Customer Reviews

More than Conquerors (Extreme Devotion Series: Mexico #2)

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More Than Conquerors by Kathi Macias is the second book in the Extreme Devotion series that began with No Greater Love. Hector is pastoring a small church in Tijuana while his mother, Victoria, evangelizes to a much smaller group deep in the Mexican countryside where Mayan superstition still rules and any teaching different is viewed with suspicion and even in danger for their lives. Marty has finished Bible college and is working to help Hector while trying to figure out God's plan for him in the mission field. Macias takes these different strands and weaves them all together in a story of how God is working all over the world. An aura of danger emanates from the very first page, and the reader can't help but turn pages faster and faster as the quiet action picks up and hearts are broken. Macias has really hit her stride as an author with this series. It is filled with realistic characters and powerful stories. It almost feels like the reader is looking in on real people as they struggle with faith, hope, loss, and love.

Conquistadores - conquerors -- this word still inspires hatred and fear in the hearts of the descendants of the once flourishing culture of the Mayans. The Mayans were a people with a very advanced civilization. They had a written language, a developed religious and governmental system, and arts, architecture and literature. A once great society they were finally conquered by the Spanish. However, their language and traditions continue to exist in many central American countries as well as Mexico. Kathi Macias' newest book, More Than Conquerors, introduces the reader to the modern Mayan, one who still clings to traditions, superstitions and suspicions of those they term outsiders.

Macias sets her novel in two locations in Mexico -- San Juan Chamula in Chiapas State and Tijuana just south of San Diego. San Juan Chamula is a remote Mayan village in the rain forest. Tijuana is separated from San Juan Chamula not only by distance and bad roads, but by a lifestyle termed primitive even by those living in the poverty stricken border town. But both towns share one thing in common -- the grip of evil on their populations. The evil is palpable in the confused psuedo-christian/Mayan worship in San Juan Chamula and in the gang violence of Tijuana.

The scripture that inspires the title of this novel, Romans 8:37, states that children of God are more than conquerors of the things that seek to keep us from the will of God -- fear, death, persecution, ridicule, evil forces and evil men. The verse is illustrated in the characters Macias brings to life on the pages of her book. Like Macias' first book in the Extreme Devotion series (No Greater Love), More Than Conquerors is not an easy read. The characters are faced with real life struggles and obstacles. Gang violence, open opposition to the gospel, family and societal pressures are just a few of the things she writes about. The christian life is not presented as a happily-ever-after fairy tale, but as gritty, ugly and tear-filled, yet possessing the peace and joy that only God can give to those He loves.

This book is for those who want to live what they say they believe. Highly Recommended.

(Thank you to Pump Up Your Book and Kathi Macias for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book. The opinions expressed are min alone.)

"More Than Conquerors" by Kathi Macias

Kathi has done it again - written a book so riveting it refuses to let the reader put it down until the last page is read. Once again, take this reviewer's advice, carve out a whole day (if you are a slow reader such as myself) because you will not want to take a break even to tend the `tyranny of the urgent'.

Where "No Greater Love" was heartbreaking, "More Than Conquerors" is heartwarming, but not in a fuzzy, sentimental way. Kathi takes her readers on a romp with a warm, loving family - the Rodriguez family. In their relationships we see what Christian family life ought to be. We become quickly attached to these characters. We cheer for their accomplishments; but hold our breath when danger, not only looms, but breaks with violent force upon its unsuspecting victims. We want to fall to our knees to pray for God's protection for these hapless people, then realize - it's fiction, duh! Well, actually, not. Although the Extreme Devotion Series is fiction, each book is based upon true stories drawn from the persecuted church. Thus the urge to fall to our knees to pray for the persecuted church is actually an appropriate response.

Where "No Greater Love" ended tragically, at least from a secular point of view, "More Than Conquerors" halts the story at a celebration - and the beginning of another story. Indeed, "More Than Conquerors" will conquer your heart.

The second book in the Extreme Devotion Series , Kathi Macias continues her wonderful talent in this story that will touch your heart. Once again she has woven together a wonderful message and a touching story that you won't soon forget.

The story begins with Virginia in her small shack in the village of San Juan Chamula - located right in the middle of Mayan hostilities. Confident that the Lord has placed her there, far from her family and the comforts of Tijuana, she ministers to the people who will listen. But when she ruffles a few Mayan feathers by reading the verse Romans 8:37, her life becomes even more dangerous.

