BEEBE FAMILY'S BOOK TELLS OF SAVAGE ATTACK AND FORGIVENESS

By Chris Cook - Forks Forum editor

The Beebe family of Forks is gaining national and international attention following the publication of Darrell and Sherri Beebe’s book “Darkness at Dawn.”

The book tells of a vicious attack the family suffered while serving as Assembly of God missionaries on the Micronesian island of Palau.

Darrell Beebe is a 1971 graduate of Forks High School, and the son of long-time Forks residents Ed and Peggy Beebe, who after 59 years residing in Forks now live in Mossyrock with Darrell and his wife Sherri. His brother Dave Beebe and wife Kay Beebe still live in Forks. A sister lives in Port Angeles, another brother in Centralia and another sister serves as a missionary in Macedonia.

The attack is the thread of the couple’s book, and graphically describe how their island home was broken into in the night and the family was beaten, kidnapped and severely abused.

Over years of physical and emotional recovery from the attack the Beebes describe how they have learned the meaning of what they call true biblical forgiveness. This years-long trial culminated in their recent return to Palau where they extend personal forgiveness to one of their attackers, and pray with him.

The couple’s children – Jeremy and Jadie – also share their stories in the book, which is written in the first person.
The Assembly of God’s weekly national church magazine, Today’s Pentecostal Evangel, dedicated almost an entire issue to the Beebe’s story, which the magazine termed “Terror in Paradise.”
 
“Most of the kids I graduated with were classmates from the first grade” Darrell said in an e-mail to the Forks Forum. “We were a close knit group. I played varsity basketball and football. My faith was a vital part of my life and had an impact on my decisions and actions. From an early age I sensed God’s call to full time ministry. I attended Northwest University, in Kirkland, Washington where I graduated with a degree in Biblical Studies. I have been married for 36 years?we have been pastors in Vader, Port Angeles, and Mossyrock, Washington, and served as foreign missionaries in the Solomon Islands, Palau and Japan.”

“We are not responsible for what other people say or do to us, but we are responsible for our response to what others say and do,” Darrell said. “I refused to allow what others did to us to determine our future. A person is going to live with the consequences of what has been said or done to them in one of two ways, either in the bitterness of unforgiveness or in the freedom of forgiveness. We chose to walk in forgiveness and freedom.”

“We are planning on returning to the Solomon Islands for three weeks of ministry in May,” he said. “Sherri and I travel full time sharing our story and teaching on the subject of forgiveness.”

The Beebes are scheduled to be in Forks on Sunday morning, July 12 at the Forks Assembly of God Church to share their story and talk about the book.

More details on the book and a link to order the book are available at www.darknessatdawn.info.