Janet & Geoff Benge
Recommendation: 4/5
Description of author: Janet & Geoff Benge are a husband and wife writing team. Janet is a former elementary school teacher and Geoff has a degree in history.
Comments: This book is one in a series called ‘Christian Heroes: Then & Now.’ The series is geared toward youth. We read this as a family and we all thoroughly enjoyed it, especially my six year old daughter. The writing style is simple enough for children to comprehend, but advanced enough to keep everyone’s interest. The inspiring story of George Muller (1805-1898) has many spiritual lessons and therefore forms a great basis on which to discuss important subjects with your children – subjects like prayer, money, compassion, thankfulness, and diligence. George Muller was truly a great man of faith who built up and ran a large orphanage without asking for one cent from anyone but God. He always asked God to provide for their needs and God always provided. On one occasion, three hundred orphans were waiting at the table for breakfast, but there was no food in the house. George came into the room and prayed. He thanked God for the food He was about to provide. As soon as George was done praying someone knocked at the door. It was the baker, who felt compelled to bring them bread. Before the baker left, another knock on the door came from the milk man, whose cart had just broken down in front of the orphanage. He needed them to take all the milk so he could fix his cart. In this way, God provided their breakfast (p. 165-168). Such was the life of George Muller. What many do not know is that before George was saved he was a thief and a debtor, who was continually borrowing and swindling from others. There are truly many delightful episodes in this book, including the account of the first time George asked God to supply his need (p. 49-53), and the time Charles Dickens came to visit the orphanage (p. 156-157). This book will both encourage and challenge you in your Christian walk.