Your Book Review « The Hole In Our Gospel

Now that you have read the book, take a few minutes and write your own review.

Transformation

JANUARY 15, 2012

While I was aware of all of the information that was presented in this book, the inspiration was missing. Stearns breathes hope into hopelessness. The Hole in Our Gospel will transform the Gospel for you.
DUSTIN TURNER

Package in the mail

JANUARY 04, 2012

I went to the mail box yesterday and found a package from my dear friend Chris, a shipmate who I befriended in the Navy. Inside the package was a book, "the Hole in our Gospel." God works in many ways. I wonder where he is taking me today.
ED CARMINE

Shellhammer - Shorter Than a Midget

DECEMBER 31, 2011

Shellhammer - Shorter Than a Midget, author John Smith, chronicles the effect of accepting Jesus's love on the attitude of a man suffering from Achondroplasia.
MYRONE JACKSON

Changed Forever

DECEMBER 01, 2011

Recently, my church gave me a copy of “The Hole In Our Gospel”, by Richard Stearns. It was uncomfortable to read and spiritually uplifting at the same time. More than any news article, this book has opened my eyes to what true poverty is as well as the seriousness of the AIDS epidemic in Africa. I grew up in the era of celebrities on television posing with starving children and flies swarming around them. I have always wanted to help, but I was sure that the money was being used to pay for TV cameras or was being squandered on other things, instead of actually feeding people. I guess you could say I thought it was a scam. I didn’t want to be a sucker. But as I read the book, every “yeah, but…” that I came up with was answered. “Yeah, but…most of the money is wasted on salaries and private jets.” For me, the first step was trust. I don’t think I can explain exactly why I decided to trust World Vision, but I did. Perhaps it was the financial numbers showing 85% of their operating expenses go to the programs that are actually on the ground helping. “Yeah, but…I’m not wealthy. Let the millionaires handle the extra giving.” When I read that ‘if you make $25k/year, you are RICH compared to the rest of the world’, it changed my perspective on who were the “have’s” and who were the “have not’s”. “Yeah, but…there are millions starving. What can I possibly do?” Richard Stearns used an analogy in the book about starfish washed up on the shore. There were millions of them and when a man saw another throwing them back into the water one by one, he asked what difference can you possibly make? The other man replied, “It made a difference to that one, didn’t it?” “Yeah, but…times are tough. I don’t have room in my budget to sponsor a child.” Even as I said that to myself, I knew it was just an excuse. I began to look at our household budget and categorize spending into “needs vs. wants”. I was paying $35/month for a gym membership…that I never used! And there was so much more waste. I was ashamed of myself. I could go on and on with the “yeah, but’s”, but to close, thank you again for the book. It has changed me.
DANNY YOUNGBLOOD

The Hole in our Gospel

SEPTEMBER 01, 2011

I only read what the Holy Spirit compels me to read! I have done that for years. My home library is filled with books that I have never read, I trust God to bring to me what I need. About a week ago, I had a dear friend and his wife over for dinner and during the course of our conversation, he mentioned this book and recommened reading it. I get that all the time but this time, the Holy Spirit said, yes, read it. I ordered it on my ipad and read the first chapter, I have been crying through the book ever since and I don't think I am even half way through. It would take pages for me to thoroughly tell you how God is speaking to me through this book. Not because I am not a doer, I am. I have been participating in and leading short-term mission trips since 2003, I have seen God move in powerful ways due to my obedience, love and passion to share the gospel. This book has changed my life even more! It has given me so much revelation and it is a powerful testimony. Thank you Richard for sharing your story. Partnering with God is always an amazing adventure! I am so impacted by this book, I believe everyone should read it and so I ordered 10 copies to have so I can share them when the Holy Spirit compels me to. Richard, you are blessed that God has used you in such a powerful way. Naseem Helms
NASEEM HELMS

Book left on shelf, until I brought it with me on my first medical mission trip to Honduras

AUGUST 03, 2011

I got the book a few years ago from World Vision for donating so many years, and tucked it on the shelf. But I wanted to bring an "appropriate" devotional book to read on my first "vacation" on a medical mission trip to Honduras. The information is crucial, and I saw the poorest of the poor in the Capital and jungle/forest areas. We even went to the city dump to treat "trash-pickers" that lived in shacks near the most recent dumping area--I thought I would gag/throw up! Children with rashes, severe conditions, mal-nourished. We took a governmental ministry doctor with us to the jungle area to a town where 150+ never had seen a doctor, dentist, with no clean water, electricity etc. Sick babies, impetego (sic), teens and adults with rotten teeth, etc. I helped with triage for the doctor, clinic's staff, dentist etc. I cried for these people every night for the past 2 weeks! But I saw Jesus in every single person, and now count my many blessings living here in the US in a new way! I will hug my dentist and doctors when I see them. Yes I will go back with the next team in February. Please see how you can help, with Spanish translations, triage, getting names, etc., even if you are not a medically trained professional. I will be packing tools, fuses, wires, etc. to help fix any clinic equipment next time, since I am only an engineer. It is one thing to get letters from World Vision kids, and updates. It's another thing to see your "neighbor" suffering. Selling any unused stuff in the house/garage to get more funds, brown-bagging lunch etc. to save more $$$ to donate to this one of 4 remaining clinics operating in Teguicigalpe Honduras.
MADDY