In 1993, Andrew Brunson was asked to travel to Turkey, the largest unevangelized country in the world, to serve as a missionary. Though hesitant because of the daunting and dangerous task that lay ahead, Andrew and his wife, Norine, believed this was God’s plan for them.What followed was a string of threats and attacks, but also successes in starting new churches in a place where many people had … 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, determining to stay unless God told them to leave.
In 2016, they were arrested. Though the State eventually released Norine, who remained in Turkey, Andrew was imprisoned. Accused of being a spy and being among the plotters of the attempted coup, he became a political pawn whose story soon became known around the world.
God’s Hostage is the incredible true story of his imprisonment, his brokenness, and his eventual freedom. Anyone with a heart for missions, especially to the Muslim world, will love this tension-laden and faith-laced book.
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What would you do for Jesus? How far would you go to share your faith? Persecution of Christians in on the rise throughout the world, churches are bombed or burned, believers are imprisoned or harassed even to the point that trying to share the gospel is illegal. I finished the book in one day and highly recommend God’s Hostage.
“God’s Hostage,” a true story of persecution, imprisonment, and perseverance is a true story of a pastor and his wife serving as missionaries in Turkey. In 1993 Andrew Brunson and his wife moved to Turkey, the largest unevangelized country in the world, through some difficulties and threats they were successful in planting new churches in a place where many people had never met a Christian.
They were arrested in 2016, Turkey released Norine, who stayed in the country, Andrew was imprisoned for 735 days. He was discouraged, at times felt that God abandoned him, broken, heart wrenching, but in the end a light in a very dark world. I found it quite upsetting that countries use innocent people for political purposes. At the end of the day, God is in control, He is always with us. He will bring us through the darkest of days.
I received a copy of the book from Baker Books in exchange for an honest opinion.
Well written I really appreciate his honesty
I remember well seeing Pastor Brunson praying for President Trump after his release from prison. I think it touched the hearts of people around the world. I so appreciated Pastor Brunson’s authenticity about his weakness’s. It showed the strength of the Lord! We all need to remember that His grace is sufficient in our every weakness. His strength is perfect. Thank you for sharing your story which is really a God story! Yay God!
A fascinating modern missionary story—very encouraging read!
Looking back on my years of homeschooling, it feels like I grew up on missionary stories. We always had one or two each school year (and sometimes a lot more!), alongside the ones Mom read aloud to the family now and then of a quiet evening. This year, I was privileged to read two books co-written by Craig Borlase; this one, and Defying Jihad. Both were impactful, stories I doubt I’ll forget for quite a while.
I feel like Brunson’s story is somewhat unique, because you don’t often read about missionaries who are sent to prison—that’s just not a thing that happens, right? But, as we’ve seen in the past with Corrie Ten Boom, or Martin and Gracia Burnham, it does happen now and then. Of course, we hear stories like Brother Yun or Richard Wurmbrand, but those things happen in places remote and unconnected from us…right?
Well, as Andrew Brunson found out, it sometimes does happen to us. And he discovered it could be quite challenging! His faith was severely tested in prison, yet through that struggle, he learned he could rely on God—even when he couldn’t feel the Lord’s presence.
This book was a great encouragement to me. I hope that if I’m ever in a position like this, I’ll be able to stand strong in my faith and know that no matter what, God is still there working.
If you’d like a bit of background for the current Turkish/Syria conflict, I think this would be a very helpful story. It’s also faith-building because even though Brunson was pushed to the depths of depression, and even considered suicide at several points, God came through for him and helped him. Though it could have been told as a story of despair, it isn’t—the hope shines through, even in the darkest places. I loved that. And I’d love to have a copy of my own on the shelf one day!
I requested a free review copy of this book, and this is my honest opinion of it.
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.