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We Died Before We Came Here: A True Story of Sacrifice and Hope
If not you, who? If not now, when? This was the challenge answered by Stephen Foreman and his wife, Emily, when they traded in their American white picket fence for a giant, dusty sandbox as missionaries in the deserts of North Africa. Stephen had given Emily a well-read copy of Foxe’s Book of Martyrs on their first date, a telling foreshadowing of the ultimate cost he would pay when, at 39, he was shot and killed by al-Qaeda operatives. His life and death planted a seed of boldness and inspiration in the hearts of local believers. This seed would grow and multiply efforts to help reach the very goal that Stephen was willing to give his life for―glorifying God and seeing his Kingdom established among the nations.
In this memoir, Emily, left with four kids and an undying calling to reach the Muslim world, recounts their heartrending yet uplifting story of sacrifice and love for a people held captive by the ultimate Enemy. Stephen did not die in vain. This promise echoes through the book’s pages and far beyond, in the minds and lives of countless individuals touched by a man who daily put his life in the hands of God.
Because of security issues and the need to protect other workers and local believers in the country, the book employs pseudonyms for all major characters, including the authors.
In this memoir, Emily, left with four kids and an undying calling to reach the Muslim world, recounts their heartrending yet uplifting story of sacrifice and love for a people held captive by the ultimate Enemy. Stephen did not die in vain. This promise echoes through the book’s pages and far beyond, in the minds and lives of countless individuals touched by a man who daily put his life in the hands of God.
Because of security issues and the need to protect other workers and local believers in the country, the book employs pseudonyms for all major characters, including the authors.
208 pages, Paperback
Published September 1, 2016
27 people are currently reading
760 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 127 reviews
March 30, 2023
“Are you dead yet? Dead to yourself, dead to your own desires, dead to fear? Are we alive in Christ? My desire is that when people see your life, when they see my life, they will see Christ, and Christ alone. Let us live our lives as if they weren’t our own lives. To truly be strangers in this world. To be aliens in this world. Our citizenship is in heaven.” - Stephen Foreman
This is a brilliant autobiography- honest, challenging, inspiring and focused on the glory of God among the nations.
This is a brilliant autobiography- honest, challenging, inspiring and focused on the glory of God among the nations.
December 18, 2022
Heartbreaking story by this missionary wife. Interesting beginnings, but they truly sold out for the mission field. I appreciated her honesty in the struggle for balance between ministry and family. #reallife
I’m not sure what to think about their philosophy of saying “We’re not converting anyone to Christianity; we’re just followers of Jesus sharing His love.” But I haven’t been a missionary in North Africa either, so my perspective would maybe change drastically if I were.
A tragic end with her husband being shot. 😭 Can’t imagine. Powerful testimony sharing the words “We died before we came here.”
I’m not sure what to think about their philosophy of saying “We’re not converting anyone to Christianity; we’re just followers of Jesus sharing His love.” But I haven’t been a missionary in North Africa either, so my perspective would maybe change drastically if I were.
A tragic end with her husband being shot. 😭 Can’t imagine. Powerful testimony sharing the words “We died before we came here.”
November 22, 2022
"To live without purpose is worse than dying."
January 6, 2022
At first I was upset that the back of the book spoiled everything that happens in the book, but as I turned the pages, I appreciated the warning. This book broke my heart. I picked it up bc someone told be to read more missionary biographies, and they were right. Read this book! It gives incredible perspective on friendship and loving people you’re taught to fear. I loved it and cried so hard at the end. It’s filled with scripture and a picture of people living it out, and it inspired me and my faith!
January 27, 2024
this book 😭😭😭 thanks to my girl @mira for recommending this to me. Crazy story of believers living exactly as Jesus calls us to- abandoning everything we want and dream for what he has for us. To make his name known! Great read.
