The Accidental Missionary

by David Bredeman and David L Winters

[phyllish]

A great missionary adventure

My rating is 4.5 stars

When I first saw the title of this book, I thought "huh?" I proceeded to read the book description and figured it would be quite the interesting tale, assuming it was fiction. But it isn't! Fiction, that is. The Accidental Missionary is the memoirs of David Bredeman, a missionary to Peru.

The circumstances surrounding him discovering his calling are humorous. And perhaps a warning against falling asleep in church! On the other hand, considering how God used this man and worked in his life, possibly an encouragement!

I was fascinated to learn about David Bredeman's experiences in various South American nations as He served the Lord. Not only did he witness miracles, he saw the body of Christ trusting God in difficulty and praising Him despite living in poverty and oppression. The accounts are humbling and encouraging.

Perhaps the most touching of the stories, if I was forced to choose just one, would be the account of the two-week trip taken to find the Mashco-Piro people, an Amazonian tribe seldom seen by outsiders. The results of that journey and the changed life that resulted were amazing!

One of the things I most appreciated about this account is that there was no attempt to whitewash the truth or simply make David Bredeman look like a hero. Not only did I read about the amazing things God did, I also saw ways that this missionary struggled in his faith and fought temptation. Praise God for His forgiveness and restoration!

The Accidental Missionary almost reads like an adventure story. It is filled with vignettes painting the picture of his travels throughout Peru and other nearby regions and the fascinating people living there.

In addition to telling of the mission work, the book ends with some lessons learned and advice for those considering going into the mission field.

I recommend The Accidental Missionary for several groups of people. Those who love biographies, those who love missions, those who love travel, and those who love to read about the work that the Lord is doing around the world.

Read my full review at Among the Reads


I was given a copy of this book. I was not required to give a favorable review nor was any money received for this review. All comments and opinions are my own.