Book Review: The Visitation
One of my Top 10 favorite fiction books of all time and a MADMINISTER.COM MUST READ for all those pursuing a vocational ministry career. Seminary students, pastors and those who are currently working out their calling should get a copy of this book ASAP.
Book: "The Visitation"
Author: Frank Peretti
Available: At most online bookstores
Background: In 1986, Frank Peretti's book "This Present Darkness" was first published, but little notice was taken of it at that time. The sub-genre of "Christian fiction" was just beginning to become popular in the mainstream Christian market. By 1988, this sleeper suddenly awoke and took the market by storm. As late as July of 1989, "This Present Darkness" was still the #1 best-seller among Christian books. In August 1989, Peretti's next work "Piercing the Darkness" was released by Crossway Books and promised to be at least as popular (by 10/89, it had already passed the 750,000 sales level of "This Present Darkness"). Since then, Frank Peretti has been atop the "Christian Fiction" sub-genre, being rivaled only by the current "Left Behind" series.
"The Visitation" is the latest, as of this writing, in Frank Peretti's Christian adult fiction works (as opposed to his teen/pre-teen series "The Cooper Kids") and it definitely lives up to the genre Peretti created, that of the "Spiritual Thriller." Hailed by many as a modern day prophet, Frank Peretti's novels always carry an important, urgent message to the Body of Christ and this one is an extremely important novel for anyone "doing ministry" as defined by our present church culture.
Summary: A retired pastor, Travis Jordan, must contend with his own doubts and questions about his faith in his small town of Antioch, Washington when a mysterious stranger arrives and is able to seemingly delve into Travis' varied past. As occurrences of spiritual events heighten tension and escalate the fears of the town's ministerial board, Travis and a young preacher, Kyle Sherman, must dodge controversy while trying to uncover the secrets of this deadly new threat that will inadvertently force Travis to re-visit his own past.
Mad Parts:
+ When Travis first meets the "stranger." It sent chills down my spine and had me guessing!
+ When Travis recounts his experiences on staff at a church. As impossible and sad as they seem, these kinds of things DO HAPPEN!
+ When Travis recounts his experiences with a "Big Church." Truly heart-breaking.
+ When Travis recounts the many lives he came into contact with during his ministry. For me, it was hugely affirming and succeeded in showing the highs of "ministry" as our current church culture defines it.
Mad Props:
+ For boldness and utilizing the spiritual gift of prophecy! Frank Peretti's book is God-influenced and on-target for today's church in America.
+ For telling an effective story that kept me guessing. Many novels in current Christian popular fiction just don't cut it, but "The Visitation" is truly a compelling story.
+ For having the boldness to address the dangers and pitfalls of "professional ministry" without condemning it.
Mad Slops:
+ This book was almost a template book after his previous work, "The Oath," though this one was much better, I thought. The same general plot points were followed as in the previous book, however this one was much more masterful. This isn't actually a "slop," just a sort of observation. Having read "The Oath" before reading this one, I could kind of see where this one was heading, but I enjoyed getting there.
Mad Minister's Verdict: This book is definitely a "Mad Read," especially for all seminary students, ministers and Christians in general. Peretti's dead-on capture of the frustrations that can, so often, come from doing "full-time ministry" is something every church member should read and take to heart. Without a doubt, this is Peretti's most relevant, needed (to the Church in America today) and heart-felt work to date.
Mad Points: 4.5 outta' 5.