“Perhaps that’s the greatest reason why He calls us to dangerous places: so that we will know His astonishing, sacrificial, life-restoring love.”

Why God Calls Us to Dangerous Places by Kate McCord

About this book: (from the publisher) Why God Calls Us to Dangerous Places is about what is lost and what is gained when we follow God at any cost.

Soon after 9/11, Kate McCord left the corporate world and followed God to Afghanistan—sometimes into the reach of death. Alive but not unscathed, she has suffered the loss of many things: comfort, safety, even dear friends and fellow sojourners.

But Kate realizes that those who go are not the only ones who suffer. Those who love those who go also suffer. This book is for them, too.

Weaving together Scripture, her story, and stories of both those who go and those who send, Kate considers why God calls us to dangerous places and what it means for all involved.

It means dependence. It means loss. It means a firmer hold on hope. It can mean death, trauma, and heavy sorrow. But it can also mean joy unimaginable. Through suffering, we come closer to the heart of God.

Written with the weight of glory in the shadow of loss, Why God Calls Us to Dangerous Places will inspire Christians to count the cost—and pay it.

About the author: Kate McCord (a protective pseudonym) worked in Afghanistan for nearly a decade after the fall of the Taliban as a humanitarian aid worker. After evacuating Afghanistan, she transitioned into a mentoring and consulting role to other workers serving in the region. Currently, Kate serves Christ through writing, speaking, mentoring, and conducting workshops and seminars. She is the author of In the Land of Blue Burquas and Farewell, Four Waters.

Genre: Non-fiction/Christian Living/Personal Growth/Missions

Will especially appeal to: those who answer God’s call to minister in dangerous places, and those who send them there.

Why I read this book: To invite better understanding of my own time, others, and  myself. To be challenged, encouraged, and equipped.

Why I cared: For the way it opened my heart to the possibility of finding joy in the midst of hardship and sorrow–wherever God calls me to serve.

[Tweet “A must-read for ministry: WHY GOD CALLS US TO DANGEROUS PLACES @storytellerkm @moodypublishers”]

My take: Don’t let its modest size deceive you: this gem of a book delivers a big punch. I read every page of it, enthralled. I’ve already gifted a copy to one friend engaged in challenging ministry, and I intend to deliver more copies to several others. It has swiftly become one of my most recommended books of 2015. In fact, I consider it a must-read for anyone with a serious heart for ministry–whether that leads you to physically dangerous places or not. Because many kinds of ministry involve personal risk, which means that many kinds of Christ-followers would benefit from Kate McCord’s deeply personal insights and encouragement.

McCord deftly weaves together stories and Scripture with a liberal dose of hard-won wisdom. For me, she illuminated familiar biblical passages in fresh ways. The story of Zebedee, for instance–the father of Jesus’ disciples James and John. Time and again, McCord returns to this short passage, and every time, her examination brought to me new and relevant insight, compassion, and understanding. She did the same many times in reference to Jesus Himself–regarding who He was, how He came to be, and what He means to His followers today.

As the book description states, Why God Calls Us to Dangerous Places is first and foremost for those who feel called to serve Christ where danger exists. But it will, I think, find an even wider audience with those who must watch those loved ones go. (It’s to these, actually, that she brings the Zebedee story home so poignantly.) Kate McCord has the gift of storytelling, which I daresay is a reflection of her cultivated living among a storytelling people. While she speaks broadly to those called to any kind of dangerous place, she draws heavily on her own particular experience in Afghanistan–rendering the welcome side effect of inviting a greater compassion and understanding for a largely misunderstood and often-maligned people group.

Owing to my intense interest, the author’s skill, and this book’s concise length, I sped through Why God Calls Us to Dangerous Places in a matter of days. Fascinating. Hard. Lovely. Frightening. Inspiring. I highly recommend it.

Thanks to Moody Publishers for providing me a free copy to review. All opinions are mine.

After words: Are any of your loved ones called to serve in a dangerous place? Are you? I would love to hear your story.