Book review: The Story of Richard Wurmbrand

Review by Brandi Tesreau, The Old Schoolhouse Magazine

God’s Prisoner: The Story of Richard Wurmbrand
By The Voice of the Martyrs with Cheryl Odden

Before I'd even finished unpacking my box of new review products, my 9 year old son came in to inspect. The children's book, God's Prisoner: The Story of Richard Wurmbrand, piqued his interest. "Oh, written by The Voice of the Martyrs," he recognized. (That very morning he'd visited The Voice of the Martyr's website for a history assignment.) He grabbed the book, promptly sat on the couch, and read the whole thing!

God's Prisoner: The Story of Richard Wurmbrand is a 42-page, illustrated hardback written about the persecution of Richard Wurmbrand, the founder of The Voice of the Martyrs. It's quite an easy read for older elementary students and is a great read-aloud for younger children. The story is what is important about this book – not so much the reading level. My seventh grader and I enjoyed it, learned from it, and were encouraged by it, too.

Richard Wurmbrand's steadfast faith in the face of persecution in communist Romania will inspire children of all ages. His courage to stand up for Christ despite the consequences of prison and torture is contagious. He even puts Christ before the safety of his own family, completely trusting in God's will. His wife and son endure hardship as well – his wife is sentenced to hard labor and his son is kicked out of school for taking a stand for Christ.

You will surely want to find out what happens to this brave family. For $19.00 you can add this book to your children's library, and leave an impact that will last a lifetime. May we all be as bold as the Wurmbrands!

To order this book, visit our online catalogue or contact our office. For more resources designed specifically for kids, check out VOM’s children’s site, Kids of Courage.