I’ve always considered myself a “child of Africa” having spent some of my formative (and very enjoyable) younger years there. I still vividly remember my days and the impact they had even though it is some 30yrs since last I lived there.

When I was given a copy of “The Hole In Our Gospel” to review I couldn’t wait to see someone else’s perspective and how Africa has impacted them – especially when that person is also CEO of an organisation I have personally supported for the last 20yrs or so.

So who is the author? Richard E. Stearns is the CEO of World Vision, one of the largest non profit organisations in the United States and probably in the modern world. He joined World Vision in 1998 having spent the previous 25yrs in a business career – not the change he was expecting.

The book details his own personal struggle in obeying God at whatever the cost and in his passionate desire for all christians to help change the world by actively pursuing their individual faith – wherever that may lead them. Stearns firmly believes that our individual faith  is much more than a “private transaction” and that we need to publicly respond to his challenge of “What does God expect of us?“.

He further believes that just as twelve people changed the world two thousand years ago, so it can happen again.

Stearns sets out and, in my opinion, does a superb job of “getting in our face” about the problems and struggles that the third world faces along with our responsibility to the issues and somehow managing to do it without making me feel guilty. I’m guessing that some of this lack of guilt may come from the fact that as a christian I already actively sponsor children in the third world and due to having lived there I already “know” their plight – because of this my heart already aches and responds to the need.

However, Stearns comes across as a good educator and raiser of awareness without inducing a knee jerk reaction. He also manages to make this reviewer re-appraise his own thought patterns and beliefs about the needy of the world.

I do believe we need to start afresh though and start down the road of really and truly doing something to make a difference. This book lets us know that the contribution of EACH of us is paramount in making a hole in the ravages of poverty and the illnesses that go along with it.

And we must.

I found the book thoroughly enjoyable, it reminded me of my obligations and I will certainly be handing the book round my fellow church members and friends. The book is endorsed by many folks, some we’ve all heard of and others we haven’t – let me add my own humble endoresement as well.