The Missionary

David Eller is an American missionary in Venezuela, married to missionary nurse Christie. Together they rescue homeless children in Caracas. But for David, that isn’t enough. The supply of homeless children is endless because of massive poverty and the oppressive policies of the Venezuelan government, led by the Hugo Chavez-like Armando Guzman.

In a moment of anger, David publicly rails against the government, unaware that someone dangerous might be listening—a revolutionary looking for recruits. David falls into an unimaginable nightmare of espionage, ending in a desperate, life-or-death gamble to flee the country with his wife and son, with all the resources of a corrupt dictatorship at their heels.

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Taut and gripping. You’ll be glad you made the investment.
 —Jerry B. Jenkins, New York Times national bestselling author, including the 65,000,000-selling Left Behind series

David Lambert is a master of words—The Missionary is further proof.
—Karen Kingsbury, New York Times-bestselling author of the Above the Line series

The Missionary is a roller-coaster read that will keep your adrenaline rushing!
—Terri Blackstock, author of Double Minds and Last Light

William Carmichael and David Lambert’s The Missionary is packed with drama and suspense, as well as being full of surprise twists and turns. David Eller knew life in Caracas, Venezuela, would not be easy as an American missionary but life grows more difficult when he becomes involved in an assassination attempt on the Venezuelan president-dictator. Though his motives are innocent, that doesn’t stop the manhunt which ensues, led by both the government and those who hired him, forcing David to make life-changing decisions.

David’s actions affect not only himself but his family, as well. Christie, his wife, is surprised to learn of David’s involvement, and after the Eller family is forced into hiding, she has to decide if she can forgive her husband as Colossians 3:13 says, “Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” She learns what unconditional love really means.

The Missionary is a gripping story that will keep readers on the edge of their seats; it is fast-paced with smooth dialogue, allowing glances into each character’s heart and thought process. The novel addresses issues such as forgiveness and Jesus’ involvement in politics, offering fresh perspectives that hold to biblical principles and are sure to make readers think.

Violence and torture are mentioned. As such, this book is not recommend for those younger than 14. The Missionary is relevant to today’s situation in Venezuela, making it a riveting story for all adults. The book has plenty of action and drama for men, and Carmichael and Lambert incorporate a little romance and emotion for their female audience.

Carmichael and Lambert successfully weave many characters’ vantage points together. Although most people will probably never become involved in an attempted assassination, the characters’ thoughts are relatable and logical under the circumstances found in the novel. The ending was disappointing, however. Many of the loose ends are not tied up. The plot was well conceived, though, and worth following. This book would make an excellent gift or addition to a personal library. – Caitlin Wilson, www.ChristianBookPreviews.com

Average Rating:

8 of 16 Reviews Showing:(View All Reviews)

Reviewed by Pam Barry (Plainfiled, IN), February 09, 2010

This is a fast paced book that you won't be able to put down. It has good character development so that it is believable how a missionary could get involved with the wrong group of people because he wanted so desperately to help the children he is ministering to.

Reviewed by Tamera Lynn Kraft (Akron, OH), November 04, 2009

David is a frustrated missionary. No matter how hard he works, there's always more homeless poverty striken orphans he can't reach. He wants to do more, but how can he with the repressive dictator he blames for Venezula's misery in control. If only something could be done? This is the mindset of David when he is approached by a man who claims ties to the CIA and says he plans a peaceful coup. All David has to do is make a few deliveries. David knows he's putting the mission, his family, and his life at risk if he agrees, but this is his chance to do something important. But then everything goes wrong. I can relate to David's stupid decisions. Many times as Chritians, we don't feel like what were doing is making any difference. Sometimes it's easier to do something "big" to change things. This is not your typical missionary story with the protaganist who meekly serves. This man has the faults and temptations we all do, and sometimes he screws up big time while trying to help God out. I literally could not put this novel down. From the moment I started reading it, I was hooked. I had to see what happened next. I couldn't put it down. If I could give this novel 6 stars, I would. It's that good.

Reviewed by Joanne Englehart (Kutztown, PA), August 31, 2009

Very good, very suspenseful, political backdrop/setting is very current and believable making this fiction book seem almost real. Loved it.

Reviewed by Martha Artyomenko (Kalispell, MT), July 21, 2009

I was really expecting something different when I got this book as I was looking for a missionary story of someone who had an exciting, thrilling tale of helping natives in South America. Instead I felt like all I got was a tale of how one American's stupidity destroyed a mission that would have been successful because of being stupid and not talking to people he could have trusted to guide him in a better direction. It was an exciting tale, but I felt frustrated as I read it and wondered how on earth I was going to review this one. To be certain, I asked a friend to read it with me and she felt much the same way as I do. It would be a book that I think teenagers may enjoy, but as an adult, I felt like it was disappointing.

Reviewed by Christy Lockstein (Oconto Falls, WIsconsin), July 20, 2009

The Missionary by William Carmichael & David Lambert is a pulse-pounding thriller about how an innocent man's actions can shake an entire nation. David Eller loves his job as a missionary at the Hope Village in Caracas, Venezuela working alongside his wife Christie and their young son Davy. But he's angered by the children who are devastated by poverty and neglect on the city's streets, and he doesn't always keep his comments quiet in a country run by a megalomaniacal dictator. His political views bring him to the attention of a man who asks David to do just a couple of small, simple tasks, but when the country suddenly faces an attempted coup and David can't contact the mystery man, he and his family are on a race to save their lives. The authors really keep the pages turning through shady alliances and non-stop action. The reader wants to shake David repeatedly as he acts without thinking, but it's an integral part of the character and a vital plot element. My only complaint is with the character of Davy. Early in the story, he is described as having ADHD; David even calls him a hummingbird on steroids, but never once in the story do we see Davy showing any symptoms of ADHD. Not through running for his life, capture for the government, and other traumas does he display any of those characteristics. If the writers had left out that description at the beginning, Davy would be portrayed well. If they had thrown in a few scenes of him acting out to his mother's terror, it would have been powerfully moving, but as it is, that part just doesn't work. Davy is, however, only a minor character, so this small flaw does not detract from the thrilling action.

Reviewed by Stacey (Las Vegas, NV), July 12, 2009

“The Missionary” by William Carmichael and David Lambert is a fast-paced page-turner. The story of David Eller and his wife, Christie is an eye-opening look at the poverty-stricken existence of the homeless in third world countries. This story is detailed with depth, insight and brutal honesty. In fact, the plight is probably worse than the story would indicate. The suspenseful twist - of how a missionary and his doctor-wife take their family into the world in an attempt to bring aid to the less fortunate only to find themselves in the midst of a life and death struggle for their own lives in the midst of a major espionage plot – seems a bit far-fetched, but probably really happens! It’s just that incredibly fantastic. At first, I found the writing to be choppy and hard to follow. But the short, increasingly exciting chapters won me over, and made this book difficult to put down. I haven’t finished the book, yet, but don’t let its size intimidate you – it is a fast read. It also contains a nicely assembled list of questions for your personal reflection or book discussion group. One final note: this is the second book I’ve read that has sworn me off of field missionary work.

Reviewed by Rebecca Matthews (Fuquay Varina, NC), June 23, 2009

Book is great-I couldn't put it down in fact I read it in just a couple of days. Well worth reading. Guys will enjoy this also

Reviewed by Debbie Bornholdt (North Logan, UT), June 12, 2009

Captivating! Difficult to put down. I served a short-term medical mission to Venezuela and reading this story brought back all the sights, smells, people & culture of this fascinating country.

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