Living Faith

by Helen Roseveare

"Dr Helen Roseveare was a medical missionary with the Worldwide Evangelization Crusade in the Congo from 1953 to 1973. She has first-hand, front-line experience of relying on God for every need: she knows the suspense of waiting for desperately needed help, and the awe as it arrives. She discusses:
Faith - God's gift to us
Faith - in receiving and therefore in giving
Faith - in guidance and therefore in going
Faith - in involvement and therefore in praying
FAITH - our giving to God".

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

192 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1980

About the author

Dr. Helen Roseveare was born in Hailebury, Herts, England in 1925. She became a Christian as a medical student in Cambridge University in 1945. She continued to have strong links with the Cambridge Inter-Collegiate Christian Union and was designated as the "CICCU missionary" during the 1950s and 1960s. She built a combination hospital/ training center in Ibambi in the early 1950s, then relocated to Nebobongo, living in an old leprosy camp, where she built another hospital. After conflict with other staff at the hospital, she returned to England in 1958.

She returned to the Congo in 1960. In 1964 she was taken prisoner of rebel forces and she remained a prisoner for five months, enduring beatings and rapings. She left the Congo and headed back to England after her release but returned to the Congo in 1966 to assist in the rebuilding of the nation. She helped establish a new medical school and hospital (the other hospitals that she built were destroyed) and served there until she left in 1973. She helped many people from different countries, and helped them when needing food, and drink.

Since her return from Africa, she has had a worldwide ministry in speaking and writing. She was a plenary speaker at the Urbana Missions Convention three times. She is now retired and lives in Northern Ireland. Her life of service was portrayed in the 1989 film Mama Luka Comes Home. Her touching story about how the prayer of Ruth, 10-year-old African girl, for a hot water bottle to save a premature newborn baby after its mother had died has been widely forwarded by email. She survived rape and trial during the Congolese civil war in 1964 because of the intervention of the villagers she had helped previously.

(Wikipedia)

Reviews

[Rohan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of stories, but perhaps her other books may be a bit more inspirational?

I did enjoy the metaphor if the "cats eyes" which guide us on the road, that God often only shows us one at a time, but it's our job to obey and follow, even if we don't know the full picture.

Also some cool stories about the power of prayer.

[Jenny Sanders · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being stirred as a pot of paint didn't resonate with me at first. It took some explanation to realise that the writer is referring to the way that gloss pain separates into an oily top layer and a sludgy bottom layer. In order to be effective in covering a wall, the paint has to be stirred all the way through and right down to the bottom of the pot. In the same way, she argues that Jesus-followers need to be regularly and thoroughly stirred in order to be effective wherever we have been placed.

For Dr Helen Roseveare, this was many years serving as a missionary doctor in Zaire (now The Congo) working long hours, surviving the brutalities of the Simba uprising, pouring herself into students many of whom squandered their training, driving perilous roads to visit sick people and collect supplies, and working in frustratingly basic conditions. The lessons she learned and the illustrations she uses from her own life are as challenging as in the other books in the series that I've read (Living Fellowship & Living Sacrifice).

The authentic stories raise the level of impact of every point so clearly made, each with biblical references. Not for the faint-hearted, but another call to integrity in faith and the privilege of being part of God's family. I'm looking forward to the fourth in the series: Living Holiness, even though I know it won't be a comfortable read.

[Deborah-Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been a great fan of Helen Roseveare for years. Especially because her testimony really transformed and brought peace and hope to my life in a very difficult and painful season. In this book, Roseaveare further describes her work and ministry in the DR Congo and also intersperses it with poignant and punchy devotional wisdom. Although I have read "Give Me This Mountain...And He Give Us a Valley" and so many of the stories were repeats, I found that this book brought out a bit of a different side to her heart. It was truly an encouraging read and very well written and well thought-out.

[Rebecca Filbrun · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read

Very inspirational! Clear examples of why we can trust the LORD no matter what. I especially appreciate the encouragement that things don't always turn out the way we think that they should when we follow the directing of the LORD. But that doesn't mean that we followed wrong.

[Cristina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I has zimlech bearbeitet mit Randnotize & Co :)
Im Novämber 2013 vor Christine Mattmann übercho (inkl. Stämpu vo Minj WHP, PNG!)

Legände:
A = Atributos de Dios
L = Lección
M = Milagro, Maravilloso!
P = Principio

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a clear picture of what living by faith means. Dr. Roseveare, with humility, power and grace shows what it means to live by faith as she served the Lord in the Congo. Her experiences both encourage and challenge me. A worthy read.

[Sue J · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very humbling!

[Sara Weaver · Rating 4 out of 5]

Incredible insight straight from the author's experience. It also happened to be something I really needed to hear.

[Jane Merson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full of inspiring testimonies that point to practical application in one's own journey of faith.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

One I definitely need to reread frequently. Very encouraging, convicting and challenging!

[Hope · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another excellent book in the series. Essential reading for every earnest Christian.