s womb. My life has a purpose with great value and my identity is in Him as a daughter of God. He wants to be the same in the lives of every child who will read this book!” – Jackie Darby
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Jackie and Aixa are sisters in Christ, good friends, and volunteers in the Christian Alliance for Orphans in Latin America, sharing the passion of seeing Christ preached. They dream of many more stories of people who had difficult origins and have been redeemed, while helping more children, young people and parents walk with joy and truth in the midst of the brokenness and beauty of adoption.
They have served together in support groups for adoptive parents and also for young adults who were adopted. These experiences have given them even more reason to create this resource in the hopes of bringing light and healing to an issue that often causes tension in families. The dynamic between Darly and Jackie displayed in the book is based on a real friendship. Darly is Aixa’s youngest daughter.
Grupo Nelson, Thomas Nelson’s Spanish division, is a leading provider of Spanish-language Christian content and inspiration for all aspects of life. Grupo Nelson publishes and distributes a wide variety of resources and best-selling books on edification, family and relationships, children’s, personal development and professional growth topics, based on biblical principles. The company distributes products from a variety of notable authors such as John Eldridge, Billy Graham, Max Lucado, John Maxwell, John McArthur, Charles Stanley, Rick Warren and Sarah Young in more than 100 countries. For more information visit http://www.gruponelson.com/
Lifeline Children’s Services is the largest Evangelical Christian adoption agency in America, with offices in 18 states and headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama. It serves vulnerable children and families through private domestic and international adoption, family restoration and pregnancy counseling.
