My book, Serving God Behind Enemy Lines, has been over ten years in the making. I began working on it while I was still a missionary in Russia. As I traveled America and preached about the amazing things God did in Russia, people always came up afterwards and exclaimed, “You need to write a book!”
So, I did.
About three years ago, I preached at Westgate Baptist Church in Tigard, Oregon. As usually, several people came up and exclaimed, “You need to write a book.” As always, I told them I had. Then two men came up and offered to help get it published.
I showed them the 100-page manuscript. They eagerly jumped in to help. For the past three years, they have worked tirelessly in reading, editing, interviewing me, helping craft dialogue, supplying design and layout support, creating this website, and researching how to publish books. The book now contains many more stories about how the Lord worked in my life and on the mission field.
The wait has been worth it, but not before I went through several Book titles:
- Shock and Awe – Be shocked at the Circumstances and Awed how God comes Through, but then we found out that this was the name of a military operation in Desert Storm.
- Astonished and Amazed – Be astonished where Ron finds himself and Amazed how God rescues Him, but we didn’t feel that title did it justice.
- The Reindeer People and Other Stories – One of the editors liked this title, but I felt it was not encompassing or exciting enough.
- To the Ends of the Earth and Beyond – One of my travels took me to the End of the Earth and then we hopped on a tank for five more hours, but again, not blow your socks off amazing.
- Behind The Enemy’s Line – We thought of this title when Russia’s War on Ukraine started, but it still wasn’t quite right.
- Serving God Behind Enemy Lines – And it’s a cut, print!
Tonight, we uploaded my book to a publisher and will receive proofs in a few days. We hope to publish before Christmas. After ten years, my dream to share the wonderous things God did in my life will soon hit the market. Start saving your money! $25.00 will buy you a roller coaster ride like you have never been on; Tank rides, KGB arrests, radiated mountains, secret military bases, and life-threatening situations are just around the corner.
Why? Because 41 years ago, I read this verse in the Bible,
Call unto me and I will answer thee and shew thee great and mighty things which thou knowest not. (Jeremiah 33:3 KJV)
I called unto God and He answered me with so many great and mighty things that this book at 563 pages is just the tip of the iceberg of what God can do for those who call and surrender, and go.