April 24, 2020
This book is a gut wrenching autobiography of the Foreman family’s mission work in North Africa. Emily Foreman draws you right into her life and you feel the emotional impacts of working amongst Muslims as an American shortly after 9/11. This book will give anyone a deeper appreciation for the work that missionaries do, challenge Christians to live life as citizens of Heaven, and bring to fruition what it means to truly die to this world and live for Christ. The Foreman story is one that will be with me forever. I encourage someone to read it without reading the synopsis of it. It makes their story so much more real.
October 20, 2022
If not you,
who?
If not now,
when?
Stephen and Emily Foreman lived with urgent purpose — to bring the gospel to the Muslims of Africa. This book depicts the power, and even beauty, of willing death. Redemption becomes visible as the children walk in their Father’s path of sacrifice and death.
who?
If not now,
when?
Stephen and Emily Foreman lived with urgent purpose — to bring the gospel to the Muslims of Africa. This book depicts the power, and even beauty, of willing death. Redemption becomes visible as the children walk in their Father’s path of sacrifice and death.
February 8, 2023
This book left me in tears.
“Are you dead yet? Dead to yourself, dead to your own desires, dead to fear? Let us live our lives as if they weren’t our own lives- we died before we came here”.
“Are you dead yet? Dead to yourself, dead to your own desires, dead to fear? Let us live our lives as if they weren’t our own lives- we died before we came here”.
May 11, 2025
This is a must read.
July 1, 2024
“Are you dead yet? Dead to yourself, dead to your own desires, dead to fear? Are we alive in Christ? My desire is that when people see your life, when they see my life, they will see Christ, and Christ alone.”
This book is an encouragement to the soul and made me see and long to have God’s compassion for those held captive by the enemy. It challenged me to evaluate how I think/interact with people of different faiths, specifically Islamic faith.
This book is an encouragement to the soul and made me see and long to have God’s compassion for those held captive by the enemy. It challenged me to evaluate how I think/interact with people of different faiths, specifically Islamic faith.
January 13, 2021
I read this book because of a friends recommendation without knowing much detail about their story...I highly recommend just jumping in without reading the back of the book. The book is a smooth read and Emily writes with such authenticity and emotion that you feel like you’re with her every step of the way. So thankful for this story and the profound inspiration that it produces.
January 31, 2019
Wow, what a story! This is a powerful, moving, and inspiring true story of a Christian family who moved from America to North Africa, knowing the dangers and still choosing to go, because of their love for God and their love for the Muslims there who needed to know about Jesus. Despite the sometimes intense content, this book has a very readable and engaging style, which makes it a joy to read. It is also a challenging story, because you can’t help but ask questions of your own faith when you read of such commitment to God. I can see this book staying with me for a long time.
July 22, 2024
“To live without purpose is worse than dying.”
This book is moving, convicting, and thought provoking. The kind of book that makes you look at your own life and reevaluate what you put your thoughts, money, and effort into. The kind of book that makes you want to become a missionary in a place where they have never heard of Jesus and you might be killed. The kind of book that makes you want to love others. Definitely recommend and have so much admiration for Emily Foreman and her entire family 🩷 You will absolutely cry 😭
This book is moving, convicting, and thought provoking. The kind of book that makes you look at your own life and reevaluate what you put your thoughts, money, and effort into. The kind of book that makes you want to become a missionary in a place where they have never heard of Jesus and you might be killed. The kind of book that makes you want to love others. Definitely recommend and have so much admiration for Emily Foreman and her entire family 🩷 You will absolutely cry 😭
February 6, 2023
Already, this is one of my top book recommendations for 2023. Incredible, relatable in thought in nearly every way, and entirely well rounded in story. Emily, you did a lovely job articulating a true and personally grieving story all while incorporating the truth behind the culture of American Christianity and depicting how the Gospel should go out to the nations. Thank you for sharing your story, your thoughts, and Stephen's life with us.
November 26, 2023
"To live without purpose is worse than dying."
This beautiful testimony proclaims that Christ is worthy.
