Between the Lines of ABH

Part 1: Plot Twist

by Nicole Geiger

Playing in the rafters of a shed in Papua Indonesia, Fran Geiger Joslin heard the gospel for the first time in 1964. At three years old she gave her life to the Lord, and again at seven just to be sure. Growing up on the mission field, God was a daily part of her life; however, what kick-started her personal relationship with the Lord was a book.

Bored at a guest house in 1972, she initially thought nothing about pulling Not My Will by Francena H. Arnold from a bookshelf. The story of a young woman going through the hardest of trials only to watch the Lord turn her life into something beautiful spoke volumes to Fran. At eleven years old she saw a kind of devotion she desired for her own life. She found comfort in seeing God turn tragedy into triumph and for the first time she felt a personal connection to him.

In the following years that connection stayed strong as she studied Bible and missions at Philadelphia College of Bible, and then married her sweetheart, Brian Geiger. The first few years of their marriage passed with bumps here and there, but in October of 1999 Brian received the devastating diagnosis of brain cancer. To the family’s despair, doctors didn’t offer much hope long term.

 Searching for comfort and encouragement, Fran met with two friends who gifted her the book Let’s Roll.  Fran gained a new perspective on her future by reading Lisa Beamer’s story of losing her husband on 9/11. Instead of hiding away and grieving privately, Beamer used her now famous name to bring glory to God. Inspired, Fran wondered if writing about her own experience would help other people in similar situations. She brought this idea to her friends who committed to pray for her as she pondered her path.          

Fran journaled regularly about the lows of suffering through chemo and radiation, and the highs of persistent love and raising three kids. Throughout it all she held to God’s promise that in the end her family would be taken care of. In July 2008, after nine years of battling cancer, the Lord called Brian home.

Overwhelmed and devastated, Fran’s family barely functioned in the following months. Desperate for reassurance, she sought out the book that changed her life as a child. Rereading the protagonist’s loss of both her husband and child, Fran realized that God had put this book in her hands thirty-five years before she needed it. Although experiencing a season of deep grief, she found once again that Not My Will changed her life. Fran recognized God must love her intensely to place this promise of not only suffering, but of grace and healing, in her hands at eleven years old.

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At a church in small town Iowa in 1980, Howard Joslin approached a guest speaker to ask a few questions about his sermon. Throughout the conversation, a question arose. “If you died today, would you go to Heaven?” Unsure of his final destination, Howard thought of all the hate he harbored toward his abusive father. Also, what would people think, and how silly he would look, praying with this man? A voice in the back of his head reminded him of the magazines he collected at home and told him if he was going to do this, they’d have to go. All of them. Despite all his fears, at seventeen Howard gave his life to the Lord.

Over the next six months, the woods by Howard’s family farm became his sanctuary. He would take his Bible, light a fire, and study scripture alone. Slowly, he burned his magazines until nothing remained but ash. The peace he made within himself extended to his feelings about his father. Although his father remained unchanged, Howard committed to showing him love while receiving none in return.

In addition to studying agricultural business, Howard began reading Christian literature at Iowa State University. The first book, God’s Smuggler, by Brother Andrew, told the tale of a Romanian pastor who smuggled Bibles into Russia. Instead of hiding his actions, he carried the Bibles visibly, defending himself only with prayer. Electrified by the power of God, Howard felt led to bring the gospel to others. After trying a few organizations on campus, he joined Campus Crusade for Christ. Throughout his time with them, his passion for ministry grew and he met his wife, Ann Yarnell. After college and four kids, the Joslin family found themselves moving to Texas to pursue Howard’s dream of attending Dallas Theological Seminary. Eight years later, right after graduating from seminary, their worlds were rocked.

In May 2006, the day after receiving his diploma, Howard was admitted to the hospital for a heart attack. Only days later Ann received the diagnosis of spleen cancer. Although Howard recovered relatively quickly, the next couple of years were dedicated to keeping Ann alive. Throughout that time they clung to the promise of life after death. Howard used his updates on Ann’s health to challenge friends and family on prayer. Tragically, two years to the day of her initial tests, Ann left her pain behind for Heaven. 

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            A mutual friend frequently remarked that, while they suffered separately, she often received the same updates from both Howard and Fran. After months of hearing about the other, Howard sent Fran his favorite book on grief, A Grace Disguised by Jerry Sittser. Sittser tells the story of losing his wife, daughter, and mother in a car wreck and his journey to find happiness once more.

The timing of his gift felt perfect as Fran neared the end of her rope. She wasn’t convinced she’d ever be okay again, or if she was even allowed to. This book gave her permission. Sittser encouraged her that even if life would never be the same, it could be good. Forever polite, Fran sent a thank-you card back to Howard through their mutual friend.  Unexpectedly, Howard felt as if he had received a love letter. Feeling foolishly possessed by the thought of a woman on whom he’d never laid eyes, Howard enlisted his daughter’s help to create a Facebook account. In July 2010 Howard took the first step to send Fran a direct message and by November they were married.

The couple shared a desire for ministry but struggled to work it into their lives with five teenagers under their roof. While Howard worked full time he continued wrestling with how to impact others. One day it hit him. Throughout all of their suffering, one thing consistently ministered to them. After some time of prayer and talking with Fran, it was decided: Howard was going to write a book.