LBC alumnus author Brian Hennon (’98)

November is National Family Caregivers Month, and a Lancaster Bible College graduate has published a book aimed at giving God’s people tools to not only help make difficult end-of-life caregiving decisions, but also to help them find joy in the midst of them.

Brian Hennon (’98) is the author of “Joy at the End of the Journey,” his first book. After spending over 20 years in pastoral ministry, Hennon, a Student Ministries graduate of LBC, began a career in hospice and discovered that pastors and Christians in general are largely unequipped to make sound, biblical decisions about end-of-life matters.

LBC President Emeritus Dr. Peter W. Teague endorsed “Joy at the End of the Journey” with these words:

“’Joy at the End of the Journey’ is a poignant and thoughtful booklet that addresses the often-challenging topic of end-of-life decisions through a biblical lens. The author skillfully weaves through Scripture and personal insights, providing readers with a compassionate framework for navigating these difficult moments.

“The booklet emphasizes the importance of faith and hope, reminding readers that even in the face of mortality, there can be joy and peace found in God’s promises. Each chapter is thoughtfully organized, offering practical guidance alongside spiritual reflections that encourage deep contemplation.

“For those seeking to align their end-of-life decisions with their faith, this booklet serves as a valuable resource, fostering a sense of comfort and clarity during a profoundly emotional time.

“Overall, ‘Joy at the End of the Journey,’ is a heartfelt guide that inspires the reader to approach the end of life with grace and renewed sense of purpose.”

Learn more about Hennon’s heart for this important topic at the Q&A below…

LANCASTER BIBLE COLLEGE: You stated that pastors and Christians have lacked the tools to make sound end-of-life decisions. Why do you think that is?

BRIAN HENNON: I have the privilege of working with some phenomenal people. Physicians, nurses, social workers – you name it – and they’re are all amazing people. Many of them say the same thing: Christians are the hardest and most unrealistic to talk to about death and dying.

I have a theory that the Church has undergone a cultural shift. When I became a believer 32 years ago, I remember hearing the phrase, “Christians can become so heavenly minded that they are no earthly good.” Interestingly, I don’t hear that phrase anymore, and most people I speak with haven’t either.

I believe for many reasons, the pendulum has swung, and now believers are more focused on earthly things rather than the realities of heaven. I know I can, and do, fall into that trap.

But I also believe the sheer amount of information thrown at people struggling with an advanced illness is overwhelming and confusing. That’s why I started the ministry Hopeful Hope (hopefulhope.org), of which the book is a part. My desire is that I will be able to help clear some of that confusion and help people make decisions based on faith, not fear, clarity, not confusion, and mostly hope, not hopelessness.

LBC: How has your LBC education informed your roles in churches and hospice settings?

BH: My time an LBC was integral to all that the Lord has led me to do over the years. As a freshman and a new believer, I came into LBC with very few, if any, preconceived ideas. Classes like Old Testament with Dr. Gordon Johnston, Hermeneutics with Dr. Harold Kime and Spiritual Life and Evangelism with Dr. Sandy Good gave me a solid foundation that allowed me to grow and develop as a communicator and leader.

LBC: Throughout your years in hospice service, what did pastors and Christians struggle with the most regarding the end-of-life journey?

BH: In the book, I describe an interaction with a pastor where he was unable to give people good, biblical advice about end-of-life and medical treatment. As I’ve led seminars through my ministry, Hopeful Hope, and have spoken to pastors and Christians about end-of-life issues, I’ve discovered that people largely don’t look at the choices that need to be made as they approach end-of-life through a biblical lens. This isn’t a knock on Bible college or seminary, but most don’t prepare pastors to walk their people through these difficult decisions. And as medical advances increase, the need for pastors to be able to shepherd their congregations through them is only going to grow.

That’s one of the primary purposes of my book – not to tell people what decisions to make, but to give them a biblical framework from which they can make those decisions.

LBC: Was there anything surprising that you learned during the research and publication of the book?

BH: It continually amazes me how people have such unrealistic expectations of the medical establishment. I’ve spoken to people over 100 years old who tell me they aren’t dying. I’ve met with families caring for loved ones with significant dementia who think one more medication will change the trajectory of a disease that has progressed in spite of multiple medications and hospitalizations.

This is especially surprising when the people involved are believers. Psalm 20:7 says, “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name if the Lord our God.” David wasn’t suggesting that chariots and horses have no purpose, but he was suggesting that they can and do become idols. In the same way, medical treatment and medical advances are wonderful gifts from God, but they aren’t God. I’m not suggesting everyone reading this should stop going to the doctor, but I do think believers in Christ should be the most realistic when it comes to the power and ability of modern medicine to transform these perishable bodies.

LBC: What is the main point you hope readers will take away from “Joy at the End of the Journey”?

BH: No one can argue with the impact the early church had on culture and society, and a large part of that impact was how early Christians were known. They were known for how they lived and how they died. They lived with faith and hope, and they died with joy and confidence.

Simply put, I want people to read this book and trust Jesus more, because that’s where joy is found. I want them to trust Him with their lives, even when those lives are fading, and I want them to approach the end of this life with confidence and joy, knowing that everything about the next life is gain.

LBC: Looking back, what do you appreciate most about LBC?

BH: As I said, I was a new believer when I started at LBC, so what I really appreciated was the ability to simply be immersed in solid, biblical teaching by very godly and loving people. I also had the privilege of attending with my dad, who quit his career and started at LBC a year after I did. I distinctly remember attending a chapel service with him and simply being amazed at how blessed we were to be there.

LBC: How can people contact you if they have any questions?

BH: I can be reached through my web site, hopefulhope.org/contact or by email at Brian@hopefulhope.org.

LBC: How can those interested find more info about “Joy at the End of the Journey”?

BH: The book can be purchased on Amazon at this link.