Review:

A Certain Risk

Paul Richardson has written an absorbing book about adventurous faith and he is well qualified to do so. He is a pioneering educator who is creating a network of Christian schools and orphanages in some of the poorest parts of the world’s largest Muslim nation – Indonesia.

The book is full of vivid, heartstopping incidents from his life: a toddler falling unnoticed into a swimming pool, an aeroplane suddenly and rapidly nosediving in an ash cloud, thugs kidnapping a rival gang member and an eyewitness account of the 2004 tsunami. Richardson writes well, skilfully weaving scripture and contemporary culture into the narrative, making a highly readable and thoughtprovoking book. It stretched my faith and challenged my cosiness.

Most of us won’t get to experience in a lifetime half the excitement Richardson did before he was 40, which begs the question: is he just accident prone – or have we unwittingly built around us a wall of protection from Jesus’ call to radical living?

HIGH: This book challenged me to assess my impact on the world for Christ.

LOW: Would be even better with a study guide or action points with each chapter.

Published by: Zondervan