Preview
  • The Hole in Our Gospel, Special Edition

  • What Does God Expect of Us? The Answer That Changed My Life and Might Just Change the World
  • By: Richard Stearns
  • Narrated by: Tommy Cresswell
  • Length: 12 hrs and 4 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (78 ratings)

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

The Hole in Our Gospel, Special Edition

By: Richard Stearns
Narrated by: Tommy Cresswell
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $25.19

Buy for $25.19

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

"Preach the Gospel always. Use words if necessary." (St. Francis of Assisi)

It is 1998, and Richard Stearns’s heart is breaking as he sits in a mud hut and listens to the story of an orphaned child in Rakai, Uganda. His journey to this place took more than a long flight from the United States to Africa. It took answering God’s call on his life, a call that hurtled him out of his corner office at Lenox - America’s finest tableware company - to this humble corner of Uganda.

This is a story of how a corporate CEO faced his struggle to obey God, whatever the cost, and his passionate call for Christians to change the world by actively living out their faith. Using his journey as an example, Stearns explores the hole that exists in our understanding of the Gospel.

Two thousand years ago 12 people changed the world. Stearns believes it can happen again.

ECPA 2010 Christian Book of the Year Award Winner!

©2014 Thomas Nelson (P)2014 Thomas Nelson
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

What listeners say about The Hole in Our Gospel, Special Edition

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    59
  • 4 Stars
    13
  • 3 Stars
    5
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    48
  • 4 Stars
    13
  • 3 Stars
    6
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    49
  • 4 Stars
    12
  • 3 Stars
    3
  • 2 Stars
    2
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

thought provoking recording.

love the book. I used it as a way to understand ngo career transition and culture acclimation.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Makes one think

The Hole in Our Gospel really made me think outside of myself. It is a very well written and performed book. There are a lot of facts in here but they don’t make the book dry or boring. It really shines a light on what most of us are forgetting.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Thank you

This book is a life changing. It made me feel uncomfortable enough to start praying for God directions to be a blessing to other whenever I am. The changing is personal, only one person can make a big difference in the world. God bless to all the people who make this book available to me.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars

Listen. But be ready to have your eyes opened

I suppose I had some idea about our role to help the poor. I felt uncomfortable with my American wealth and American Dream. But this book was powerful in helping me consolidate and clarify my thoughts on poverty. Read it and beware.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

The best book ever

This book brings focus to deep spiritual truths about where Americans are blinded to the rest of the world. It answers the question, "Why are we here?"

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

brilliant and heart changing

immensely enjoyed both the massege and the style it was written. also the narrator was awesome

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Life changing

This book just might redirect your life. Listen to it and let God speak to you.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Critical for any Christian to read.

Rich talks about his own journey in a way that relates to anyone trying to find answers in third own life about what God's will is and how you can personally fit into it. I don't say this ever but this book changed my life. It made me sad and angry for all the right reasons and cemented my resolve to do something about that state of my life and the pain in our world. Thanks.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

The Christian Response to World Poverty

My favorite part of the book was the author's story about how God miraculously called him into ministry at World Vision. I also liked some of the chapters on bible exegesis with a focus on the Church's responsibility in the world. The resources and tips in the appendix were also helpful. What I did like, and have long supported, but was hoping the book wasn't solely focused on, was world poverty. This is a very important need in the world but it is not the only need. Understandable from the author's perspective, given his personal experience, but as someone currently trying to decide what direction to hone my calling in the world, this book did not help me decide what ills in the world I should focus on. I was hoping for a broader overview and perspective as to gain greater direction for myself and my ministry. Also the author puts greater emphasis on the social gospel (helping others) than the actual gospel of Christ. Unlike the many harmful movements that ignore or neglect one in order to advance the other, he does have both, so I don't say this in admonition but in warning, but I still think he slightly over-emphasizes the former. The book, while touching on the spiritual needs of man, focuses primarily on the church meeting his physical needs. He does include it so this is not a rebuke but for socially-minded, less mature Christians reading this it is a warning. Man's deepest needs are spiritual and if we take care of our fellow man's flesh but do not heal the spirit we are not loving them enough. He does talk a little about several other forms of injustice in the world (what I was looking for) but the real meat and potatoes of the book is about poverty. Regardless of what area of the world we end up, or what form of evil and injustice each of us finds our calling towards, to bring the love and truth of Christ to, the fact remains, it is up to the Church! @MPoweredChristian

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Disappointed

This is a very long, guilt–laden, fundraising appeal for World Vision. It could have been stated in half the time.

It also uses a corrupted quotation of St. Francis of Assisi when it says, “Preach the Gospel always. Use words if necessary.” The closest comes from his Rule of 1221, Chapter XII on how the Franciscans should practice their preaching:
No brother should preach contrary to the form and regulations of the holy Church nor unless he has been permitted by his minister … All the Friars … should preach by their deeds.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful