Customer Reviews

The Call to Joy and Pain: Embracing Suffering in Your Ministry

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Ajith Fernando provides us with a solid theology of suffering and pain. But this is no stuffy theology tome. It is written in an easy to read format and backed by a life full of suffering and ministering to the suffering. Thus Fernando is uniquely qualified to speak into our lives at the point of our greatest pain. I am grateful for this book and its timeliness in my life. I think you will be as well.

Ajith Fernando knows about suffering. He has seen horrendous suffering during his ministry as national director of Youth for Christ in Sri Lanka. Since the 1980s that island nation has been torn and ravished by civil war and political corruption. Over 60,000 Sri Lankans have died in sectarian violence, and another 20,000, mostly rebel Tamils, "disappeared" after their arrest. Just when a tentative peace between warring factions was taking shape, the Indian Ocean Tsunami stuck, leaving more than 31,100 dead, 4,100 missing, and 519,000 homeless.

Despite the suffering all around him, Ajith Fernando has found a transcending joy, a joy that transforms pain and suffering into a closer walk with Jesus Christ. This book is greatly needed, especially in America, where much of Christianity has become shallow, self-centered, and materialistic. Fernando contends that Christians are not only not exempt from suffering and pain, but they are called to suffer for the Lord's sake and for the good of others. Yet through that sanctified suffering--even because of it--the Christian finds true, lasting joy.

Though specifically written for those in the ministry, the book's truth, which draws heavily upon Scripture, applies to every Christian. The book's thirty short but rich chapters take us to a higher plateau in our Christian life, and to greater service for the Master.

The Call to Joy and Pain: Embracing Suffering in Your Ministry
This is perhaps the best book that Fernando has done yet. I would reccommend it to every Christian who is serious about his or her faith. It deals with the most important aspects of our lives, yet it is an area often overlooked by the church today.

I started this book with great expectations. Sadly, those expectations were not met by a long shot. I understand that the book was written in a "Meditation style," which may have been the problem. The topic of pain and suffering in the Christian life is probably too complicated for this type of book. I felt the answers were too easy, formulaic and clicheish. If one is wanting to look at the Christian response to pain and suffering, I would start with C. S. Lewis' "A Grief Observed" and "God on the Dock." These titles are equally accessible and intellectual.

Suffice it to say, I was very disappointed in this book.

Biblically sound, and easy to read, this is a great book for all believers, especially anyone needing a deeper discussion about the meaning and role of suffering in the Christian life. I read it in the context of a small group study over a couple months, and all of us were edified by the book and the discussions and sharing we had around the content.

It's remarkably well balanced between the two topics (joy and pain), and is the best single resource I've personally read yet for dealing with suffering. Also, because it's written in such an easy-to-read style, it's great for anyone from teens to seniors. Highly recommended!

Did you ever ask a question wondering why a loving God allows so many seemingly bad things to happen to us? The title of this book made me curious about how we could embrace suffering. All of us at one time
or another, usually during a troubled time in our lives, have asked that question.
This book proves that there is a wise God in control of all things, who knows the end from the begining. This book gives valuable insight into many of the questions we all have. It is a life changing insight. The Scripture tells us that Jesus willingly suffered on the cross for the joy that was set before Him.
I recommend this book to help you understand what and why that joy was in the midst of the suffering of the Savior. The book is an easy read and very well done. Do yourself a lot of good and order the book now.