CARAVAN - Incarnational stories set in an Australian landscape. Paperback edition. Pre-order. Books will reach you before Advent 1

ABM has just released ‘Caravan’, a book of incarnational stories based on the birth of Christ but set in an Australian landscape. It is written in a way that allows it to be used as an Advent to Epiphany study for groups or individuals but will also make a wonderful Christmas gift to yourself or others.

Stories. Stories build faith. Stories invite questions. Stories inspire the imagination. Stories invite us to see differently and understand more. This book is a collection of stories that are all part of one story. One, “what if?” story that imagines Jesus born into Australia right about….now.

Caravan throws new light on stories we think we know backwards, and asks the question, “Could it have happened here and now?” From the Annunciation to Epiphany (and a little beyond) Caravan is an incarnational journey into the heart of what it means to be human – and to be loved.

"I have read and watched many retellings of the Christmas stories, but this book is something special. The real power of this book lies in the sheer, gut-punching beauty of the writing; the depth of character created in a few short paragraphs; the mystery that throbs through everyday people and places; and in the shared dawning wonder that maybe, just maybe, this unthinkably beautiful, far-away story of God coming to us is here, now, and real."

Dr Anne van Gend, author of Restoring the Story: The Good News of Atonement. Anne is Community Ministry Enabler in the Anglican Diocese of Dunedin, New Zealand.

"These stories and their accompanying art are rich and evocative, sometimes harsh and jarring, but always lead us on a journey to rejoice at God’s incredible love in becoming one of us. There is hope in these stories just as there was and is in the original. In Caravan Steve and Vanessa Daughtry have given us a great gift. Enjoy it!"

Geoff Smith, Anglican Archbishop of Adelaide and Primate of the Anglican Church of Australia.

"So fresh, so immediate, so accessible and so real. It reduced me to tears and took me to a place of very deep internal silence."

Dr Michael Paterson, Director, Institute of Pastoral Supervision & Reflective Practice.

"I love the way Stephen paints the settings. I particularly like the way he includes the First Nations flavour to the story. It is so real and so familiar that he draws us into the narrative and gives us the sense that we are watching the story unfold. feel like I am really there, and it makes sense."

Rev Canon Di Langham, Secretary of NATSIAC and Director of Reconciliation for Newcastle Anglican.

"I think ‘Caravan’ has been God inspired… for there is a prophetic element in each story that invites us to new understanding. Each will be a catalyst for thoughtful reflection, and at least one laugh out loud turn of phrase!  The prose is deeply satisfying and will resonate.  The prayers capture much from what is evoked, and I particularly loved, “Some of us feel past our ‘use by date’, but we are not, because we are yours...” Amen! My strong recommendation is that we all get a copy."

Cam Venables, Bishop for the Western Region, Anglican Church of Southern Qld.

"Stephen and Vanessa Daughtry have brought to life a delightfully surprising Australian telling of the Christmas story for 21st Century readers.  Using Gospel accounts of the birth of Jesus, Stephen sets the Son of God as One of Us in the Australian bush - to show us that in our often forgotten parts of the bush, 'God is very active’, when we have eyes and hearts to see beyond the ordinary to the extra-ordinary and receive a special gift of love.  A fresh take on the Christmas Story that will bless every lover of Australian country life."

Rev Sue Ellis, Past-Moderator, the Uniting Church Synod of South Australia and Chairperson of UC Fellowship and Mission Support. 

Sometimes it takes an act of imagination to tell or hear the stories of the faith in a way that helps us hear their timeless truths and that is just what we have been provided with in this new study from Stephen Daughtry. The well-known stories of Advent to Epiphany have been reimagined in an Australian context with language and imagery that bring them to life in new ways for a new season.

If one of the great failures of the church is a failure of imagination, this short collection of stories might just begin to assist us to hear the invitations of the Spirit to re-imagine the faith, and perhaps even a different future for the church.

Jeremy Greaves, Anglican Archbishop of Brisbane