Comments on: Your Book Review

By: Joseph Garcia (President SERV Ministries International)

Joseph Garcia (President SERV Ministries International) — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 15:03:34 +0000

This booked rocked my faith in a way that hasn\’t happened since I read The Purpose Driven Life. As the leader of an organization whose focus is to take care of the orphans and widows (www.servintl.org), this book helped me build even great perspective and listen closer to the countless calls in Scripture to respond to the needs. I listened to the book on audio and there were many times when the reader would tell one of one of Richard\’s encounters and I would be in tears. I too left a successful career in the business world to join a ministry and really identified with some of the same struggles that Richard faced. This book is a must read for anyone. I highly recommend it.

By: Jane Jamison

Jane Jamison — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 16:24:35 +0000

I just finished the book and I had no idea concerning the orphans and widows around the world. I have sponsored a child for 10 years but didn\’t really understand the life and death circumstances that could be eliminated if God\’s ambassadors would step up to the plate and work to eliminate it. This book changed how I view poverty. Even though I was poor as a child I was able to work my way out of it with God\’s grace. Those children in third world countries are not so lucky. I might be God\’s grace for them. I also changed the way I viewed those with AIDS or HIV. The world would have you believe that those people got the disease by doing something that they should not have done. God used this book to open my eyes. I understand from my bible studies that it is not a sin if you truly do not know but if you know and do nothing then it is a sin not to do God\’s will. This book has me searching my heart and mind to see how God could use me to help more.

By: Brandon Smith

Brandon Smith — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 21:15:59 +0000

As a blogger (See: ModernMarch.com), I am blessed to occasionally receive free copies of books to do a review for. I almost always enjoy the books show up in my mailbox, and this one is no different.

Richard Stearns blends experience and literary depth to this book, revealing the tradgedy that is global poverty. From beginning to end, Stearns gives a raw, honest account of what the Gospel should call us to: a life lived for mankind, not just for ourselves.

In America, we do not understand poverty at its most foundational depths. We see poverty as homeless men and women sleeping in shelters, much of the rest of the world sees poverty as men and women not having clean water or food for days. Quite the contrast.

Focusing more life stories of the poor rather than just throwing out simple statistics, Stearns challenged my heart greatly and caused me to look even further into my heart’s desires which are almost always selfish.

The only thing I would change about this book would be add more theological depth to the Gospel. It’s a personal preference, but I tend o like a bit more Scriptural and theological assertion when the Gospel is in someway being described. Again, just personal preference.

Honestly, a blog review cannot bring the heart-touching stories of this book to life, so I recommend you pick up a copy and read it!

By: Marcin Hartman

Marcin Hartman — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 11:26:44 +0000

Even when I first picked up “The Hole in our Gospel” by Richard Stearns I somehow felt it would destroy me. And I am glad to say it did serve its point of destroying the cozy little Christian mindset of mine very well.
Stearns is the President of World Vision US and shares the story of his coming to grips with the answer to the question: “What does God expect of us?”. This is the challenge that he, while still a successful businessman, had to tackle, when asked to consider the top position at World Vision several years ago. It is in a very low-key, humble and amiable manner that the author shares his thought processes from the standpoint of a very decent American Christian church-goer. We can pick his brains about what it takes to transform one’s mind to the degree when one is able – and willing – to forsake all, including comfort and reputation, to bring the full Good News to our neighbors – be it next door or next continent. According to Stearns, until we give it all to play our part in the transformation of communities ridden by hunger, disease, injustice and lack of hope, we continue to offer to the world a gaping hole in our gospel. I salute you, Mr Stearns, for patching this hole in your gospel and providing me with tools to do likewise in mine!

By: Dan Benson

Dan Benson — Sun, 23 May 2010 23:34:23 +0000

I experienced an interesting contrast while reading \”The Hole in Our Gospel: What Does God Expect of Us?\” by Richard Stearns, president of World Vision. On the one hand, Stearns\’ writes that evangelical Christians by and large have forgotten God\’s directives to care for the poor and needy. Meanwhile, a local community near where I live was up in arms over a group of Muslims wanting to start a mosque, the first in the area. The opposition to the mosque was led by local \”Christians\” (I\’m italicizing because these people may be ethnic Christians, or Christians In Name Only — ChINOs?) who feared the mosque would become a training ground for terrorists and that it would harm the character of their \”Christian\” community and even America itself. At one of the rallies, attended by 600 people who opposed the mosque, a couple books written by former Muslims were recommended. In each case, the authors converted after Christians extended Christ\’s love to them. I found that ironic that the people recommending the books were unwilling to extend a welcome to these Muslims, many of whom have lived in the area for decades and are refugees from Kosovo and Bosnia, where they were persecuted by \”Christians.\”

It\’s illustrative, I think, of Stearns\’ point that we have forgotten the whole Gospel, to care for the poor, the sick, the prisoners and the oppressed, as God commands us. We\’ve ignored or over-spiritualized passages such as Matthew 25:41-43. For instance, I ironically stumbled upon John MacArthur just the other day on the radio saying that \”feeding the poor has nothing to do with\” the Great Commission, as found in Matthew 28. Does he use a black Magic Marker to highlight his Bible, I thought?

