A Chance to Die: The Life and Legacy of Amy Carmichael [Paperback]

Elisabeth Elliot (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 2005

A Chance to Die is a vibrant portrayal of Amy Carmichael, an Irish missionary and writer who spent fifty-three years in south India without furlough. There she became known as "Amma," or "mother," as she founded the Dohnavur Fellowship, a refuge for underprivileged children.

Amy's life of obedience and courage stands as a model for all who claim the name of Christ. She was a woman with desires and dreams, faults and fears, who gave her life unconditionally to serve her Master.

Bringing Amma to life through inspiring photos and compelling biographical narrative, Elisabeth Elliot urges readers to examine the depths of their own commitment to Christ.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Be inspired by a woman who dared to follow God

Amy Carmichael understood true discipleship and lived it out. At a very young age she felt called to the mission field, followed God's guidance, and eventually went to India, where she would spend fifty-three years without furlough. While there, Amy founded the Dohnavur Fellowship, a refuge for children in moral danger-children who were orphaned or unwanted and sold to the temple. Amy became a mother for these children, and so they called her "Amma."

Even today, Amy's life of obedience and courage stands as a model for all Christians everywhere. We resonate with her desires and dreams, her faults and fears, her dedication and service. For former missionary and author Elisabeth Elliot, Amy became a role model. "She was my first spiritual mother," writes Elliot. "She showed me the shape of godliness."

A Chance to Die is the life story of Amy Carmichael. In this reverent biography, Elisabeth Elliot brings "Amma" to life, providing a compelling, unforgettable narrative that will provoke you to examine the depths of your own faith and encourage you to reaffirm your life and commitment to Christ.

Elisabeth Elliot, one of the outstanding women of present-day Christianity, is the author of more than twenty books, including Passion and Purity, The Journals of Jim Elliot, and These Strange Ashes. She and her husband, Lars Gren, live in Magnolia, Massachusetts.

About the Author

Elisabeth Elliot, one of the outstanding women of present-day Christianity, has been a conference speaker and is an author of over twenty books. Her titles include Passion and Purity, No Graven Image, Be Still My Soul, The Path of Loneliness, Secure in the Everlasting Arms, The Music of His Promises, and Keep a Quiet Heart. She and her husband, Lars Gren, live in Magnolia, Massachusetts.

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Revell; Reprinted edition (May 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0800730895
• ISBN-13: 978-0800730895
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 1.1 x 8.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (41 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #12,337 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #12 in Books > Christian Books & Bibles > Evangelism > Missions & Missionary Work
  • #53 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Religious Studies > Theology

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

103 of 104 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Rare Godly Example for Every Christian October 17, 2000

By Christopher C. Alsruhe

Format:Hardcover

Here is a book that will challenge any Christian in any walk of life to deny themselves, take up their cross daily, and follow Jesus. The missionary life is, in fact, the normal Christian life for every Christian, for every Christian is an ambassador for Christ. As such, this biography will be a great help to any reader in focusing their hearts and minds on the God-given task before them (1 Peter 2:9)--whatever their walk of life. This book also gives much needed rebukes against those who support missions financially on the basis of numbers saved. This book re-affirms the biblical principle time and again that the Christian's work is not saving, but declaring. The work of saving is God's alone; and if no one is saved, the missionary must keep working and we must keep supporting. Finally: Is this book biased? Gee, I hope so. Biased for one who gave all for the lost and for the glory of God. If there is an unhealthy bias in the book, I don't see it. And if it is there, it doesn't matter; for the issue is not Elizabeth Elliot and her approach to Amy Carmichael. The issue is that Amy Carmichael has left us a Christlike example that is biblical. We need to follow her as she followed Christ. Forget any supposed bias and try living her life. Believe me, no one who spends their time trying to follow Christ as Amy did will have any time left to worry about possible bias. And the book shows Amy as a sinner, for sure. So the book does not gloss over Amy's faults. This is a must read; but be prepared to be convicted and challenged.

41 of 42 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars life and legacy of amy charmichael April 3, 2000

By Carlos Bongioanni

Format:Hardcover

This book was so encouraging to me on a practical level. I am a Christian mother of three little ones desiring to have God first in my life and my families life, but sometimes I don't see things as clearly as I should. Seeing Amy's practical example of seeking the Lord in every situation, whether in relationships or parenting her children was inspiring to me, and has motivated me to "seek" more diligently answers directly from God's word.

Also seeing from Amy's example of being a "Amma", and her wanting a different kind of life for her little one's has also been inspiring. It is so easy to get caught up in our cultures way of thinking in that we feel our children need this or that, when not focusing on the most important...our children need to see that God is real, practical and personal. Her type of relationship with God isn't impossible to have, therefore, through reading this book it has given me a stronger drive towards wanting this more initmate realtionship with a God who can meet all our needs.

31 of 31 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Biography on a Woman Who Lived to Serve June 16, 2005

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

The cover on this trade paperback edition is different than the hardcover but it is a very nice looking one with a different picture of Amy.

The book itself is excellent. Elisabeth Elliot writes this in a way that keeps your interest and really gives you a clear picture of who Amy Carmichael was. There are pictures and illustrations which add a lot as do Amy's own words and poems inserted throughout the entire book. There are even a few pictures of Amy which are rare; she didn't like having pictures of herself taken. She never wanted to draw attention to herself-her life was all about serving and bringing glory to God, not herself.

Elisabeth Elliot does write in a way that shows she highly admires Amy Carmichael but she doesn't make her to look perfect. She does show her downfalls; afterall, Amy was human. But it is true that Amy Carmichael was an extraordinary woman and her willingness to give up her own life to serve God shows this.

This biography will inspire and encourage. Follow Amy from her calling at a young age to "Go", all the way to India where she settled and rescued children from temple prostitution and other dangerous situations.

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A life willingly laid down in India continues to bear fruit. January 14, 1998

By [e-mail]

Format:Hardcover

Amy Carmichael has been a spiritual mother to many more than the children she rescued from temple prostitution in India at the turn of the 19th century. Her influence extends much farther beyond her geographical location and lifetime. Through the pages of A CHANCE TO DIE by Elisabeth Elliot that influence will be even more magnified. Ms. Elliot very ably conveys the passion and discipline which harmoniously co-existed in Amy and drove her to single-handedly and successfully combat the traditions which enslaved the children she sought to rescue.

Amy's life is described from childhood, through the active mission years, and on into the last 20 years she spent as an invalid before her death. It is flesh and blood we see through it all; not some mystical saint who has achieved great spiritual heights unobtainable to the rest of us. We are allowed glimpses of her struggles, fears, doubts, failures, and blind spots as well as her triumphs. We see the growth made and insights obtained as a result of all the circumstances of her life. Amy saw "missions as a chance to die" to oneself so that Christ might be revealed. Ms. Elliot draws together all the events and details of Amy's life and beautifully weaves them together with writings from her books and journals, and interviews with those who knew her. Amy Carmichael has found a kindred spirit in Elisabeth Elliot and the reader is left with the desire to get to know both of these remarkable women better.