In April 2001, tragedy struck deep in the jungles of Peru when a missionary flight carrying the Bowers family was mistakenly shot down during a counternarcotics operation gone wrong. Roni Bowers and her infant daughter, Charity, were killed. Jim Bowers and his young son survived.

Twenty-five years later, Jim joins Alex and Scott to reflect on that day and what Jim has learned about loss, faith, and God’s sustaining grace.

While the incident drew international attention and remains a sobering example of the dangers missionaries face, this episode moves beyond the news cycle. Jim shares what it has looked like to walk the long road of grief, forgiveness, and trust in God’s providence.

Key Topics

Jim Bowers recounts the tragic events of that day
Recognizing God's sovereign plan and sustaining grace since the incident
The risk of glamorizing hardships for attention
How missionaries should count the cost of following their call to missions

In this week's Overtime episode, Alex, Scott, and Jim talk about the confusing and misleading accounts from the CIA about the incident, the need for accountability within the government, and how to view recent political and military events. Get access to that episode by joining our Premium Subscribers at missionsshow.com/premium.

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Sustaining Grace Through Tragedy: The Bowers Shoot Down, 25 Years Later