The Almost True Story of Ryan Fisher

A short description of the plot of this book is enough to grab any reader: an average real estate agent trys to boost his business by catering only to Christians, and when he is successful in the endeavor, decides to start his own church. That would be enough to make someone pick the book up, but Rob Stennett's writing is what keeps the reader engaged. The book is an easy read, but don't let that fool you. The characters are complex and realistic. Stennett uses all kinds of literary devices, such as flashing forward or back, but does so masterfully, resulting in a satisfying reading experience. Stennett has a firm grasp on American Christianity and how it is perceived by those on the outside. Even Oprah makes an appearance in this book. (That's right. Not just mentioned, but actually has dialogue. What kind of writer has the guts to do that?) The only knock I have on this book is the constant pop culture references. Most of them are funny, but sometimes it feels as if Stennett is trying too hard to be hip. But overall, I give this book a stellar review. The character of Ryan Fisher is unbelievable. I couldn't figure him out. Sometimes I hated him, and others I wanted to cheer for him. He was real, and that's what a writer should do. I'm trying hard to be objectional, but I'm on the verge of calling Rob Stennett a genius.

The Almost True Story of Ryan Fisher is a fictional account of non-Christian realtor, who through a most curious set of events, decides to plant a church in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. This caught my attention immediately, seeing that I am church planter that is from just outside of Bartlesville, OK. That alone would have been enough for me to have at least checked out the book; but it is content of the book itself that has warranted writing this review. The book is extremely clever and Stennett's satire is brilliant and dangerously accurate. The book pokes fun at many elements of American "Churchianity" as only an insider can; however, it is not biting or malicious in its criticisms, as has become the trend among so many angry children of Evangelicalism, who have realized that irreverently beating up on the Bride of Christ can be pretty lucrative business. Stennett is an incredible developer of characters, and though parts of the book are verging on "over the top," the plot felt natural and eerily believable. Which, I think, leads into one of the main take aways from the book...it is possible to plant, and even grow, a church with absolutely no depth of relationship with Jesus; which incidentally, is something almost all of us suspect after five minutes of watching Christian TV, and wondering why the Pastor on his golden throne telling little old ladies to trade their life savings for prosperity prayer cloths seems somehow so different from the Jesus we find so beautifully portrayed in the Gospels. Somehow in the midst of this novel filled with belly laughing humor, a very somber message rings out reminding those of us, whose task it is to plant and pastor God's church, to take a long hard look in the mirror and deal with the Ryan Fisherism in our hearts. I think every potential church planter and pastor would benefit greatly from this book, and I am even offering extra credit for students in my undergraduate church planting class to read and review it. I had an opportunity to interview the author last week. He is a great guy and a brilliant writer. He told me that he has another book coming out pretty soon, and from what he told me, it is going to be great as well. This book is one of my new favorites and I highly recommend it.

This is a good book. Rob's prose is addicting, the story was unique and interesting, the footnotes are effective, the questions raised and addressed are highly relevant, and the lessons and challenges that hit me were as strong as they were subtle. I enjoyed the characters, despite their readily apparent flaws. Well, perhaps because of those flaws. Any time I started to think that they were acting just a bit absurd, I realized that they were starting to parallel me just a little too closely. I enjoyed the storyline because I'd never considered such a ridiculous series of events...though it quickly became all too almost-true given today's cultural climate. So, for these and other reasons, I could hardly put the thing down. Like I said, it's a good book.

Rob Stennett doesn't simply have his finger on the pulse of the modern church in America...he's using both hands...and their clenched like a blood pressure cuff. Using large doses of humor, insight, and pathos, Stennett manages to spin delightful (yet unrelenting) satire without resorting to cheap shots or stereotypes. This is a big-hearted story, sometimes sad, almost true, and luring readers to keep turning pages toward a superb and satisfying end. In case you can't tell already, I really like this book. You will too. Oh yeah, and the cover is very cool too.

Rob gets so many things right about contemporary American consumer Christianity that I kept checking to make sure he was a novelist and not a journalist. It's satire, sure enough, but like the best satire, the story of Ryan Fisher's startup church has the ring of truth. I'm tempted to say that American Christians _need_ books like this, and that you have a moral duty to buy it and tell your friends about it. But that might be overdoing it a tad. So I'll just say it's a page-turning good time. And pee-yer-pants-funny. And totally depressing. But in the best way.