Book Review: God's Hostage by Andrew Brunson

About the Book:

When God called, he answered.

In 1993, Andrew Brunson was asked to move to Turkey, the largest unevangelized country in the world, to serve as a missionary. Though reluctant at first because of the daunting task that lay ahead, Andrew and his wife, Norine, became convinced this was God's plan for them.

What followed was a string of difficulties and threats, but there were also successes in starting new churches in a place where many people had never met a Christian. As their work with refugees from Syria, including Kurds, gained attention and suspicion, Andrew and Norine acknowledged the threat but accepted the risk, confident that this work was part of their assignment.

In 2016, they were arrested. Though the state quickly released Norine, who remained in Turkey, Andrew was imprisoned. Accused of being a spy and being among the plotters of an attempted coup, he became a political pawn whose name was soon known around the world.

God's Hostage is the incredible true story of his imprisonment, his brokenness, his faithfulness . . . and his freedom.


My Thoughts:

God’s Hostage: A True Story of Persecution, Imprisonment, and Perseverance by Andrew Brunson, with Craig Borlase, is not light reading. The subtitle perfectly relays the contents of this autobiography: persecution, imprisonment, and perseverance. Andrew Brunson underwent intense hardship as he spent 735 days in Turkish prisons. As the majority of this book takes place during his imprisonment, frequently the focus is on his mental, emotional, and spiritual struggles. I appreciated the deep honesty he shared. He tells about his fears, deep depression, suicidal thoughts, the well-intentioned (but not helpful) advice of others, and much more.

Although the subject matter in God’s Hostage is weighty, I found the plot fascinating. At times, I wanted to keep turning pages to follow along his journey, but had to stop for the night and space it out to avoid absorbing too much of the emotional turmoil. I could relate to his feelings of being abandoned by God in his hardship. In a way it was refreshing to read about as it reminds me that I’m not the only one who faces certain struggles.

God’s Hostage by Andrew Brunson, with Craig Borlase, will appeal both to readers who enjoy autobiographies and to those who followed Andrew Brunson’s imprisonment as it happened. 4.5 Stars!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.

Waiting For His Heart by Joy McClain

In Waiting For His Heart, Joy McClain recounts the joy of her wedding day, her husband's unexpected alcohol addiction, the difficulty of a legal separation and a glorious restoration that only God could accomplish.

I first heard a snippet of Joy McClain's story as she was interviewed by a radio show host on Moody Radio. When I received the opportunity to review McClain's book, I eagerly accepted it. Reading her story was a bit different that I had expected. Rather than straight autobiography, McClain recounts certain events and times and then follows it up with a “Learning Along the Way” section in which she gives practical advice derived from her lessons learned.

Waiting For His Heart is a well-written retelling of the author's struggles within her marriage. However, I have some mixed feelings as far as recommending this book. McClain has some excellent spiritual insights and encouragement for a women with a marriage in crisis. Themes such as learning to sacrificially love someone as Christ loved us and learning that personal joy shouldn't be dependent on one's spouse are wonderful lessons for any spouse. However, I would caution women in crisis marriages about reading this book. McClain admits that she had to go to professional counseling before she could see how she had been enabling her husband's downward spiral and there is even a disclaimer at one point that neither McClain nor the publisher intend for readers to take the advice as counsel for their own situations. It seems like it would be far too easy for a struggling wife to read this and just think that she should stay in the situation and stick it out until she gets a happy ending like McClain did.

You can read a free sample of Waiting For His Heart by Joy McClain on Amazon Kindle, Barnes&Noble Nook Book, and at Christian Book Distributors.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Life, In Spite of Me by Kristen Jane Anderson

Kristen Jane Anderson's teen years were filled with one painful experience after another. Seeing no hope, she laid down on a set of railroad tracks and waited for the train to kill her. Unbelievably, after thirty-three freight cars ran over her, she was still alive – but missing her legs. Thus began a completely new part of her life. It was hailed as a miracle that she survived and Kristen's recovery was slow and painful. Only after her suicide attempt did Kristen come to know Jesus on a personal level. In Him, she found a reason to hope, to live, and to walk.

Life, In Spite of Me by Kristen Jane Anderson with Tricia Goyer is not a book I would want to read every year, but it is well worth reading at least once every few years. Despite the heavy topics it deals with, the book was a quick read. Kristen's experiences are related gently and authentically to the reader. However, I think the book and its readers could have benefited from having more information about Kristen's healing from the sexual assualt in addition to the details she gives of her physical healing and struggles with depression. I felt like most of her issues prior to the suicide attempt were consolidated under the blanket of depression and only mentioned occasionnally after the suicide attempt.

I found this book to be very encouraging as I personnally struggle with depression. I appreciated that the author boldly, but kindly declares the need to know Jesus as a personal Savior. Truly, her relationship with Jesus not only saved her soul and brought healing, but also enabled her to reach out to others struggling with the same issues. I think this book could help anyone who is dealing with depression or who knows someone dealing with depression. The encouragement notes directly from Kristen were especially kind. I recommend this to anyone who is looking for an inspirational read.




Click here to read an excerpt from Life, In Spite of Me: Extraordinary Hope After a Fatal Choice.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Blogging for Books as part of their blogger review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Growing Up Amish by Ira Wagler

Born on a hot August day, Ira Wagler was raised in the Old Order Amish community of Aylmer, Ontario. Growing up in the Amish way suited Ira only until he became a young man. After watching most of his older siblings leave the Amish way of life, Ira followed suit at age seventeen. Over the course of the next nine years, Ira would repeatedly return to the Amish and then leave again. At twenty-six, he left Amish permanently. In this memoir Ira candidly shares the myriad of experiences that his life journey consisted of.

Growing Up Amish by Ira Wagler peals away common stereotypes and misconceptions about the Amish people and reveals one man's journey in and out of the Amish world. In the Christian fiction realm, the Amish way of life is often idealized. Reading Growing Up Amish was like seeing a side of Amish culture that I had not been exposed to before. I thought the book started off a little slow. However, by the time the author began talking about his teenage years and Rumspringa, I was hooked. I live in one of the non-Amish areas that the author talks about visiting, so it was interesting to see his observations and experiences in my own area. Christians who are fans of biographies will probably enjoy this book.

Click here to read an excerpt from Growing Up Amish by Ira Wagler.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Tyndale House Publishers as part of their Blogger Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”