Rumors of Glory » Blog Archive » The Hole in Our Gospel: What Does God Expect of Us?

Apr 4th, 2009 by Lucille

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The Hole in Our Gospel: What Does God Expect of Us? The Answer That Changed My Life and Might Just Change the World?

by Richard Stearns

It’s 1998 and Richard Stearns’ heart is breaking as he sits in a mud hut and listens to the story of an orphaned child in Rakai, Uganda. His journey to this place took more than a long flight from the United States to Africa. It took answering God’s call on his life, a call that hurtled him out of his presidential corner office at Lenox-America’s finest tableware company-to this humble corner of Uganda.

This is a story of how a corporate CEO faced his own struggle to obey God whatever the cost, and his passionate call for Christians to change the world by actively living out their faith. Using his own journey as an example, Stearns explores the hole that exists in our understanding of the Gospel.Two thousand years ago, twelve people changed the world. Stearns believes it can happen again.

This book is not an easy read, although it is very readable. Stearns fills the pages with stories that capture you and make you yearn to make a difference. Many of his stories sent goose bumps down my entire body. Goose bumps that lingered…

The story that impacted me most was the story of Margaret. Rebels who decided to maim her instead of killing her attacked Margaret; they thought killing a pregnant woman would bring them bad luck. Later, she met her offender in a healing camp sponsored by World Vision. Through a mouth with no lips, she offered her transgressor forgiveness. Hanging in the World Vision offices is a picture of that man holding her son.

I was especially interested to hear how Stearns thought he was not the one to head up World Vision. He resisted for about a year — he had a nice life, a comfortable home, kids in private schools, and a Jaguar. In an incredible turn of events, Stearns took a 75% pay-cut, moved his family across the country, and began focusing on the poor, though Stearns will be the first to say he is no Mother Theresa.

Reading this book changes you. If you had before, you will no longer be able to turn your back on the poverty that lies all around you. Read at your own risk.