Thursday, February 20, 2014

Realising a Vision Through Faith - book review



Realising a Vision Through Faith
by Colleen Redit with Peggy Loh
Published by Christian Ministries Charitable Trust, Chennai, India. 2013


In 1964 a keen young girl left New Zealand shores and sailed to India. Colleen Redit is still there, but much has changed. This autobiography tells the story of Colleen’s life and Ministry in Chennai in the intervening years.

I found this book inspirational. I have long known of Colleen and attended some of her meetings when on furlough in New Zealand. But the scope of the story in this book is much greater than I knew before.

From early beginnings in a small garage when she was finding her way in a foreign culture, through much social change, to a multi-faceted ministry today, Colleen’s faith remains strong. Her reason for being there is the same – to bring glory to her Lord and Master through helping the poor and outcasts and bringing people to faith in Christ.

Today Christian Ministries Charitable Trust has 25 ministries with over 400 staff. Over 3000 people are helped daily with various needs. Ministries include an orphanage, schools, handicraft workshops, medical work, and soup kitchens.

A faith ministry, trusting God to meet their needs each day, miracles are seen every day. Many lives have been transformed through CMCT, transformed by God himself, and through the faithfulness of Colleen and her workers.

I recommend this book to everyone to give a marvelous insight into what God is doing in a small corner of India.

Heaven is for Real



Heaven is for Real

by Todd Burpo and Lynn Vincent 2010
Thomas Nelson

“There are no old people in heaven, Dad, and no one wears glasses,” said Colton Burpo when shown a photo of his grandfather, known as Pop. This photo of an old man had no relevance to the Pop Colton said he had met in heaven.

Heaven is for Real tells the story of Colton Burpo’s experiences while he was under anaesthetic during a shocking medical event which almost took his life. Happening just before his fourth birthday, Colton revealed snippets to his parents, Todd and Sonja Burpo, over the next few months. Related very matter-of-factly, surprising details emerged of what he had seen and heard.

His parents were astonished when he told them things there was no earthly way he could have known. He talked about his two sisters.

“But you have only one sister, Cassie” his mother replied.


Heaven is for Real

by Todd Burpo and Lynn Vincent 2010
Thomas Nelson

“There are no old people in heaven, Dad, and no one wears glasses,” said Colton Burpo when shown a photo of his grandfather, known as Pop. This photo of an old man had no relevance to the Pop Colton said he had met in heaven.

Heaven is for Real tells the story of Colton Burpo’s experiences while he was under anaesthetic during a shocking medical event which almost took his life. Happening just before his fourth birthday, Colton revealed snippets to his parents, Todd and Sonja Burpo, over the next few months. Related very matter-of-factly, surprising details emerged of what he had seen and heard.

His parents were astonished when he told them things there was no earthly way he could have known. He talked about his two sisters.

“But you have only one sister, Cassie” his mother replied.

“No, no,” he said. “I met my other sister in heaven.”

“What is her name?” His mother was testing him.

“She has no name,” he replied. “She said you didn’t give her one.”

Sonja was astounded. She had never told Colton about her miscarriage. And it was true they hadn’t named the baby; they had not known her gender.

Todd and Sonja Burpo were wary at first of sharing Colton’s remarkable story, but eventually they were persuaded to go public. This book was published when Colton was about 10 years old, and it has proved an inspiration to many people.

I know there is an explosion of stories and books about visits to heaven and near death experiences. There is also discussion on whether they are real or not. God knows, but for me this story rings true and is a real page-turner. It excited and thrilled me and made me feel so much closer to heaven.

To find out the rest of story about Colton’s Pop you will have to read the book. Thank you Todd for sharing your family’s story.




“No, no,” he said. “I met my other sister in heaven.”

“What is her name?” His mother was testing him.

“She has no name,” he replied. “She said you didn’t give her one.”

Sonja was astounded. She had never told Colton about her miscarriage. And it was true they hadn’t named the baby; they had not known her gender.

Todd and Sonja Burpo were wary at first of sharing Colton’s remarkable story, but eventually they were persuaded to go public. This book was published when Colton was about 10 years old, and it has proved an inspiration to many people.

I know there is an explosion of stories and books about visits to heaven and near death experiences. There is also discussion on whether they are real or not. God knows, but for me this story rings true and is a real page-turner. It excited and thrilled me and made me feel so much closer to heaven.

To find out the rest of story about Colton’s Pop you will have to read the book. Thank you Todd for sharing your family’s story.