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.
I have just finished reading this. It's a really moving account of an ordinary family who went to serve God overseas. It a warm, well-written and challenging book of normal people, from our generation who are all out for God. I really commend it.
A story that will stay with you
Lois Ferguson
I’m really glad Emily Foreman decided to write her story. She’s very honest about her struggles, and it’s amazing to read about how God changed her and gave her a real passion and energy for reaching out to Muslim women. Although Emily and her husband were very normal and definitely not perfect, God used them incredibly. This is a very moving and readable account of their experience and sacrifice.
Challenging, moving and insightful
Esther
The whole of my family (including teenage children) read this autobiography one after the other - including some of us reading it in one sitting. Not that it is particularly short, but it is very readable and quite unputdownable. It tells about the sacrifice inherent in accepting the call to cross-cultural mission in a closed country. One of my favourite lines is that it is called the "great commission" and not "the great suggestion". The book itself challenges apathy, unwillingness or fear to serve God in reaching out to our Muslim neighbours - be they here or across the world. We would recommend this to anyone who loves the Lord - but you will definitely need a box of tissues to hand as it is a heart-breaking though heart-warming read.