It reminded me of Jesus words in John 12:24
I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels - a plentiful harvest of new lives. Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity.
This beautiful testimony proclaims that Christ is worthy.
It reminded me of Jesus words in John 12:24
I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels - a plentiful harvest of new lives. Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity.
June 14, 2023
This book is AMAZING! I am in awe of this woman’s faith throughout her life and through the brutal murder of her husband. A modern missionary biography written by a woman, I was immediately excited to read this book. Emily not only tells their story with bravery, honesty, and vulnerability, she is a gifted writer as well. Each page had me coming back for more! This book has been an encouragement to my faith in God and in my calling to full-time ministry. Cannot recommend enough!!!!!!!!
July 16, 2018
Absolutely heart wrenching yet inspiring book about what it means to live for Christ so totally
March 13, 2024
“If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.” Matt. 16:25
This is a book to be remembered and re-read.
This is a book to be remembered and re-read.
January 2, 2018
Brilliant. Challenging. Thought-provoking. Moving. Well worth a read.
August 4, 2024
Shed a few tears reading this book. Incredible story and a compelling read that challenged me so much! Couldn’t put this book down.
January 15, 2024
I couldn’t put this book down!!!! So many reminders of eternal perspective that i needed and was such an easy read. Highly recommend!!
July 9, 2020
"Like a needle with no thread, all I can do alone is poke holes through the fabric of others' lives--but with the divine thread securely attached, I can weave God's love and power in and out of the lives of others, allowing the Lord to mend and heal and bring everything together for his glory." (101)
This is a lovingly written story of a family who love God more than themselves. It was at once familiar and aspirational. For anyone who wonders why people move overseas or what a real cross-cultural calling looks like, this is it. I underlined and commented on almost every page, but the quote above was the most beautiful imagery in the entire book.
A friend handed me this book, and I didn't read it as a critic or a writer but as someone who could have a good, long conversation with the author. I appreciated that Foreman began at the end, that is, with her husband's death. Then she took her time building the story...teasing out the important moments leading to the point where both she and he could be okay with it. She also takes the time to let us all know what happened after his death and how the family manages now.
I hope this stay's on the shelves of history alongside God's Smuggler and A Candle in the Dark. That's where it's going in my bookcase.
This book is suitable for any age, as long as the reader can grasp and be comfortable with the death of a father, and terrorists/extremists. Also, there's an out-of-wedlock pregnancy at the first.
This is a lovingly written story of a family who love God more than themselves. It was at once familiar and aspirational. For anyone who wonders why people move overseas or what a real cross-cultural calling looks like, this is it. I underlined and commented on almost every page, but the quote above was the most beautiful imagery in the entire book.
A friend handed me this book, and I didn't read it as a critic or a writer but as someone who could have a good, long conversation with the author. I appreciated that Foreman began at the end, that is, with her husband's death. Then she took her time building the story...teasing out the important moments leading to the point where both she and he could be okay with it. She also takes the time to let us all know what happened after his death and how the family manages now.
I hope this stay's on the shelves of history alongside God's Smuggler and A Candle in the Dark. That's where it's going in my bookcase.
This book is suitable for any age, as long as the reader can grasp and be comfortable with the death of a father, and terrorists/extremists. Also, there's an out-of-wedlock pregnancy at the first.
September 13, 2020
This was a good story, but i didn't find it well-written or particularly readable. I'm not sure I agreed with Stephen's philosophy of evangelism, but I admired his willingness to live out his faith as he understood it.
January 29, 2024
Beautiful and gripping story of hope, faith and perseverance.
November 13, 2017
An account of the true costs of choosing to put serving God first, before comment, security and safety. Although the culmination of the challenges the Foremans faced in North Africa was seen in the murder of her husband, Emily Foreman is clear about the many challenges that preceded that too.
She recounts the misconceptions of US friends about their choice to work with Muslims, and she addresses without holding back the strains that the work they were doing put on the family relationships. She is also crystal clear on how the only response to facing these challenges was to depend wholly upon Christ, and battle in the power of the Holy Spirit.
