Book Review: "Searching for Paradise: A Story of Chiefs, Gangs, Prime Ministers, and the God Beyond the Clouds" by Charles Nombo Lapa and Janet Dickson

 

I got this book for free from the folks at Speakeasy, significant since I really didn't have any idea what I'd be reading about.  Sometimes the books I get are not that good, but this was not one of those times. I really enjoyed this book and its made me think a lot about what truly effective missions should/ can be. And that's something I've been thinking a lot about since returning from Oaxaca on this year's mission trip with Adventures in Life (and our home church, First Baptist Pasadena).

Lapa and Dickson's book is about the introduction of Christianity into Papua New Guinea, and the introduction of the book was fascinating for me.  I loved reading about how things were before industry and the rest of the globe introduced themselves to the country. Though that is inevitable in the day and age we live in, it was still intriguing to read about the early tribes, the people's thoughts about growing up, marriage, getting food... and the inevitable conflict with neighboring tribes.

The introduction of Christianity coincided with the introduction of outside influences. This part was not that interesting to me, to be honest, and it followed the stereotypical patterns we already have in our minds about missions efforts.

The shift was how the authors described the impact Christianity had on specific individuals, with Charles being the main example (who I just realized is one of the authors!) The stories were inspiring: descriptions of healings, of causing entire gangs to repent, getting shot in order to protect others in the community, etc. The stories of gangs turning in their guns, reconciling with neighboring gangs and seeking peace brought about memories of the countless stories we read about folks who work on the frontlines of gang ministries here in the states (like Father Greg Boyle of Homeboy Industries)... and on a personal level, the events that happened in Eloxochitlan, Mexico, back in 2014. (This event is familiar with people who have been in partnership with Adventures in Life ministry at that time).

At the end of the day, the book provides a clear reminder of the potential faith can have in transforming lives, and thus societies. If we've come to see anything in what's happening now in the US, is that using the Christian faith to force change on a macro level without changing people's hearts and minds first... its just too closely aligned with power and corrupts both the faith and the leadership who have chosen the easy path towards accomplishing what their visions of God's plans are. But when individuals are transformed and truly interact with the radical message of Jesus, amazing things can happen that end up changing their communities for the better. I guess that's what Jesus was talking about when he called believers to be "salt and light."  "Searching for Paradise" was an inspiring book that I'm glad to have been given the chance to read.