Living on the Devil's Doorstep: International Adventures

I love reading a variety of Christian books. But some of my favorites are personal biographies. I stumbled across this series in the Christian bookstore and this was the third one I bought. This in an incredible story of a man who was willing to go WAY outside his comfort zone and minister to people a lot of Christians wouldn't want to minister to. Mr McClung is a perfect example of a person compelled by love for Christ and the lost. This man is also a great example of the power of prayer and of faith. This book will make you squirm. It will cause you to look at things from an entirely new perspective. This book pulls no punches and gets down and dirty. But I think this book should be required for every Christian, especially those who feel they are being called to the mission field. I highly recommend this book.

This book is part of YWAM's International Adventures series and deals with the McClungs' mission to Western travelers in Afghanistan and subsequently in inner city Amsterdam. Originally published in 1988, the volume offers current updates to Floyd McClung's biography (at p.[202]), but does not explain why he left Amsterdam for Colorado in 1992 to found All Nations Institute, or why he assumed the pastorate of Metro Christian Fellowship, neither of which would appear to be following C.T. Studds' desire "to run a rescue shop/ Within a yard of hell" (see p. 201). It is certainly McClung's right to follow wherever God has called him, but some explanation of this mission change in the new edition might have been useful. McClung's account of his Afghani experiences (at pp. 15-97) supplements the book he co-authored with Paul Conn, Just Off Chicken Street (1975) and provides a useful, if slightly external, view of the Hippy Trail which ran from Europe to India in the 1970's (see p. 22). Like so many earlier missionary accounts, the book is useful as an anthropological/sociological account as well as in a religious sense. The second half of Living on the Devil's Doorstep (at pp.99-201) deals with the McClung ministry in Amsterdam. This was initially established to reintegrate converted travelers into Western society and to prepare Christian volunteers for the outreach process (at p. 97), but it led to a series of outreaches, including work in the city's red light district. Again, a unique view of this area is offered, although, as noted above, the story of this particular ministry remains incomplete. Samuel Pyeatt Menefee

This Book by Floyd McClung takes us to the deepest place of the author's heart. I had the chance to meet Floyd a couple of months ago in Amsterdam and experiencing his passion for people and the lost is a huge support for every word of this book. After visiting Amsterdam I can tell it's not the easiest place to be, I can't imagine what Afganistan looks like. I recomend Living on the devil's door step, it's a very encouraging book and a testimony of the love and passion of Jesus for us.

Floyd McClung recounts the amazing story of his family's journey of compassion which began in Kabul, Afghanistan by ministering to Western hippies traveling the "road to enlightenment". Unfortunately, that road all too often led to disillusionment and disease instead. Floyd and his wife Sally, led by God, dared to believe they could make a difference by sharing the love of Christ in Kabul and subsequently in Amsterdam infamous "red light" district.This is a fascinating and inspiring story of how a young couple began a ministry that has reached hundreds of otherwise lost young people. A definite "must read" for anyone with a heart for Christian missions.