Confessions of a Rogue Missionary

by Henry Rambow

As a National Merit Scholar majoring in physics at Rice University, Henry Rambow thought he was a rational person. But primed by years of Sunday School and haunted by a promise made as a terrified child, he nevertheless fell head over heels into a fundamentalist brand of Christianity. Confessions of a Rogue Missionary is an account of his struggle—and eventual failure—to reconcile his faith with reason. At times dryly humorous and at times sober and contemplative, the story begins when Henry is "born again." Brimming with zeal—but already plagued by doubt—he travels to Beijing as a missionary in the guise of an English teacher, where he tries desperately to embrace the culture and win disciples for Jesus. Culture clashes and miscommunications result in cringe-inducing encounters in unlikely settings, ranging from a brothel to a military base. Eventually, the very questions that troubled him from the start prove to be too much, and his faith collapses entirely, leaving him feeling disillusioned—but free.

200 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 23, 2020

Reviews

[Brandee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew Olen back when I first started teaching in TX, and his intelligence and witty sense of humor make this book an enjoyable read. As a believer in Jesus myself, the points he makes certainly cause me to think about my own faith.