Trading Places by Joe Boyd – the new book, subtitled ‘Hopelessness to Happiness’, written by Ballymena journalist Joe Boyd and due to be launched at the end of March 2019 by Timeless Publications.
Joe is very well-known in church circles, especially around the Ballymena area, where he has been involved in church based journalism for many years. He spent 18 years writing for the Ballymena Times before joining The Church Page around 4 years ago. In that time he has interviewed many church leaders, covered many church related news stories and much more.
But life wasn’t always so good for Joe! Joe was born in the late 1970’s with cerebral palsy. Professionals in the medical field gave a gloomy prognosis about his future. But he was to prove many people wrong. God had other plans for his life and now, through his new book, you can have the opportunity to read the full story.
Trading Places by Joe Boyd
The book tells his story from childhood. In it he talks about his time at primary school in Ballymena and of a teacher there who helped and nurtured him. It goes on to cover his very unhappy teenage years but he also talks about those in church circles who influenced him in those younger years and how God stepped in to the situation. His story moves on and for Joe that meant gaining a degree and going into the field of journalism. In the latter part of Trading Places he talks about his work at the Ballymena Times, his marriage to Rachael, his current freelance writing and his work at The Church Page. As a colleague of Joe’s at The Church Page it has been a pleasure to work with him – a guy who is passionate about getting Christian news and stories to as many people as possible. All in all the book will be an enthralling read! Joe is however, very keen that above all else, the book brings glory to God and praises Him for what he has been able to achieve with God’s help.
A few excerpts from the back page summary of Trading Places –
“There were days I would look in the mirror and just wish I could trade places with someone else….someone smarter, someone stronger and someone braver. I wanted to be anyone but me.”
But then God intervened…..
….to bring about a transformative miracle in Joe’s life, enabling him to trade places with the frightened, struggling boy who cried as he looked into the mirror. Saving faith in Jesus Christ brought hope and a future to Joe in a way that few would have thought possible, leading him on a glorious path from fear and hopelessness to success and happiness with the Lord’s help.
The launch of Trading Places by Joe Boyd takes place at Victory Praise Community Church, Pennybridge Industrial Estate, Ballymena (map here) on Saturday 30th March 2019 at 10:30am. If you would like to attend the launch would you please let Joe know for catering purposes. Email joeboyd@thechurchpage.com. Copies of the book will be available to buy at the launch and will be available from that date on the Timeless Publications website here. Twenty per cent of the book sales will go to Greensleeves Children’s Trust.
