The Unlikely Missionary: From Pew-Warmer to Poverty-Fighter

by Dan King

Based on the blogging and trip journals of Dan King (BibleDude.net), this book was written to help you discover the kind of purpose that can set your faith on fire! Just as important as the experiences Dan had on a Business as Mission trip to Kenya and Uganda with Five Talents International is how he ended up there in the first place. Travel with Dan on his journey from being a pew-warmer with a desire to be used by God to international poverty-fighter. In addition to the stories of people and experiences on that trip to Africa, the book is full of practical ideas and exercises that will challenge you discover world-changing passion whether it takes you half-way around the world or keeps you right at home in your own backyard. Where you go isn't the important thing, but what you do with the gift you've been given is.

Genres: Christian, Biography, Nonfiction, Christian Living, Faith

132 pages, Paperback

First published October 9, 2011

About the author

Christ-follower. husband. father, bio and adoptive. deacon in the diocese of central florida. director of family ministry at st edward's episcopal church. president at fistbump media. blogger at bibledude dot life.

Reviews

[Cris Ferreira · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is about Dan King's experience, as the title suggests, from being an observer to becoming a life changer.

He tells us how he first connected to Five Talents (a christian organization that works with microfinance to help poor communities) through a blog post, and how that contact became an opportunity to travel to Africa to teach business classes to the clients of Five Talents in Kenya and Uganda.

He tells us about his contact with two different cultures, the experiences he had with the classes that he and the team taught and the people he met.

These are the aspects that I highlight about this book:

- It is NOT that typical "everything is a disaster, the statistics are depressing and there's almost no hope" kind of book. Dan transmits a message of hope and that a regular person like him or me or you can change lives of people.

- Dan is honest about his fears and insecurities, so he comes out as a regular guy, not a superhero. That makes it easier for us to identify with him.

- At the end of each chapter, he suggests actions that the reader can take in order to start getting involved and making a difference. He called them "praxis". You won't resist. They are simple and anyone can do them. For example, he suggests researching on certain topics then sharing with friends, or writing about them.

I enjoyed this book not only for Dan's account of his experience, but also for encouraging me to go after an experience of my own, and try to make a difference in the fight against poverty.

[Crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every single word of this book was worth reading. This isn’t your typical book recalling someone’s first mission trip. The stories are powerful and the transformation in Dan’s heart is incredible, but this book offers so much more. It offers each one of us the chance to really pray about how God is calling us to serve and then to move into action on that calling.

My favorite part of the book is the PRAXIS at the end of each chapter. Taking his own personal experiences, Dan challenges us to have similar experiences … right in our own backyards. Because what Dan learned from his trip to Africa is that there are people in need everywhere. And that the small things do matter. The small things add up. If we each did one small thing every day of our lives – well, think about how huge the sum would be!

Sure, this book is about one man’s mission trip to Africa. But it’s also about how you and I can become poverty-fighters. Maybe some of us will be called to go to a foreign place. Others of us might be called to take on huge projects and devote lots of time to organizations needing help. And still others of us might be called to go hang out with the least of these and just listen to their stories.

With God, the possibilities are endless … will you take time to listen to God’s call?

[Victoria (hotcocoaandbooks) · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a short book about a man who was writing up posts on his blog about poverty and ended up being asked to be a part of an organization for a short-term missions trip. He was to give a micro-loan presentation to people in Uganda & Kenya who wanted to have help for their small businesses. I felt in a way like I was reading a few blog entries when reading this book as there were some pictures and links to youtube videos and more on it. It was pretty simple and got the point across. It was good, but not an amazing book. If you are a blogger (as I am), it was pretty interesting to learn about, since the man had never been on a missions trip and how his world was changed from his two weeks away from his home life.

[Melanie Wendt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book. Being able to see how someones experience on their first missions trip was. It was encouraging and helpful to remind me about how awesome God is and how he opens our hearts for service and our minds to the things going on in the world. Excited for where God will take me when it comes to missions work.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well, this felt a lot more like a guy from your church talking about his recent short-term mission trip. Much of the "practical" application was dated social media advice. It wasn't bad, but just nothing that amazing either.

Note: he really just shared about his mission trip. He didn't share much about his journey to get there as the subtitle would have you think

[Amanda]

My thoughts

it was a good short read. I liked that this book was a different outlook on how to help end the cycle of poverty while using your gifts abd talents. not only overseas,but in your own community.

[Jasper · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED this book. I experienced many of the same sentiments on my first trip to Africa!

[Seth Goldsmith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just a normal type guy describing how his life was completely changed because of a mission trip.