A Subversive Seed-Saver and Sower

From the Back Cover:

Close escape from China. Engaging the struggles and dangers of Latin American revolutions and dictators. Resisting  U.S. policies in Latin America. Rearing four children. In later years, she had her first homes in Chicago, on Indiana’s shores of Lake Michigan, and in Plainfield, Indiana. All of these experiences are shared by Grace Gyori as she writes her life story, most of which was shared by her husband, Tom. Readers will be caught up in the candor and adventures of “an ordinary woman who has lived an extraordinary life” (her words). Her years as a missionary may well carry readers into a completely new understanding of what it is to be a “missionary” today.

*****

Grace’s moving memoir uses the apt analogy of a seed saver to describe how the experiences of her early years as a missionary and mother of four in Guatemala prepared her for subsequent challenges. When Witness for Peace launched its multi-faith nonviolent movement to stand with the Central Americans, Grace drew upon her stores of courage, faith, and a sense of justice to play a critical leadership role. —Betsy Crites, former Executive Director of Witness for Peace

Here is the story of one woman’s heroic spiritual journey (my words – she would never describe herself this way), a woman who has loved, suffered, and served around the world. It is a story of a love for truth, a love for God and all God’s children, a love for Creation, a commitment to justice and non-violence, and courage that has repeatedly pushed her to transcend her own comfort zones. … Read her story and be inspired to live your own story more faithfully! —The Rev. Dr. Richard L. “Dick” Hamm Former General Minister and President of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the U.S. and Canada

Read this memoir and feel the commitment of a servant, honest and vulnerable, authentic and real.   A remarkable telling of a remarkable life. —Joy Douglas Strome Retired Pastor, Lake View Presbyterian Church, Chicago

*****

Grace Irene Allen Gyori is an ordinary woman who has lived an extraordinary life.  She was born to missionary parents serving in China, before the beginning of World War II.  Living and traveling in countries outside of the United States, have whetted her appetite for never-ending learning and engagement in issues of faith and social activism.  She is the proud mother of four remarkable children, who in turn have blessed her with ten grand, and 11 great-grandchildren.  In her waning years, she lives comfortably with her daughter and son-in-law in Plainfield, IN.  Grace has always wanted to be valued for her wisdom, compassion and generosity.

  What Others Say about Grace Gyori and This Memoir 

Grace’s moving memoir uses the apt analogy of a seed saver to describe how the experiences of her early years as a missionary and mother of four in Guatemala prepared her for subsequent challenges. When Witness for Peace launched its multi-faith nonviolent movement to stand with the Central Americans, Grace drew upon her stores of courage, faith, and a sense of justice to play a critical leadership role. Those saved seeds brought forth wise guidance for our work with delegations and communities. Now, all of her readers can benefit from this warm narrative of her amazing life of service to her faith, family, and community.

—Betsy Crites, former Executive Director of Witness for Peace

What constitutes a faithful life?  There are many answers to that question.  But few people exemplify the faithful life like Grace Gyori.  As a member of Lake View Presbyterian Church for more than three decades, her role as elder, mentor, teacher and friend to many was that of bellwether for justice.   When it felt like there wasn’t possibly one more ounce of energy for another issue or problem to solve in the city or the world, Grace had a gentle, yet firm way of reminding us who we were as God’s beloved, and that the calling out of injustice always had first claim on any pool of resources.  Read this memoir and feel the commitment of a servant, honest and vulnerable, authentic and real.   A remarkable telling of a remarkable life.  

With many thanks for her role in making me a better pastor, preacher, advocate and leader,

—Joy Douglas Strome, Retired Pastor, Lake View Presbyterian Church, Chicago

Here is the story of one woman’s heroic spiritual journey (my words – she would never describe herself this way), a woman who has loved, suffered, and served around the world. It is a story of a love for truth, a love for God and all God’s children, a love for Creation, a commitment to justice and non-violence, and courage that has repeatedly pushed her to transcend her own comfort zones. She is, as her name suggests, a person of extreme grace, firmly rooted in the grace of God. But she is also a person of fierce commitment to transforming the world, especially her own nation, from centers of self-interest to centers of peace, wisdom, and justice. Read her story and be inspired to live your own story more faithfully!

—The Rev. Dr. Richard L. “Dick” Hamm, Former General Minister and President of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the U.S. and Canada

In 1977, Tom Gyori encouraged me to work with the K’ekchi Indians near Lake Izabal, in Guatemala.  Both he and his wife Grace were always helpful in supporting me during the beginning of this ministry.  I praise God that God used them to encourage me in investing part of my life here for God.  

—Jose Luis Saguil, Presbyterian colleague and close friend in Guatemala.