Filled with a large, varying cast of characters, this book takes you from one person's personal life to the next. Kathi writes so well and clearly that I never felt confused for a moment. I really enjoyed reading a book that had so many different stories that, in the end, often intersected together.

While the first book in this series, No Greater Love, is still my favorite (so far!), More Than Conquerors was a wonderful read that really got you thinking about using your life purposefully for Christ and committing it to telling others the gospel. It was sobering, and heartwarming, to read of these characters read to lay down their life for Christ. Yet it wasn't unbelievable - the characters themselves struggled with placing their complete trust in God when things got rough. Kathi did a wonderful job making her characters real and believable. I felt Hector's pain. I understood La Abuela heartache. I rejoiced in Marty's newfound love. It was all so personal.

More Than Conquerors is a book that will touch your heart and make you seriously think about the missionaries in our world today who give up so much earthly comfort and ease to spread the gospel to hard-hearted people across the border. Their lives are never easy, and many are ended swiftly, but do it all for Christ with joy in their heart. This is a book that will make you think!

Pastor Hector Rodriguez has his hands full. His small church in Tijuana is not immune to the violent crime spreading throughout Mexico. His mother is ministering in San Juan Chamula, in the state of Chiapas, to people of Mayan descent who are hostile to evangelists, and his father is dying in a San Diego convalescent home. His faith is being stretched; he can't be everywhere and protect everyone he loves. In San Diego Marty, a young "gringo" Bible College student and friend of the pastor's family, has just graduated and is praying about direction for his life. He can't look to his family for wisdom, because his father is dead and his wealthy mother can't understand why he'd waste his life being a missionary. The only thing Marty feels led to do with any certainty, is to visit Pastor Rodriguez and his family for the summer to wait for God's guidance.

Kathi Macias brings these characters together to show them, and us, that with God we are "More than Conquerors". This book set in 2010, is one in the Extreme Devotion Series. I'm looking forward to reading another.

This is Kathi Macias' second title in the Extreme Devotion series. I haven't read the first one, No Greater Love, but I plan to now! Set in Mexico, this is a story of faith, devotion, tragedy, love, persecution, superstition, and so much more. It will challenge the believer to a deeper walk, and show the unbeliever the path to Christ. I highly recommend this book to read and to share!

It is fantastic that the second book of the Extreme Devotion series has already been released! Kathi Macias's gift of writing is yet again displayed in her latest book. In More Than Conquerors, Kathi challenges her readers' faith walk to go to a deeper level. More Than Conquerors is a compelling, action-packed read with an inspirational message. The primary character's courageous stand for Christ should encourage all Christians to have a bold witness for Him. More Than Conquerors is an excellent book that I highly recommend. Don't miss out on reading this book!

More than Conquerors is the first book I have read by author Kathi Macias.

Kathi takes us into Mexico as she tells us the story of pastor Hector Rodriguez and his loving family as they strive to serve the Lord in a culture that has some unique challenges. Along with Hector's mother, Virginia, and a young friend, Marty, who is fresh out of college and seeking the Lord's direction, they each have some life changing decisions to make.

Virginia faces her own demons as she turns years of anger and bitterness towards her estranged husband, Alberto, into forgiveness and love.

More than Conquerors is a story of superstition, murder, infidelity, anger, and fear. Yet throughout the story we find threads of God's power as we see forgiveness, love, faith, and new life in action. This is a book that will challenge your walk with God.

Overall, I enjoyed reading More than Conquerors, but I had a difficult time with the frequent point of view changes in each chapter. Because of this I felt like I couldn't quite settle deeply into the story. It was a bit distracting for me.

I'm looking forward to reading other books by Kathi Macias.

More than Conquerors is a fun read that grabbed my attention from the first page and held it to the end. The characters are caught up in dramatic events that force them to confront their own faith-or lack of faith. The setting in today's Mexico with the problems of gangs and religious persecution adds to the tension in the story line.

While easy to read, More than Conquerors raises some difficult questions. Do we desire the safety of our loved ones more than their obedience to God? If what we say we believe does not govern how we live, then do we really believe it? This is a book that can be read purely for entertainment, but can also be a challenge to any believer's perception of their own life and faith.

With fast-paced action and an inspiring message, More than Conquerors is a book that you'll be glad you read.

The title is very inviting. It makes one think of a winner who conquerors what he is set out to do with a mission. The extreme devotion note makes me want to open the pages and see what he is attempting to conquer. The setting in Mexico is exciting and captivating.