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 review:
This was a fascinating and extremely honest look at what Pastor Andrew Brunson went through as he was held for two years in Turkish prisons. Almost immediately Pastor Brunson seemed to be breaking down, even when his wife was still with him. He had trouble sleeping and overwhelming anxiety. He admitted that while he admired many missionaries who had been imprisoned for their faith and who said they had such joy or peace while in prison, that was not the case for him. He struggled daily with questions about why this was happening and if God was even there and then came to a place where he praised God and asked for his help to get through. He went through this cycle almost daily. It was frustrating to read about the corrupt court system and how it was ruled by higher-ups. It really makes me grateful for the system and the freedoms we still enjoy for the most part in the United States. I was amazed, too, at how much President Trump and other politicians worked on his behalf. There were also people all over the world praying for him throughout his ordeal. If not for those two groups, he'd still be there to this day. I highly recommend this book if you want to read about one man's honest struggle with faith!
I received this book from Baker Books. I was not compensated for this review. All opinions are my own.
The Authors
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Andrew Brunson
Andrew Brunson is an American pastor. He holds a PhD in New Testament from the University of Aberdeen, Scotland. Andrew and his wife, Norine, were involved in starting churches, training believers, aiding refugees, and a house of prayer in Turkey for...
Continue reading about Andrew Brunson -
Craig Borlase
Craig Borlase is an author based in Reading, England. His books include God's Gravity, The Naked Christian, William Seymour: A Biography, and The Art of Compassion.
Continue reading about Craig Borlase
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