THE INSANITY OF GOD
A true story of faith resurrected
By Nik Ripken (pseudonym) with Gregg Lewis
Broadman & Holman. 322 pages. £9.00
ISBN 978 1 433 673 085 (also as ebook)
This is a remarkable and powerful book. It tells the story of an American couple who served as missionaries in Somalia until their son died of an asthma attack at age 16.
Their faith was shaken to its foundations, not only by the loss of their son, but as they reflected on the course of their ministry. Their efforts to bring compassionate relief to Somalia seemed futile. The prospect of making any impact with the gospel seemed utterly hopeless. There were only 40 or 50 Somali believers in the whole country and they faced the threat of death for their faith. What was God doing? Is God capable of overcoming the intense spiritual darkness and hostility of that land? And how can faith survive, let alone flourish, in such a place?