“The reason you love Jamie (or are about to) is because she says exactly what the rest of us are thinking, but we’re too afraid to upset the apple cart. She is a voice for the outlier, and we’re famished for what she has to say.” –Jen Hatmaker, New York Times bestselling author of Of Mess and Moxie and For the Love Wildly popular blogger “Jamie the Very Worst Missionary” delivers a … Very Worst Missionary” delivers a searing, offbeat, often hilarious memoir of spiritual disintegration and re-formation.
As a quirky Jewish kid and promiscuous punkass teen, Jamie Wright never imagines becoming a Christian, let alone a Christian missionary. She is barely an adult when the trials of motherhood and marriage put her on an unexpected collision course with Jesus. After finding her faith at a suburban megachurch, Jamie trades in the easy life on the cul-de-sac for the green fields of Costa Rica. There, along with her family, she earnestly hopes to serve God and change lives. But faced with a yawning culture gap and persistent shortcomings in herself and her fellow workers, she soon loses confidence in the missionary enterprise and falls into a funk of cynicism and despair.
Nearly paralyzed by depression, yet still wanting to make a difference, she decides to tell the whole, disenchanted truth: Missionaries suck and our work makes no sense at all! From her sofa in Central America, she launches a renegade blog, Jamie the Very Worst Missionary, and against all odds wins a large and passionate following. Which leads her to see that maybe a “bad” missionary–awkward, doubtful, and vocal—is exactly what the world and the throngs of American do-gooders need.
The Very Worst Missionary is a disarming, ultimately inspiring spiritual memoir for well-intentioned contrarians everywhere. It will appeal to readers of Nadia Bolz-Weber, Jen Hatmaker, Ann Lamott, Jana Reiss, Mallory Ortberg, and Rachel Held Evans.
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After reading some heavier books, I was looking for some lighter reading that still had something meaningful in it. This book fit the criteria. It was a quick read with a good outcome. I don’t think the occasional scatological verbiage added anything valuable and could have been omitted without damaging t he book.
Great, funny writing. I laughed out loud several places. Possibly offensive to some.
As a disillusioned former missionary, I loved the honesty and insight, and comments on the American church culture. Thought provoking.
Thank you!
I really enjoyed Jamie’s vulnerability in sharing her families story.
I don’t read biographies to expand my vocabulary of words I won’t use in mixed company, thank you.
THE LANGUAGE PUT ME OFF. BOOKS ARE MORE ENTERTAINING WITHOUT THAT.
I did not check the I would recommend this book block because although I have recommended it I have been selective about doing so. I am an expat and although I am not a missionary I have many close friends in the buckle missionary community. It is very refreshing to read someone who has the guts say aloud the things that many missionaries struggle with but don’t feel free to acknowledge. I have to admit that I was a little bothered by some of the language but not to the point that it distracted from the very real things Jamie had to say.
This book doesn’t suck — at all. In fact, it’s one of the smartest, funniest, and truest books on faith I’ve ever read. The Very Worst Missionary will draw you in and keep you thinking. It will remind you that, even when you think you’re at your worst, you’re not alone.
Think of The Very Worst Missionary as the literary lovechild of Mother Theresa and Sarah Silverman — a crass-and-light-filled narrative that will have you laughing one minute and looking in the mirror the next. We need this book in the very worst way.
Gritty, funny, and thoughtful… all the things faith should be but rarely is. I love Jamie’s story, her voice, and the way she looks at the world. After you read this, I’m confident you will, too.
Never before have I seen a fellow Christian write with such courage, authenticity, and balance. You will come away feeling that your hurts and frustrations have been validated, and motivated to love bigger.
The language stopped me from reading any more after a few pages. Surely there are other words that could be used to get thoughts across. Seems like no effort was made. Sorry for the example to children in her family.
Overall I thought it was an ok book. It was definitely pretty crass at times, which is the authors personality. I am fine with some level of crass, but it was a little offensive to have faith and course language combined so much. At times it felt forced and could have been said “more better” in my opinion. I stuck it out and enjoyed parts of the end and the book’s conclusion.