Books of 2024: God’s Work Among The Nations

Out of all the memoirs I read in 2024, I was the most encouraged by stories of men and women of other faiths who found the Truth and came to Jesus. So often they faced persecution, trials, and hardships that are unimaginable, yet their faith remained strong. These stories of faith have been such a blessing to me, and I pray that they will be to you as well.

I Dared to Call Him Father: The Miraculous Story of a Muslim Woman’s Encounter with God by Bilquis Sheikh – 4 Stars

“I was beginning to learn that my responsibility of being a representative of Jesus Christ would not allow me to do anything that would dishonor His Name. And He was also teaching me that one’s actions spoke louder than words when it came to witnessing for Christ.”

I read this one early in the year, when my faith was newly awakened, and I was so eager to learn more about God.  Sheikh’s story was amazing, but her devotion to Jesus was more so. I was so encouraged by her deep love for him and how it spilled into every word she wrote.

Defying Jihad: The Dramatic True Story of a Woman Who Volunteered to Kill Infidels and then Faced Death for Becoming One by Esther Ahmad – 5 stars

Ahmad was born Muslim. Throughout her childhood and teen years, she did everything she could to gain the attention of her father and to be the most devout Muslim – even to the point of volunteering to be a jihadist. Two days before she was to leave for training, she had a dream about Jesus.

My friend recommended this to me several years ago, and I was as blown away by it then as I am now. It’s a beautiful story of how God longs to reach out to all people and bring them to himself.

Ex-Muslim: How One Daring Prayer to Jesus Changed a Life Forever by Naeem Fazal – 4 stars

Can I just say that this book was hilarious in so many ways that I didn’t expect? Fazel’s humor was great, and the stories he told so neat, especially of how God brought him and his siblings to Jesus.

Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus: A Devout Muslim Encounters Christianity by Nabeel Qureshi – 5 Stars

“Would it be worth it to pick up my cross and be crucified next to Jesus? If He is not God, then, no. Lose everything I love to worship a false God? A million times over, no! But if He is God, then yes. Being forever bonded to my Lord by suffering alongside Him? A million times over, yes!”

I’ve read this book several times. The first time was when I was an eleven-year-old who had begun to doubt that God existed. Mama read it to us at night, and I remember lying in bed and hearing all the proofs for God’s existence.

“If truth doesn’t exist, then it would be true that truth doesn’t exist, and once again we arrive at truth. There is no alternative; truth must exist.”

The Mind of Terror: A Former Muslim Sniper Explores What Motivates ISIS and Other Extremist Groups by Tass Saada – 4 Stars

It was very interesting to learn more about what motivates terrorists, as well as hearing some of Saada’s testimony of how he was once a part of a terrorist group and found Christ and is now working for peace in the Middle East.

I Didn’t Survive: Emerging Whole After Deception, Persecution, and Hidden Abuse by Naghmeh Abedini Panahi – 4 stars

Panahi was born Muslim but came to Christ shortly after her family moved to the USA. She tells her story of her faith, of returning to Iran, of the persecution she faced, and the abuse she endured at the hands of her husband.

Women who Risk: Secret Agents for Jesus in a Muslim World by Tom & JoAnn Doyle – 4 stars

“As for me, I expect to die for Jesus. In the West, you probably won’t have to die for Jesus. But . . . will you live for Him?”

This is a beautiful collection of stories about Muslim women in several Middle Eastern countries who have come to know Jesus – their hope, their trials, and the glory of discovering the love of Jesus.

~Hattush

What books have you been encouraged by recently? Have you read any of these that I mentioned?