In an age where fame is fabricated and purpose often pixelated, a man—unknown, uninvited, yet divinely aligned—pierced through the noise to whisper something rare: gratitude. Not for applause. Not for networking. But for Christ. For the cross. And for a writer who, without knowing, had spoken to his storm.
From the deserts of Arizona to the red soil of Ayah, Nigeria, the winds carried not just a message—but a mission. His name? Tom Tenney. His burden? Heavy. His longing? Sacred rest.
“Dear Inah Boniface Ocholi,
You don’t know me, but I wanted to reach out and thank you for serving The Lord in bringing people to Christ. My name is Tom Tenney from Arizona…
I was having a tough time dealing with the burdens I carry. I wanted peace. One day I had a poignant dream that taught me how important it is to include Christ in lifting my burden, but I really didn’t know how…
While reading articles and watching sermons on these topics I found your website… Due to what I have learned, I have felt inspired to write a short story.”
That story became “The Weight of Grace”—not just a book, but a testimony carved from personal travail. And yet, what deepened the mystery was not only his message to me, but what he did next.
When the wait for a reply stretched longer than his heart could bear, Tom took an unusual turn. He bypassed protocol and emailed the Chief Editor of Kogireports.com directly, requesting to speak with me.
Who does that in today’s world of cynicism and digital bureaucracy? A desperate man? No. A discerning one.
He searched not for influence, but for connection. Not with the rich, but with the one who unknowingly fed his soul. “A bird that remembers who fed it will not fly past without a song,” says the English proverb. And Tom’s song echoed far across oceans until it found its singer.
And when I responded—when I dared to answer a voice that came not through fame but faith—he wrote again:
“Thank you so much for your reply… After much thought and prayer, I have decided to offer the ebook and physical copy to those who inspired me for free…
Please use this promo code (*) at Barnes & Noble to download it. This will be available starting Saturday (4/26/25) and will be offered until July 1st, 2025…
Please only share the promo with who you feel needs to read the story.
I am currently working on a website (www.theweightofgrace.com) in case you want to learn a little more about me and what my mission is.
Your brother in Christ,
Tom.”
And so, a stranger became a brother. A reader became a witness. A seeker became a scribe.
The weight he once carried became a gift—freely given, like grace itself. And through the unlikeliest of channels, his sacred burden became a bridge between continents, between callings, between two men who have never met.
Yet something deeper lurks beneath this correspondence: a prophetic pattern. That God is no respecter of geography. That distance does not dilute destiny. That in a time when hearts grow cold and algorithms drown meaning, a single soul burning for truth can still find another—and fan the flame.
Tom’s bold move to reach out to the editorial heart of Kogi’s media landscape wasn’t desperation. It was divine orchestration. And in that act lies a lesson for this generation: when your hunger is holy, heaven opens doors no man can shut.
The English say, “He who seeks shall find.” And the Bible echoes, “Ask, and it shall be given unto you.” Tom asked. He found. And now, through The Weight of Grace, he offers.
This is not just about a book. It’s about a burden turned into blessing. A pain converted into purpose. A digital footstep that became a sacred encounter.
So to the weary, the lost, the dreamer buried under regrets—take the offer. Read the story. Let it speak.
For one day, you too may write. And when you do, let this truth rest in your bones:
“Sometimes, the door God opens isn’t the one you knock on—it’s the one your tears unlock.”
And that, dear reader, is the weight of grace.
– Inah Boniface Ocholi writes from Ayah – Igalamela/Odolu LGA, Kogi state.
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