Reckless Faith: Let Go and Be Led

I first met Beth and her husband Todd seven years ago on a mission trip to Mexico. This was six years after they founded their orphan care ministry (Back2Back Ministries) in Monterrey. Upon first hearing them share their heart for the ministry, I was hooked. I've been back 5 to Monterrey five times since. The Guckenberger's passion for children is coupled with a deep understanding of God's care for the least and the lost, and it has spilled over into a ministry much bigger than themselves, with over 30 staff in four countries. Really exciting stuff. I just returned from a Back2Back trip, and so I am likely not the most objective reviewer of the book. Nevertheless, I'll give it a go. Reckless Faith isn't a memoir so much, as a collection of stories (or vignettes) from the Guckenberger's experiences in orphan care ministry. Though personal stories, they are accessible to those who have no experience with their ministry or Mexico. Having heard Beth speak before, I went into the book knowing it would be a good read with gripping stories. But I was pleasantly surprised by how thoughtful and poignant her prescriptive statements were. Every short story is coupled with a reflection and an application. Though challenging in every way, Guckenberger manages to avoid the trap that many books written by missionaries fall into -- offering applications unattainable by the average working person. Beth's thoughts are inspiring, but also doable, whether you are caring for oprhans in Mexico or sitting behind a desk in Cincinnati. I highly recommend this book. It's a short, quick read, and would make a great gift. It also would read well on a beach chair during your vacation.

This truly inspiring story will lead you to reach out to others in such an unexpected way! Tears, joy, and a determination to help others will follow this very good read!

This is a heart warming book about life in Mexico. It shows how fragile and resilient the heart of an orphan child is. Prepare to be inspired to serve others more after reading this book.

Reckless Faith: Let Go and Be Led Beth's Reckless Faith is a tremendous account of God doing truly amazing things in the lives of people with 'hearts touched by orphans', particularly in the lives of Monterrey's orphans. God gave Beth and Todd a 'way outside the box' model for demonstrating the life-changing reality of Jesus Christ to His children, who through no fault of their own, find themselves in desperate situations. Beth is a gifted story teller, whose stories are gifts to her readers.

I really enjoyed this book. The stories of God's intervention in the lives of these Mexican children are very heartwarming, but also eyeopening to the conditions there. The stories really illustrate how we can benefit from stopping our endless planning and just trusting God to provide. He will exceed our wildest dreams!