An inspirational account of how God uses those who surrender their all to him for the purposes of seeking the lost and sharing with them the glorious news of the gospel.
She recounts the misconceptions of US friends about their choice to work with Muslims, and she addresses without holding back the strains that the work they were doing put on the family relationships. She is also crystal clear on how the only response to facing these challenges was to depend wholly upon Christ, and battle in the power of the Holy Spirit.
An inspirational account of how God uses those who surrender their all to him for the purposes of seeking the lost and sharing with them the glorious news of the gospel.
January 9, 2026
This book was written well and gave glimpses of life and ministry in North Africa. I personally found their ideas inspirational for reaching the people they were sent to minister to and it was encouraging to see how God paved the way for them to impact suffering and searching people with His love and the Gospel. The prologue of the book tells how the missionary was killed, but most of the rest of the book focuses on God's calling and their work in the city.
Content: Some violence (slightly detailed) mentioned in a few different situations, including the murder of a missionary; equating Allah and Jehovah as the same God; a single mom with a child out of wedlock and a divorced man who remarries
Content: Some violence (slightly detailed) mentioned in a few different situations, including the murder of a missionary; equating Allah and Jehovah as the same God; a single mom with a child out of wedlock and a divorced man who remarries
February 15, 2019
This book is amazing. It had me laughing, smiling, crying and at times, angry.
We live in a world which is so quick to make sweeping generalisations of people, races, religious etc when really these ‘generalisations’ tend to be about a minority of those people. The couple from this book showed how we can live out the love of God and how to be a light in a dark place without doing mass evangelical work. Their work of friendship evangelism and kindness has changed the lives of countless people who otherwise might never have heard the gospel. I admire their dedication and sacrifice. They truly put their lives in Gods hands and their ultimate goal was for God to be glorified
We live in a world which is so quick to make sweeping generalisations of people, races, religious etc when really these ‘generalisations’ tend to be about a minority of those people. The couple from this book showed how we can live out the love of God and how to be a light in a dark place without doing mass evangelical work. Their work of friendship evangelism and kindness has changed the lives of countless people who otherwise might never have heard the gospel. I admire their dedication and sacrifice. They truly put their lives in Gods hands and their ultimate goal was for God to be glorified
July 7, 2019
This book had me sobbing. As a believer, books and stories like this remind and challenge me throughout. It is a reminder of Who I have been called to and what I have been called from. It challenges me that my comfort is not God’s priority, and I must die to myself/my desires, and be willing to take up His cross to follow wherever He leads. However, I am also reminded that He promises to walk with me wherever this is,and His glory will be ultimate. A call to suffering, but joyous moments along the way. Thank you for sharing your story and Stephen’s story. This has been a great encouragement.
April 29, 2024
I've read missionary stories, but I haven't read one that was so bold to speak about giving your all to Christ, even your life, in this day and age. The Christian movement has become so monotonous and ungenuine that I can understand why people question whether following Christ is worth it. However, this book made me realize.... That there are still genuine Christ followers out there. People that will lay down their lives for Him, because they actually knew Him. People that knew Him so well, that their very characters were contagious of the Holy Spirit. You don't find people like that everyday, and you don't find books like this everyday. My suggestion is read it. You won't be sorry.
January 10, 2025
One of the most meaningful books I have ever read. She so clearly expresses many of my thoughts living in an African country dominated by Islam. Her love for God and getting the Gospel to her country despite the fact that her husband was killed by Al-Qaeda is inspiring. I often fear some of the things that actually happened to her family will happen to mine. She challenges me to see that even if it does come true, that Jesus is worthy and our lives are His.
The book also gives great insight into what missionary life is actually like and might help people who don’t live in a country like this understand our thoughts and experiences.
The book also gives great insight into what missionary life is actually like and might help people who don’t live in a country like this understand our thoughts and experiences.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 127 reviews