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

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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.

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.

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.

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.

When one views the life of Amy Carmichael, the only possible result can be to put the difficulties of contemporary life into perspective. Never enjoying robust good health and never entering into the comfort of marriage, Amy Carmichael gave her adult life to Christ by serving the children of her region of India. This book tells in exciting anecdotes and vivid narrative the life given over to a purpose and the amazing power of God revealed when she obeyed His voice in her life. Elliot's admiration for her subject shows through not in sentimentality, but in honesty regarding the idiosyncrasies and criticisms of the woman whose ministry still impacts the world today.

We owe a special thanks to Elisabeth Elliot for the time, research and effort it took her to write this detailed but very readable biography of Amy Carmichael. It made me feel ashamed as I read this book to see the life of someone so totally and completely devoted to serving their Savior. What are our priorities in life? Everything we do should have the "seed of eternity" in it. (An expression used by Amy.) Amy was a missionary to India for over 50 years, and NEVER took a furlough or leave of any type! Early on in the mission field, Amy took in a little girl (only 5 or 6 years old) who had ran away from the Hindu temple. She was being raised to be a temple prostitute. This began Amy's life-long ministry of rescuing young girls from temple prostitution and molestation. Eventually the ministry expanded to also take in boys, and had a hospital to treat people in the surrounding areas. Despite the fact that hundreds of children were taken in, a strong family atmosphere was maintained. Amy (called Amma) was dearly loved by "her children". Just before Amy died temple prostitution was finally made illegal.

Amy was a truly selfless woman, whose ministry was not an easy one. There were countless setbacks, problems, and struggles along the way. She was even criticized by some as having ulterior motives for rescuing these little girls from prostitution. (Whenever someone chooses to do the right thing, it is amazing to me how many people criticize!)

Amy truly took up her cross and followed Christ with her very life. She wanted everything to bring glory to the Savior, and not herself. "A chance to die"...to self and to live for the Savior. This was a challenging, inspiring, and powerful biography. Read it.

Elisabeth Elliot wanted to profile one to whom she felt she owed a great debt. It was through the writings of Amy Carmichael that Elliot first understood the great message of the cross, the sacrificial Calvary love of sacrifice. Before reading this book, all I knew about Amy Carmichael is that she is revered as one who surrendered her life completely to Christ. After reading her biography, now I know why. A Chance to Die is aptly named. Elliot recounts the many occasions and many ways in which Amy Carmichael chose to die--to self, personal desires, family and societal convention. The biography looks at her early childhood, her domestic service and projects, her call to foreign missions, and then details her life's work of establishing the Dohnavur Fellowship in India as a refuge for children whose lives were in danger.

Elisabeth Elliot, as one who is to many the model that Amy Carmichael was to her, was the perfect one to write this story. She writes about Amy with obvious respect, but also seeks to bust the myth that she was perfect, striving instead to show her high standards as something that could be attained. The depth of Elliot's own Christian experience comes through in the telling, even though there is no personal account, other than what is in the preface. Her research was thorough, including reading Carmichael's own published writings as well as personal papers, in addition to interviews with those who worked with Amy, and at least one visit to India.

Recommended to: Biography readers, those interested in India, missions-work, or learning more about the process and practice of sacrificial love

This is one of my favorite books. Probably one of the best that you will find in biographies of Amy Carmichael. This book has greatly impacted me and I return to it as a source of encouragement very often. Amma (indian for mother) had a passionate love for Jesus and her sole desire was to give Him her life. Mrs. Elliot shares very well of the path this desire brought her on, and the thousands of people whose lives were forever changed by it. Miss Carmichael has become one of my favorite authors as well. Praise the Lord! I hope you enjoy!

I have read this book twice over the last decade and each time it has given me life principles applicable to the time of life in which I read it. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who needs an example to live by. I couldn't help but think that if God could do such things in Amy Carmichael, He could certainly do the same in me. What a challenge!

Amy Carmichael has been a great model to follow. Her love for the Lord spilled out to those whom she saw as His children worth saving ... even though they were considered worthless in their culture. God uses Amy's ferver to encourage me to continue on in difficult places. Thank you Elisabeth Elliot for using your God-given writing talent to so articulate the life of this precious woman of God. Your labors go hand in hand with Amy's in bringing in more souls for the Kingdom of God. To God be all the glory!