If I Perish - Book Review

If I Perish
By Esther Ahn Kim

Ahn E. Sook stood alone among thousands of kneeling people. Her bold defiance of the tyrannical demand to bow to pagan Japanese shrines condemned her to a living death in the filth and degradation of a Japanese prison. This brave woman remained faithful to Christ in the face of brutality, oppression, and ruthlessness of her captors. The story of how she won many of her fellow prisoners to Christ in the most deplorable conditions is an inspiration to all.

ISBN: 978-0-8024-3079-3
Publish date: October, 2001
Page Count: 350
Dimensions: 5.5 x 8.5
Format: Paperback
Weight: .91 LBS

You can read the first chapter here.

*** This book outlines and is a great example of long suffering and faithfulness to the Lord. I enjoyed reading it though I wouldn't recommend it for young children as it does have some explanations of the torture the Christians endured that would be too much for young minds.

It's a wonderful story about hope and trust. Ahn was a Korean Christian school teacher who wouldn't bow to the pagan Japanese shrines. She was on the run for many months before being caught and imprisoned. Ahn E. Sook was imprisoned for her faith and taken to many different horrible prisons during her stay. They fed her spoiled scrapes of food they often called it 'chicken feed'.

She had a wonderful ministry through it all and a determination to never give up on her God and to spread God's sustaining power to as many as possible. Preaching the word of God to her fellow inmates and leading many to the Lord was her goal her entire imprisonment. After her imprisonment she traveled the United States and Europe to share the gospel there with her new husband.

The Lord gave her so many wonderful experiences while in prison. Children adored her and many of the jailers were kind to her (though there were still mean ones). She had the privilege to bring several of her jail mates to the Lord.

It's a hard book but one that will leave a good impression. I look forward to sharing pieces of this wonderful book with others. I pray that what I've learned through this book will build up my relationship with my Lord and the ones I know. A steadfast and faithful heart...

* Disclaimer - I received this book free from Moody Publishers as part of their Blogger Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.