Book Review: Rescue the Captors by Russell Stendal

This book is a true story about the author who was kidnapped in Columbia by a group of guerrilla fighters when he was working as a jungle pilot.

Along with the actual kidnapping story itself and subsequent time in captivity, he weaves in stories from his childhood and early adulthood missionary and God adventures.

I greatly appreciated the author’s openness and honesty in the way he reveals his own faults and how God turned them around.

I also greatly liked the way he shared his faith with his captors, not at all by beating them over the head with the Bible but by getting to know them and sharing how God redeemed his own mistakes and by having a merciful forgiving attitude towards them.

Christian truths were weaved unobtrusively throughout giving much food for thought. There were several times where I paused my reading just to think about God.

Also included is an appendix with a much more intensive addition of some Christian truths that the author gleaned from the beatitudes.

A couple of interesting quotes:

Our only hope is to admit our faults and failures. We don’t have to be perfect to come to God, but we do have to be honest.

The Greek word [“meek”] really means an attitude of heart and mind that is in submission to God and to God’s plans exclusively.

If you like true missionary stories or true Christian persecution stories you will love this book.

To purchase your own copy of this book go here:Rescue the Captors: True Hostage Situation Involving Colombian Marxist Guerrillas and a Missionary Simply Using the Experience to Share the Gospel

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Life Sentencing Publishing. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commision’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

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Other book reviews you may like:

God’s Plan for Spiritual Battle by Russell M. Stendal

Thunder Dog by Michael Hingson

Real Life Miracles by James L Garlow and Keith Wall

To see a list and links to ALL my book reviews go here.

Comments

Book Review: Rescue the Captors by Russell Stendal — 8 Comments

Amy Hagerup on June 4, 2014 at 6:20 pm said:

HI Cheryl, What a sobering story. Chet Bitterman had a similar story – he was a classmate of mine in college, but he was actually killed by his captors. Praise God for the strong walks of these men and other men and women like them. Blessings, Amy

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- Cheryl Cope on June 4, 2014 at 6:45 pm said:
  
  Wow, so sorry about Chet. Of course, though, not every story has a happy ending.
  
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Jessica Everingham on June 6, 2014 at 1:16 am said:

Sounds a little like the book ‘Jungle Breezes’. It was an incredible book about Elam Stolzfus, who was born and raised Amish and became a born-again Christian missionary to Guatemala. He and his family had some awesome (and terrifying) adventures!

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- Cheryl Cope on June 6, 2014 at 1:30 am said:
  
  I’ll have to check that one out. Thanks for mentioning it!
  
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Booksbycorine on June 6, 2014 at 9:58 pm said:

Thanks for sharing. Sounds like a powerful book. Love the quote “Our only hope is to admit our faults and failures. We don’t have to be perfect to come to God, but we do have to be honest.” God have recently dealt with me on a similar subject.

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- Cheryl Cope on June 7, 2014 at 8:08 am said:
  
  It was a powerful book. I understand God dealing with you…He does that frequently with me!
  
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Mary Collins on June 9, 2014 at 7:56 pm said:

Sounds like a good book. Talk about putting your faith to the test.

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- Cheryl Cope on June 10, 2014 at 11:55 am said:
  
  Yes, I believe the author would agree that he learned a lot about real faith going through this trial.
  
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