HEART OF A LIONESS
Sacrifice, Courage and Relentless Love
Among the Children of Uganda
By Irene Gleeson with Nicole Partridge
Authentic. 319 pages. £9.99
ISBN 978 1 780 780 474
Irene Gleeson and her husband sold their home in Australia and, in middle age and independent of any mission agency, went to live in war-torn northern Uganda. For more than 20 years, Irene lived among the Acholi people and provided care and education for thousands of deprived children, many of them former child soldiers.
Irene herself had a very traumatic childhood, troubled early adult life and failed first marriage before she came to Christ and found security in him. The book tells of her dogged commitment and courage in the face of constant dangers and difficulties and the remarkable impact her work had on the lives of very many children and families.
Healing over repentance
Yet as I read her story I was uncomfortable: more emphasis seems to be given to her work and the transformation of the people’s circumstances than to Christ’s work and the transforming power of the gospel in people’s lives. The failure of her second marriage (she began the work in Uganda with her second husband) seems to be treated rather lightly. Although she clearly treasured the words of the Bible, her life and ministry seem to have been shaped by words and impressions from the Lord more than a deep understanding of its message. She frequently speaks of commanding things to happen in the name of the Lord, rebuking the devil and claiming things from the Lord and pronouncing them over people. There are indications that the gospel was taught, but her emphasis seems to have been on asking for the healing touch of Jesus, rather than for repentance and faith and on the transformation of people’s lives in this world, rather than on their eternal salvation and the advance of the gospel.
She was clearly a remarkable woman who achieved a remarkable amount for the good of the Acholi people, but there are many other biographies I would recommend over and above this one.
