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A chance to die
First published 1987 · 384 pages
A vibrant, challenging biographical portrait that invites deep reflection on the nature of unconditional spiritual surrender.
What it feels like
Reading this biography feels like sitting with a deeply earnest, challenging mentor who points you toward a life of radical devotion. The narrative unfolds at a steady, reflective pace, tracing fifty-three years of unwavering service in south India without shying away from the subject's very human faults and fears. It is a vibrant, reverent portrait that balances the historical reality of founding a refuge for underprivileged children with a profound spiritual urgency. The prose is compelling and devotional, punctuated by inspiring photographs that ground the story in reality. It will deeply resonate with readers seeking an uplifting yet convicting exploration of courage, obedience, and what it means to give one's life unconditionally to a higher calling.
- Mood
- devotional
- reflective
- uplifting
- Tone
- earnest
- reverent
- inspiring
- challenging
- vibrant
- Pace
- steady
- Themes
- unconditional surrender · spiritual obedience · sacrificial love · courageous faith · humanizing historical figures
- The writing
- Compelling and vibrant, blending biographical narrative with a deeply earnest, devotional urgency.
- The arc
- Moves from an inspiring portrait of a flawed but dedicated woman to a challenging call for personal spiritual reflection.
- Who it's for
- Christian readers seeking inspiring, challenging biographies of historical missionaries who lived lives of radical obedience.
Content notes
- discussion of underprivileged children
About the book
A Chance to Die is a vibrant portrayal of Amy Carmichael, an Irish missionary and writer who spent fifty-three years in south India without furlough. There she became known as "Amma," or "mother," as she founded the Dohnavur Fellowship, a refuge for underprivileged children.
Amy's life of obedience and courage stands as a model for all who claim the name of Christ. She was a woman with desires and dreams, faults and fears, who gave her life unconditionally to serve her Master.
Bringing Amma to life through inspiring photos and compelling biographical narrative, Elisabeth Elliot urges readers to examine the depths of their own commitment to Christ.
Description from Open Library.
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