Matthew Gasperoni’s Reviews > Hearts of Fire: Eight Women in the Underground Church and Their Stories of Costly Faith > Status Update

Ling’s story has been a little harder for me to connect with. At times, the emphasis on obedience and duty feels different from the grace-centered language I’m more accustomed to.

Still, I’m trying to read it with humility and remember that culture and translation can shape how faith is expressed. Even when I don’t fully resonate with every perspective, there is still much to learn.

"Their lives were enriched by the trials they endured."

Words can hardly explain the Wurmbrands' story. Hearing it from Sabina's perspective in this book makes it one of the most gut-wrenching, yet encouraging and love-filled, stories of what it looks like to die to self and live for CHRIST.

So much good came out of so much pain. May we learn to trust GOD in the much easier "little things" of our own days.

Aida’s story was so encouraging. What stood out most was her conviction in court—gently but firmly standing for CHRIST and refusing to back away.

She respected Russia and its laws, but she would not allow them to cause her to sin or back away from what GOD had called her to be and do.

Purnima’s story was pretty powerful to me. What stood out most was her commitment to loving CHRIST, even while battling fear, persecution, and uncertainty.

She just continued to witness. Even in prison. And some of the sacrificial love she showed there, all to win hearts to CHRIST, was so encouraging.

“She knew hatred was a cancer of the soul and that forgiveness would be the only antidote. But forgiveness seemed far off, an impossibility. All she could do was pray.
[…]
She prayed for the salvation of those who had hurt her and her family. She believed this prayer was a key to being able to forgive them in her heart.”

— Adel, Hearts of Fire