Couples testify to God’s faithfulness amid grief, loss as part of Unfinished convention theme

On Feb. 1, 2018, Ken and Sandra Allen’s lives were “suddenly and abruptly brought to a stop” when they found out that their daughter, Abby, had been in a serious car accident.

“She would experience numerous injuries as part of being hit,” Ken Allen said, noting that among them were many broken bones and a brain injury.

He and his wife shared a testimony about that difficult time in their life as part of an Unfinished theme interpretation at the Alabama Baptist State Convention annual meeting Nov. 14.

Sandra Allen said that even though it was tough, as Abby went through surgeries, ICU stays and time on a ventilator and then slowly recovered in rehab, they saw God do “so much good.”

“We saw God heal her brain and her body. We saw her witness to people,” Sandra Allen said.

Ken Allen said Abby talked about God constantly with everyone who was around and asked if she could pray for them. She also wrote down Scriptures and posted them all over her walls.

“Our son said that when Abby was squeezed (by this tough situation), Jesus came out,” he said.

Ken Allen said that even though Abby was healed, they knew from day one that God was good and faithful whether He chose to heal her or not.

Grace, faithfulness and goodness

A second couple — Nathan and Lindsay Lyon — also emphasized that truth by sharing the story of losing their conjoined twins just hours after they were born in 2021.

“To understand God’s grace and faithfulness and goodness in that time, we can’t overstate the pain and suffering, the grief that happens when you have two kids die in your arms,” Nathan Lyon said.

God used that time in their life to adjust their expectations and beliefs about hardships, he said. “Our difficult seasons were the ones God used the most to mold, shape and grow us to be more like Him. Our lives have been changed forever for the better — far richer, more abundant, closer to Christ and closer to each other.”

They also shared that in October, they welcomed their newest child, Samuel.

To read the Lyons’ full story, click here.

To read more about the Allens’ story, click here.

To view more photos from this session, click here.