Andy Andrews - The Travelers Summit: The Remarkable Sequel to The Travelers Gift

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H ailed by a New York Times reporter as someone who has quietly become one of the most influential people in America, Andy Andrews is a bestselling novelist, speaker, and consultant for some of the worlds most successful teams, largest corporations, and fastest-growing organizations. He also personally coaches individuals and small business owners at AndyAndrews.com. He has spoken at the request of four United States presidents and recently addressed members of Congress and their spouses. Zig Ziglar said, Andy Andrews is the best speaker I have ever seen. Andy is the author of the New York Times bestsellers The Noticer, How Do You Kill 11 Million People?, and the modern classic The Travelers Giftwhich has sold millions of copies worldwide. He lives in Orange Beach, Alabama, with his wife, Polly, and their two sons.

For more information, visit AndyAndrews.com.

I am blessed to be surrounded by friends and family who have become a team of which I am thrilled to be a part. If I can ever be perceived as a person who makes good and informed choices, it is only because of my reliance on the wise counsel of these people. Thank you all for your presence in my life.

To Polly, my wife and best friend: thanks for your love, wit, patience, and happy spirit.

To Austin and Adam, our boys: you guys are the best. I am so proud of who you are becoming. Remember to smile while you talk!

To David Loy, a great business associate, friend, and the best podcast host Ive ever heard!

To Todd Rainsberger: your story advice is always appreciated. And fun!

To Shawn Hanks and the whole incredible gang at Premiere Speakers Bureau: you are not just partners; you are friends.

To Gail and Mike Hyatt, who gave life to my career as an author: I am honored to call you friends.

To Jennifer Stair, my editor, whose careful eye and quick mind made this a much better book: I very much appreciate your calm tact and great humor.

To senior editor Paula Major as well as Christy Phillippe and the dozens of people at HarperCollins who touched this book through marketing and sales.

To Matt Baugher, my publisher from HarperCollins: thanks for your wise guidance and encouragement. In addition to being the best at what you do, you have become a great friend and definitely made this author thing a lot more fun.

To Daisy Hutton, publisher for the W Group, who for years used to handle the foreign rights on my books and now is in charge of the whole thing!

To Sandi Dorff and Paula Tebbe, who direct the daily parts of my life: without the effort, prayer, and attention to detail of you two ladies, my own efforts would not come to nearly so much.

To Sherry and Richard Wright and Michelle and Brian Gibbons: you are greatly appreciated by my whole family. You are our port during the storm.

To Melinda and Christian Leake and Peggy Hoekenga for developing fantastic curriculum for this book and all the others.

To authors Gloria Gaither, Jack Higgens, and others too numerous to mention: your influence on my style is probably apparent, but I wanted to say thanks anyway.

To Vicki and Brian Bakken, Sunny Brownlee, Foncie and Joe Bullard, Johannah and Ty Bullard, Brent Burns, Gloria and Bill Gaither, Gloria and Martin Gonzalez, Lynn and Mike Jakubik, Deb and Gilbert Little, Nancy Lopez, Mark Lowry, Melanie and Mike Martin, Liz and Bob McEwen, Tommie McGaster, Edna McLoyd, Mary and Jim Pace, Glenda and Kevin Perkins, Brenda and Todd Rainsberger, Sharon and Dave Ramsey, Ted Romano, Barbara Selvey, Shannon Smith, Jean and Sandy Stimpson, Maryann and Jerry Tyler, Mary Ann and Dave Winck, Kristi and Steve Woods, Kathy and Mike Wooley, and Lindsi and Dan Stone: your influence in my life is undeniable, and your example is very much appreciated.

I n less than five minutes the news had circled the globe. It was the lead story everywhere. David Ponder had agreed to appear publicly for the first time in almost a decade. And not just appear.

It had been announced that the almost universally adored businessman and philanthropist would actually answer questions. The conversation would be a sit down, one-on-one airing live and unedited. It would be available on audio and video feed at no charge to any media platform wishing to broadcast it. The world would be watching.

When I first heard the news, I was thrilled for the person Ponder had chosen to interview him. Remington HansonRemi, to her legion of followersis arguably the most successful and famous journalist in the country.

Remi occupies a high level of importance in my life personally. Not simply because I admire her talent, brains, and heart. Those attributes are well documented. My sense of awe goes beyond her celebrity and moves into the realm of gratitude.

Simply put, The Travelers Giftmy first New York Times bestsellerwould probably be gathering dust if not for Remi. She championed the book and people listened. Subsequently, The Travelers Gifteventually translated into more than forty languagesbecame a publishing sensation all over the world.

Several years later, because of that success, I had the opportunity to document another part of David Ponders life in a book called The Travelers Summit. Againas he had when I documented his story in The Travelers GiftPonder insisted I have the book published as fiction. And like the first time, I wasnt sure why.

My access to David Ponder the second time around had been severely limited. Of course, I understood the lack of access. After all, the man was in his midseventies at that point, his wife had passed away, and he was already world famousone of the wealthiest men on the planet.

Arriving that morning at Ponder International, I was under the impression that I was responding to a social invitation. In the lobby of the massive Dallas landmark, a polite young man wearing a blue blazer escorted me to an elevator.

Pushing 55, he said into a communications device and smiled at me. Mr. Ponder has been informed that you are on your way up.

Moments later the elevator opened directly into the broad expanse of a living room. The doors closed behind me, and after a kind greeting, Mr. Ponder offered me coffee and a chair. Within minutes, the older gentleman began to pour out his incredible tale.

Realizing quickly the true nature of my visit, I took careful notes. He spoke quickly but talked until almost two oclock, not even pausing for lunch, and, of course, I did not stop him. The story he told was fantastic... surreal... but far too strange for him (or anyone) to have made up.

Obviously, that was the day he told me how close humanity had come to... well, how close we had come to nothing. (Honestly, I dont know how else to put it.)

As I listened, I attempted to affect a calm demeanor. Ponder described the gathering, explained its purpose, and patiently listed all those who had been present.

He revealed specific arguments that had taken place, the ideas presented and rejected, the palpable fear he had experienced at certain moments, and in minute detail, he described the scene during those last moments when the answer they had been seeking was finally understood.

When he was finished, Mr. Ponder asked if I had any questions. As you might imagine, I didincluding one I had posed years before, the first time we met. If you will, I prompted, please describe the angel.

Not an angel, he said first. Gabriel is an archangel. With that, he proceeded to meticulously relate everything he remembered.

Later, I read the words he had used to describe Gabriel during the first conversation we ever had. That description of the archangel was what I had subsequently relied upon and faithfully reproduced when I wrote of