Book Reviews

Posted: 9/29/06

Book Reviews

Terrify No More by Gary A. Haugen with Gregg Hunter (W Publishing Group)

According to National Geographic, about 27 million slaves live in our modern-day world. These slaves range from girls as young as 5 years old, forced to sell their bodies in the sex-trafficking underworld, to whole families bound to toil away their lives making bricks or cigarettes in South Asia and other regions.

The four-fold purpose of International Justice Mission and its teams of investigators, undercover operatives and attorneys is to venture into the shady corners of the globe to rescue people helpless and oppressed by bondage, to bring the perpetrators of abuse to justice, to minister to the victims through compassionate aftercare and to change communities so the injustices no longer are acceptable.

What are you reading that other Texas Baptists would find helpful? Send suggestions and reviews to books@baptiststandard.com.

Join Gary Haugen, International Justice Mission’s president and founder, as he takes readers through both heart-breaking and exciting real-life journeys into the darkness of evil to radiate the light of God’s truth and grace by “defending the fatherless and the oppressed in order that man, who is of the earth, may terrify no more” (Psalm 10:18).

Greg Bowman,

minister to students

First Baptist Church

Duncanville

A Time to Mend by Angela Hunt (Steeple Hill)

In A Time to Mend, Christy Award-winner Angela Hunt refreshes and revises her 1997 Christian romance, Gentle Touch, a story of healing—body, heart and soul.

At age 27, Jacquelyn Wilkes works as an oncology nurse, a profession and specialty chosen after her mother’s untimely death from breast cancer during the daughter’s teen years. The two-time nurse-of-the-year maintains an aloof distance from her patients and remains at arm’s length from family and friends. All goes smoothly until an outstanding single oncologist joins the hospital staff. Dr. Jonah Martin brings with him an aggressive treatment style, a warm bedside manner, a cold shoulder to the nursing staff and a secret. Nurse Wilkes immediately clashes with the doctor and avoids the handsome physician until she finds herself fighting for her life and chooses Dr. Martin to treat her own breast cancer.

When boyfriend Craig deserts her during those difficult days, Jonah connects Jackie with a terminal patient who helps her return to the faith of her childhood. As the doctor and nurse begin to connect on both personal and professional levels, Jonah’s secret threatens to crush their budding relationship and his blossoming career. Jacquelyn realizes she must find a way to heal her own heart and Jonah’s as well as she draws from her faith and her doctor’s past to change the future.

A quick read, A Time to Mend offers generous doses of romance, breast-cancer information and hope through Christ.

Kathy Robinson Hillman, former president

Woman’s Missionary Union of Texas

Waco

The New American Pioneers: Why Are We Afraid of Mexican Immigrants? by Juan Hernandez (Pneuma Life Publishing)

Juan Hernandez has become a lightening rod for immigration issues as Texas and the United States consider significant immigration reform that must address enhanced border security and the need for a viable guest-worker system.

Hernandez writes from the perspective of dual citizenship in Mexico and the United States and as personal adviser to former Mexico President Vicente Fox. Although the first part of his book reads more as an autobiography, Hernandez effectively moves to illustrate the fears and prejudices surrounding the huge immigration movement from impoverished countries to what is perceived as a “land flowing with milk and honey.”

The concluding section may be the most important, as Hernandez transcends political rhetoric and racial fears to reveal the personal stories of “aliens and immigrants” as people with hopes, dreams and fears common to all of us.

This is an important perspective and a must read as we consider complex immigration issues as reasoned people of faith.

Jim Young,

social justice specialist

Baptist General Convention of Texas

Dallas