Defy the Odds: How God Can Use Your Past to Shape Your Future

“A wonderful picture of how God can use any person regardless of their past.”-Roma Downey, Emmy®-nominated actress and producer Pastor Benny Tate never faced a time that wasn’t filled with obstacles. Each season of life came with setbacks that often seemed insurmountable: the abusive father figure who tormented Benny and his mother, the lack of guidance in his early adulthood, and the illness and infertility he and his wife battled in their marriage. Yet in every crisis, God was there to redeem pain for glory, transforming Benny’s life into a moving testament to His power. Through his struggles, Benny’s faith grew as he saw how God provided him with the strength, wisdom, and resources he needed to overcome each staggering challenge placed before him. In parts a memoir that will tug on your heartstrings, a guide to get you through tough times, and a reminder to never see yourself as the victim of your own life, Defy the Odds will inspire your soul as it proves that you follow a God who can-and will-see you through the impossible. Review FOREWORD by Jentezen Franklin It’s rare to find a pastor who is as comfortable in front of corporate giants and US senators as he is with his own congregation. Whether he’s speaking to executives at Delta Air Lines, ServiceMaster, or Chick-fil-A or to his own congregation, Benny has a way of relating core scriptural values and principles that transcend titles and stations in life, all in such a way that people are truly inspired to take action and create change. Defy the Odds takes you behind the curtain and offers life lessons forged in the pain and triumph Benny has experienced. As you walk through these chapters, you will see how God’s plan and His hand were on Benny long before he was born. Then at each stage of Benny’s life, the Lord positioned a caregiver to provide him with timely direction as He shaped him for a purpose he never could have imagined. I believe you will find yourself in the space between the lines because Benny’s struggles were not unlike struggles we all face. Yours may have a different name or take place in a different context, but your life’s challenges are not as unique to you as you may believe. What is unique is God’s plan for each of us. That is made clear in every story and teaching in this book. Each chapter offers a fresh perspective for every season of your life, building a foundation of hope for all your tomorrows. You can defy the odds simply because you carry the very presence of God into every situation you face and every ministry opportunity you encounter. Defy the Odds will show you how to maintain hope in all circumstances, as only a master communicator like Benny can do. Through surrender and sacrifice, Benny has a way of turning the most unlikely circumstance into something amazing. Whether success- fully navigating the scholarly world as a guest speaker on college campuses or growing a young church of 50 people into a church of more than 8,000, Benny has discovered a hidden pathway to success and victory. He is incredibly passionate about sharing that path with who- ever is willing to sit and listen-or in this case, willing to sit and read. I promise you this: Whatever situation you find yourself in today- rich or poor, highly successful or just trying to get on your feet-God has so much more for you. Defy the Odds will show you, step by step and story by story, how to walk in all He has for your life. Benny’s story begins before he was even born, and you, too, will discover that your journey isn’t just about finding your next step or making that next decision but also about learning that you have been a part of God’s plan before you ever took a breath. You, my friend, were made for more, and it’s time to start defying the odds in your own life -Jentezen Franklin, senior pastor of Free Chapel and New York Times bestselling author     “It is my great privilege to recommend the book Defy the Odds by my dear fri