God's Hostage: A True Story of Persecution, Imprisonment, and Perseverance
Written by Andrew Brunson and Craig Borlase
Narrated by Andrew Brunson
5/5
()
About this audiobook
What followed was a string of difficulties and threats, but there were also successes in starting new churches in a place where many people had never met a Christian. As their work with refugees from Syria, including Kurds, gained attention and suspicion, Andrew and Norine acknowledged the threat but accepted the risk, confident that this work was part of their assignment.
In 2016, they were arrested. Though the state quickly released Norine, who remained in Turkey, Andrew was imprisoned. Accused of being a spy and being among the plotters of an attempted coup, he became a political pawn whose name was soon known around the world.
God's Hostage is the incredible true story of his imprisonment, his brokenness, his faithfulness . . . and his freedom.
Related to God's Hostage
Related audiobooks
Which None Can Shut: Remarkable True Stories of God's Miraculous Work in the Muslim World Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5When Faith Is Forbidden: 40 Days on the Frontlines with Persecuted Christians Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Heavenly Man: The Remarkable True Story of Chinese Christian Brother Yun Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5We Died Before We Came Here: A True Story of Sacrifice and Hope Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Captive in Iran: A Remarkable True Story of Hope and Triumph amid the Horror of Tehran's Brutal Evin Prison Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Insanity of Obedience: Walking with Jesus in Tough Places Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5They Call Me Momma Katherine: How One Woman’s Brokenness Became Hope for Uganda’s Children Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5No Limitations Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Stranger at Our Shore: How Immigrants and Refugees Strengthen the Church Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Tramp for the Lord Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Muslims, Christians, and Jesus: Understanding the World of Islam and Overcoming the Fears That Divide Us Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Tortured for Christ Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Radical Question: What is Jesus Worth To You? Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Let Justice Roll Down Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Reason for Tears: A Memoir Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5When Mountains Don't Move: A True Story of Faith Under Fire Rating: 1 out of 5 stars1/5Adopted for Life: The Priority of Adoption for Christian Families and Churches Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Imprisoned with ISIS: Faith in the Face of Evil Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5They Say We Are Infidels: On the Run from ISIS with Persecuted Christians in the Middle East Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Cell 58: Imprisoned in Iran Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5End of the Spear Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5God's Double Agent: The True Story of a Chinese Christian's Fight for Freedom Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5On The Way: An Australian Doctor in Yemen & Pakistan Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Kisses from Katie: A Story of Relentless Love and Redemption Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5In the Presence of My Enemies Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Extreme Devotion: Daily Devotional Stories Of Ancient To Modern-Day Believers Who Sacrificed Everything For Christ Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsA Memoir of Miracles: Short Stories of God's Presence in Argentina Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Cross and the Switchblade Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Evidence Not Seen: A Woman's Miraculous Faith in the Jungles of World War II Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
Religious Biographies For You
Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus: Third Edition with Bonus Content, New Reflections Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Sound of Gravel: A Memoir Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Devil is Afraid of Me: The Life and Work of the World's Most Famous Exorcist Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Hiding Place Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Barn at the End of the World: The Apprenticeship of a Quaker, Buddhist Shepherd Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Beyond Belief: My Secret Life Inside Scientology and My Harrowing Escape Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Summary: Educated: A Memoir by Tara Westover: Key Takeaways, Summary & Analysis Included Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Mothers and Daughters of the Bible Speak: Lessons on Faith from Nine Biblical Families Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5An Exorcist Tells His Story Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Pure Act: The Uncommon Life of Robert Lax Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Women of the Bible Speak: The Wisdom of 16 Women and Their Lessons for Today Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Twelve Ordinary Men Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Autobiography of a Yogi (Unabridged) Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Confessions of St. Augustine Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Bare-Faced Messiah: The True Story of L. Ron Hubbard Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5In the Presence of My Enemies Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Twelve Extraordinary Women: How God Shaped Women of the Bible, and What He Wants to Do with You Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Pure: Inside the Evangelical Movement that Shamed a Generation of Young Women and How I Broke Free Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Paul: A Biography Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Autobiography of a Yogi: The Original 1946 Edition Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Seven Storey Mountain Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Magic of Marie Laveau: Embracing the Spiritual Legacy of the Voodoo Queen of New Orleans Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Finding God in the Waves: How I Lost My Faith and Found it Again Through Science Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Inside Scientology: The Story of America's Most Secretive Religion Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Toltec Art of Life and Death Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5God's Smuggler Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Unorthodox: The Scandalous Rejection of My Hasidic Roots Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Heartwood: The Art of Living with the End in Mind Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
Reviews for God's Hostage
41 ratings7 reviews
What our readers think
Readers find this title to be a raw and candid account of Andrew Brunson's false imprisonment. It deepens love for Turkey and offers a window into the spiritual backdrop of world politics. The book is described as riveting, inspiring, and a true story of Christian persecution. Readers appreciate the raw breakdown of Brunson's reactions and his love for God. Some recommend reading the Epilogue first for an added spin. Overall, this book is shocking, fascinating, and a must-read for those interested in true stories of perseverance and faith.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I couldn’t stop listening, either. Very raw, candid, insightful, and heroic in a not-so-typical way. My ancestors descend from and I lived in this country for years. This book deepened my love for Turkey. I felt very close with the friends he described making in prison. Remarkable how a someone in a society with so much top-down pressure can exhibit such compassion. There is a lot going on beyond world politics than what appears on the surface. This was a great window into a bit of the spiritual backdrop to world politics. Bravo.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I couldn't stop listening. This book was as riveting as Corrie ten Boom. I was one of the people that prayed for his return and shared on social media. I feet like I personally know him and rejoiced along with them when he was freed. I love President Trump
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5A riveting account of an innocent man walking through an unimaginable trial that God allows for His glory. What an encouraging blessings this book was. I could not put it down! Thank you Andrew.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Shocking! Fascinating! Inspiring! Interesting! True Story! Christian story of Persecution!
