Smith - Captive

F irst, I would like to thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. If he did not love me as much as he does and have a plan for my life, then I would not be alive to share my story through this book.

I want to thank my daughter Paige for loving me no matter what and for being one of the best prayer warriors I could ever ask for. You are my heart and I love you so much.

I would like to thank my mom for demanding that I go to Bridges of Hope and for saving my life after my car accident. And for all the love and belief she has always had in me. Thank you, Mom, for putting up with me and never giving up on me. I love you, and I promise I am here for you every step of the way as you fight this battle with cancer.

Larryaka Dadthank you for treating me like your own and for always loving me. Thank you for showing love to Mack when he was alive and for helping him to see what he wanted in life. Thank you for never giving up on me and for being there when many would have written me off.

I would like to thank Aunt Kim for all of the love and support she has given to me and to Paige. Thank you for all of your prayers. Thank you for challenging me to want more of what Christ has for me. Thank you also for your guidance and friendship. And Uncle Steve, thank you for being the best father figure that Paige could ask for and also for your love and open arms to me.

I honor and thank my grandparents for always guiding me in the way of the Lord and for loving me when I did not seem to love back. Mema, thank you for showing me the person I want to bejust like you! And Papa, thank you for instilling in me the discipline I have today. I know it comes from you, and I would not be the same without it. I told you guys I would make you proud someday!

To my Uncle David (Uncle D) for the talks we have had, for the prayers you have prayed, and for the example you have set for me as a godly man, husband, father, and friend. I hope there is one more man left out there just like you for me. Aunt Jill, I want to thank you also for your prayers and for all the time you spent with me when I was growing up. Those times are memorable.

To my brother Christian and my sister Leahthank you for loving me. Christian, I am proud to be your Sissy, and Leah (aka La), I am proud to be your Sisso. I love you both with all my heart.

To my cuz and best friend in the whole world, Rebekah: thank you for all your love, support, and prayer, and for being hard on me when you needed to. Its okayI forgive you, and I hope you forgive me too! Thank you also for checking my email and being my assistant through everything. I will have you home soon. And Eric toothanks! I love yall.

To all the rest of my family, thank you all for your love and support and, most of all, for your prayers. Jesus heard you when you prayed, and he answered. I love you allyou guys are the best family anyone could ever ask for!

To the Smith family, thank you all for loving Paige and me. Thank you for your love, support, and prayers. I know that Mack is at peace now.

Thanks to William Davis and Son for giving me a job when I first moved to Atlanta.

To all of you at Jackson Spalding, thank you for caring about me and loving me the way you do. Thank you for making my dreams come true. I couldnt have done this without you. You guys are my new friends the Lord has sent. Glen Jackson, thank you for always standing firm for Jesus Christ and knowing where my story needed to be. Thank you also for making me feel less afraid the first night we metI will never forget your prayer. Caroline Duffy, thank you for becoming full-time again because of me. You have been my ears when I couldnt hear, my eyes when I couldnt see, and my voice when I couldnt find the words. I am grateful, and I love you. Thanks to Stephanie Fitzsimmons, Gustavo Machado, and Tony Wilbert for your professional support as well.

To my agent, Calvin Edwards, thank you for your faithfulness, all of your hard work, and for spoiling me with the many gifts you sent! You and Nerida have been wonderful to me. I know God sent you to me from the very beginning. And Heather Northcut, thank you for the help you have provided.

To my lawyer and friend David Nutter, thank you for your guidance and for the talks that we have had about our heavenly Father. You too were God-sent, and I appreciate everything you do.

To my CPA, Courtnay Bazemore, thank you for all of your hard work and for being the best woman for the job. You have been God-sent as well.

Thanks to Josh Archer for giving up part of his weekend and dropping everything on his plate the week of March 13 to run interference for me. I am grateful you were there to lean on.

To the people of Atlantathank you for the gracious way you have supported me since the terrifying events of March 11 and 12. I mourn with you for the loss of those who died; our city is less than what it was because they are gone. A special, heartfelt thanks to Governor Sonny Perdue and the other officials who honored me on March 24 and extended a reward to me. I appreciate your support and am humbled by it.

To those everywhere who prayed for Brian Nicholss surrender and a peaceful end to the violence, thank you from my heart. God answered your prayers, and I am grateful.

To Zondervan and William Morrow: thank you all for believing in me and my story, and thank you for helping me make my dreams come true. Thank you for your hard work, generosity, enthusiasm, and kindness. I appreciate you more than you know.

On the Zondervan side, I want to thank Executive Editor John Sloan for your guidance and belief in my story, and for all of the stories you have shared with methey have changed my life. My thanks also to Jim Ruark, Senior Editor; Vicki Cessna, Director of Public Relations; Mark Rice, Vice President of Corporate Communications; Lyn Cryderman, Vice President and Publisher, Books; Scott Bolinder, Executive Vice President and Publisher; Bruce Ryskamp, Chief Executive Officer. A special thanks to audio producer Jeff Bowden for his work with me on the audio book.

On the William Morrow side, I want to thank Executive Editor Maureen OBrien for your strong belief in this story from the beginning, all your editorial guidance, and your energy and openness with me. You have been so fun to chat with, and you have put so much into this book. I also thank Stephanie Fraser, Maureens excellent editorial assistant; Debbie Stier, Director of Publicity; Trina Rice, Publicist; Lisa Gallagher, Publisher; Michael Morrison, President; and Jane Friedman, Chief Executive Officer. A special thanks to Associate General Counsel Beth Silfin for all of her input and hard work.

To my dear friend and pastor, Chuck Gordon, thank you for The Church at GreenbrierI feel so at home there. Thank you for your concern and for all your prayers and support.

To Dr. Frank Page, thank you for all your support and prayers, and for letting people know during the beginning of all this that I am a child of God and have been for a long time. I just got lost, and Jesus is the one who found me.

To my Aunt Kims prayer groupthank you. You guys have always known that prayers get answered, and now so do I.

I also want to thank my small group for all of the fellowship and for your constant prayers for me over the last six months. And to everyone who has begun to pray for my mom and her battle with cancer, thank you so much. We need you. Please keep praying!

To Bridges of Hope, thank you for showing me the way of hope and for teaching me that I am an addict. Thank you for giving me the knowledge to recover and stay recovered. To all the recovering drug addicts out there, just knowing youre out there trying to stay clean one day at a time keeps me encouraged! To the drug addicts not yet recovered, thank you for showing me where I came frombut please know there is a better way, and it is Jesus.