Book Review- Venturing with God in Congo

I received a FREE copy of Venturing with God through Congo- Conjurske Publications through the HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way.

Venturing with God in Congo

Conjurske Publications (2017)

by

Darrell Champlin

About Venturing with God in Congo

Venturing with God in Congo is a memoir written by missionary Darrell Champlin. He and his family ministered to the people in Congo for 11 years. The book is a collection of short stories detailing the experiences and challenges he faced during his time there.

From witch doctors to wild animals, his time with the unreached people groups in the jungles of Congo was nothing short of amazing. God brought him challenge after challenge and he met them with grace and faith that was unwavering.

The book itself is a hardback with a matte finish cover and really beautiful artwork. The elephant on the back cover is breathtaking and the overall appearance of the book is intriguing. My boys were excited to read this once they saw the snake on the front cover. It was thrilling in all the best ways.

About Darrell Champlin

Darrell Champlin knew at the early age of 12 that he was called to the mission field. After he met and married his wife, Louise, they relocated to Congo to pursue the call on their lives. They grew their family to include four children and together they began working to spread the gospel.

The beautiful and heart-rending stories contained in his memoir give feet to faith in a way most people do not experience. In fact, “Love with Shoes On” was Darrell’s best-known message. It has been used by God to ignite the passion for missions in the hearts of many around the globe.

Our Thoughts- Venturing with God in Congo

When I first received Venturing with God in Congo, I took some time to flip through it. I was trying to gauge the interest level of my boys. Once they laid eyes on the cover with the picture of the snake, they were all in.

After reading the first few stories, I decided that we would read the lighter, more age-appropriate parts to begin. We’ll dive into the deeper topics a bit later when the boys were a bit older.

As I flipped through the book, I came upon “Itupa, The Buzzing Snake”. I knew that’s where we would start. I shared with the boys a bit of the backstory of the family and then dove into the chapter. They were mesmerized- they loved the detailed descriptions of the jungle and the animals. They were a bit saddened to find that the snake meets his death. It allowed us to have conversations about how people hunt for food and the circle of life as God designed it.

I really love how Darrell ends each chapter with scripture that ties in beautifully with the story he shared. It is a great way to gain a deeper understanding of the verses he uses. It’s also a beautiful example of scripture in action.

At this point, we’ve read about half of the stories in this book. I do think that this book makes a great read-aloud for a family. I would suggest that parents preview the stories if they are reading to younger children. You want to be sure you feel it’s appropriate for the age of your children.

Overall, I was very pleased with the quality of the book. It has a beautiful matte cover and the text is very easy to read. I look forward to reading more with my boys as they grow older. Sharing the challenges and triumphs of the life of missionaries gives children a picture of the grace and mercy of God in action. A truly valuable lesson indeed.

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