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5A raw breakdown of Andrew Brunson's false imprisonment. Brunson's reactions are real. He cries, he questions, asks God for forgiveness. His situations as described by him were not physical as with so many Christians. He talks throughout the book about his feelings, his love for God, and how he's treated. This is easy to read, and internally I appreciated that my time was well spent reading God's Hostage. And, I did so in one sitting.
I would recommend reading the Epilogue first. This is nonfiction, therefore there are no spoilers. The epilogue adds a spin.
#GodsHostage
#NorineBrunson
#BakerBooks - Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This book is very emotionally charged to read. Pastor Andrew Brunson and his wife Norrine had served as a missionary’s wife in Turkey for 23 years. Their love of the people and commitment to sharing the gospel with them ran deep. So much so they applied for a permanent visa and make the country their forever home. In 2016 they were both arrested. Norrine was shortly released but Andrew remained imprisoned for 735 days in horrible conditions. He was accused of being a spy and a terrorist. His is an incredible story of being persecuted for righteousness sake. I applaud and admire Andrew’s courage to be transparent about his thoughts, emotions and testing of his faith. He didn’t pretend to be the hero or a super saint, just the real deal.While I have never been imprisoned with false accusations nor faced any of the extreme trials he did, I have experienced emotions and situations in lesser situations that he shared. Andrew speaks of his time of depression, anxiety attacks, hopelessness, thoughts of suicide, fear, and even questioning his faith and God’s existence. Pretty extreme right? Some may read this a judge him. “He is a pastor! He is a Christian! He should have these thoughts and feelings!” Wrong! We are all flesh and of this world. Anyone in circumstances can falter and fall. That does not mean we are not Christ's. I felt like a failure during those times and that I was probably the only one or a rare few of God’s children to disappoint Him so. I am not happy the author went through these things but it helped me see even His strongest, most dedicated servants waver.I have felt all of these in times that crushed my spirit and if most Christians were honest they would admit to the same. Satan can put us in a place where his attacks wear one down. He also admitted to needing medication to get through. This is frowned up on in the Christian community. The bottom line is God delivered him! Did he fail as God’s man? No! He went through the fire and always came back to his Savior and God. As horrific as these events were, he came out stronger and is still serving God. Bravo Pastor Brunson! I received this book from Baker Publishing in exchange for an honest review. The opinions stated are my own.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5God’s Hostage: A True Story of Persecution, Imprisonment, and Perseverance by Andrew Brunson, with Craig Borlase, is not light reading. The subtitle perfectly relays the contents of this autobiography: persecution, imprisonment, and perseverance. Andrew Brunson underwent intense hardship as he spent 735 days in Turkish prisons. As the majority of this book takes place during his imprisonment, frequently the focus is on his mental, emotional, and spiritual struggles. I appreciated the deep honesty he shared. He tells about his fears, deep depression, suicidal thoughts, the well-intentioned (but not helpful) advice of others, and much more. Although the subject matter in God’s Hostage is weighty, I found the plot fascinating. At times, I wanted to keep turning pages to follow along his journey, but had to stop for the night and space it out to avoid absorbing too much of the emotional turmoil. I could relate to his feelings of being abandoned by God in his hardship. In a way it was refreshing to read about as it reminds me that I’m not the only one who faces certain struggles.God’s Hostage by Andrew Brunson, with Craig Borlase, will appeal both to readers who enjoy autobiographies and to those who followed Andrew Brunson’s imprisonment as it happened. 4.5 Stars! Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.