Most of Stearns\’ book, which recently won the 2010 Christian Book of the Year award from the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association, is about how God gripped his heart with the plight of the poor and with stories of how God touched hearts and changed lives with the Gospel. It also is full of statistics. For instance, 26,500 children die in underdeveloped countries every day of treatable diseases. That\’s like 200 plane crashes every day, yet no one notices, Stearns says. Another statistic is that the average \”Christian\” in America gives just over 2 percent of his income to church every year. Of that, the average \”Christian\” church gives just 2 percent to world missions. That\’s 2 percent of 2 percent. In a way, this is a very discouraging book as so many of us Christians are obsessed with things not directly related to the Gospel, spend our money to maintain facilities and monuments instead of on people, and muddle the Gospel message with politics or other \”soapbox issues,\” and outrage toward innocent needy people, like the local Muslim community.

The challenge to me, personally, is how do I apply the truth of the Gospel. This book challenges us to reorient our priorities as individuals and as members of the Christian community.

A free download of the audio version of \”The Hole in Our Gospel\” is available through the end of May at Christianaudio.com.

This review is found on my blog,snortinghorses.blogspot.com.

By: Jamie Valentia

Jamie Valentia — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 20:56:16 +0000

I have to read this book one chapter at a time and each chapter multiple times. The reason? Because God has worked through this book to break my heart for what break\’s His. Besides the Bible, this is the best book I have ever experienced. I am reccomending it to everyone I know. Thank you for challenging me to be willing to take up the cross. Believing is just the beginning. Thank you Lord for working through this tool to help me understand what is required of me and that I can be unafraid to take action. All things I knew but needed reminding of.

By: Rick Lewis

Rick Lewis — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 00:13:51 +0000

I just finished the remarkable book, \”The Hole in Our Gospel: What Does God Expect of Us?\”. It should be required reading by any Christ follower wanting to make a difference in the lives of people today. This book is one of the best books I\’ve ever read and has challenged us to consider important issues related to application of vision, mission, faith, purpose, prayer. This book is calling us to act our our faith in practical ways. God is using this book to change lives, hearts and priorities. I trust all who read will do something to positively address issues of poverty, crime, neglect, injustice, and health-related illnesses that exist in our world. God expects us to fulfill the \”Whole Gospel\” — let\’s join together with Richard Stearns to use our time, talents, and treasures in this global pursuit.

By: Jaime White

Jaime White — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 22:29:49 +0000

The simple way this book shows the disparity between our wealthy country and most of the world was life changing for me. Our hearts should break for God\’s children who are suffering. God used this book to change my heart and I am so thankful.

By: Allan Liddle

Allan Liddle — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 18:27:36 +0000

I always had the head knowledge about what it means to BE who Jesus wanted us to be, and I also thought I had the willingness… but this book has not only opened my eyes, but also made it very practical. What I especially liked was that the book did not try to sell World Vision as an organisation, but that one could discern that Richard Stearns\’ heart was passionate about the topic – and that he wants to help others to come more in line with God\’s purpose for our lives. And he surely succeeded in helping me! As a South African, it has opened my eyes for the needs on my doorstep. Thanks a LOT for this book, Richard!

By: Steve Schmits

Steve Schmits — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 17:58:16 +0000

This was one of the best reads I have experienced, not only recently, but ever. There is indeed quite a hole in the American gospel, we think that it is all about us and our happiness. Certainly God does care about our happiness, but that is not His main agenda. There needs to be a \’social revolution\’ is the minds and hearts of people who claim to follow Jesus. People are scared off because they feel as thought their contribution is not \”big\” or \”major\” enough. The truth is, no one person can make a really dramatic change, rather it will be the collective efforts of people who have decided that they will do something. I love the idea that says \”I can\’t do everything, but I can do something.\” When we stand before Jesus in judgment He is not going to ask about our church attendance, whether we tithed regularly, what political party we supported – no, he will asks us what we did \”for the least of these.\” What an eye opening and revolutionary idea, it is a shame that it has been muddled down and lost as something of importance in today\’s world. Praise to Richard Stearns for compiling such a convicted and bold collection of thoughts. This will be a book I can highly recommend to any avid reader in the future!