Margaret Fishback Powers - Footprints: The True Story Behind the Poem That Inspired Millions

Several years ago, while we were living in Andover, England, we were given Margaret Fishback Powers book about the story behind the Footprints poem. Her story touched our lives so deeply that we could not put the book down until we had read the last word. As we were reading, we learned that our families have been intertwined down through the decades. Paul had been in bible college in London, Ontario, with Davids father, Rev. Roland Smith. Paul and Margaret had been coming to England for seventeen years, but we had never met. So we contacted them and invited them to visit us in Andover. Since that time, we have continued on almost a yearly basis to minister together in Europe, Canada, and the Caribbean islands. We have personally seen tens of thousands of lives changed, blessed, and encouraged through their ministry. Their testimony does not sugar-coat the tough realities of life, but they have demonstrated that no matter what challenge they face, God will always be there to uphold them.

God is the creator and sustainer of our lives, and He cares for His children through the storms of life. Everyone needs to rely on someone to carry them during the fragile times of life. We are all carried for up to nine months in our mothers womb. Then, until we can walk, we are carried everywhere. When we are sick, we rely on others to carry us to places of care and recovery. Gods sustaining care for us is similar to a parent carrying a child or to a shepherd carrying his sheep. God cradles us in His loving arms. Sometimes we cannot make sense of life, but even in the confusion God is still there to hold us. We may not understand it all now, but one day we will look back and know that He is the one who carried us through it all.

We have had the opportunity to observe Paul and Margaret as we traveled with them for ministry, and we know that they truly live their lives each day relying on the One who can carry them through the challenges of life. They continue to model the seemingly simple act of total dependence on God. God has used them to bless our ministry, our family, and our lives personally. Their amazing example of faithfulness in their ministry and marriage has had a profound impact on us. We have laughed and cried together, and our lives are richer because of their writing, ministry, and friendship. It is our pleasure to introduce this book, which recounts the work of God in Margaret and Pauls lives. He has used their story to touch the hearts and lives of people of every age and across many different cultures.

Cathy Smith
David Smith,
President and CEO of ABWE (Across Borders for World Evangelism) Canada, a sending mission agency based in London, Ontario