Biography...
Thank you for your interest in my life...
Nancy
I grew up attending church sporadically, but I didn’t come to know the Lord as my personal savior until I was twenty-six years old. When I realized that I was a sinner and that Jesus died on a cross to pay for my sins, I became a believer and follower of Christ. I began reading God’s Word, joined a Bible-believing church, and soon my late husband, Dave, and I were burdened to reach others with the Gospel of Christ.
Mankins
For twenty-three years I served as a missionary with New Tribes Mission (NTM). Dave and I lived in Panama, reaching a remote people group with the gospel—until Dave and two of our colleagues were kidnapped from our isolated village and held hostage by Colombian terrorists. For eight-and-a-half years, we three wives worked with NTM to obtain release for Dave, Mark, and Rick. Through this time we gained audiences with presidents, senators, congressmen, ambassadors, a queen, former hostages, and hostage experts—only to learn, after all of those agonizing years of searching and waiting, that our husbands had been martyred by their captors.
My book Hostage is the account of the kidnapping of Dave, Mark, and Rick—as well as our experiences as missionaries in the remote village of Púcuro, Panama.
Hamm
In 2005 I married Gary Hamm, and currently we live in Florida. Gary and I are blessed to have each other to share the good times as well as to comfort one another through trials.
Together Gary and I have four married children, and we are the proud grandparents of eight wonderful grandchildren, one of whom is now in heaven.
Gary encouraged me to continue writing. The Outcasts is my first work of fiction and is due to be released in September 2009. Gary drew the map for The Outcasts and read chapters as I wrote them. My mother-in-law, Marge, my daughter-in-law Trisha, and my sister, Donna, read the book in stages and their enthusiasm spurred me on. My friend Nancy Everson put in many hours editing, praying, and encouraging me through the process. My son Chad and his family arrived home from Papua New Guinea where they serve as missionaries with NTM just in time for Chad to do the final proofread for The Outcasts. His talents and skills have always amazed me, but he’s managed to astound me once again with his abilities. It has been a lot of fun for us to work together on this project.
Our other children have been encouraging and helpful in many ways during this busy and hectic time, and I appreciate each one of them.
I would love to hear from you—please visit my blog or contact page.
God Bless,
Nancy Mankins Hamm
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10
