Book Review: The Hole in Our Gospel by Richard Stearns

How could twelve disciples change the world two thousahd years ago when two billion Christians can't today? If we are proclaimers of the Good News, why does our message bring so little joy? If we cary the Light, why do so many wander in darkness? We are missing something. There is a hole in our Gospel.

This isn't a bedtime story. This book will make you uncomfortable. It will make you see things differently. In fact, you will see things you never saw before. It may make you angry. At yourself. It may leave you asking more questions than it answered. It seems like an extended World Vision commercial at times, but I think this is understandable and acceptable.

The Hole in Our Gospel feels like an autobiography at first. Rich gives us an idea of where he has been and how God worked in his life to move him into his position as President of World Vision. As I read the first few chapters, I kept asking God to work so powerfully in my life.

As the story continues, the mood changes as Rich presents a myriad of facts and statistics regarding the poor around the world. This is, by far, the most difficult portion of the book. I felt guilty, angry and hopeless as I read. This is where my eyes were opened to things I had not seen before. Things I did not want to see before. As I read, I asked God to forgive my ignorance and apathy. I asked to see the World through His eyes.

Rich concludes with a call to action. I knew it was coming as I read the book. The problem was I felt overwhelmed by everything that is wrong with the world and felt hopeless to make a difference. Rich expects this and provides a great amount of encouragement in just a few pages. As I finished the book I was inspired to do even small things with great love.

I have already recommended this book to several of my friends and have asked for a copy to be placed in our church library. There is so much work that needs to be done and we can achieve so much more if we all work together.