GOD KNOWS WHAT I’M DOING HERE:
The incredible story of a mission worker saved
from a rebellious past
By Sheila V. Leech
Authentic Media. 176 pages. £9.99
ISBN 978 1 780 784 526
God Knows What I’m Doing Here is Sheila Leech’s account of God’s work in and through her, from a troubled youth to years of missionary service.
Sheila was taught the gospel in Sunday school but was rude and disruptive, and her rebellious lifestyle led her to a life of alcohol, drugs and theft. God used the testimony of a converted fellow addict and the consistent, practical love of Christians to prompt her to reconsider the gospel and put her trust in Christ. She tells of her transformation through time in a Christian rehabilitation centre and her eagerness to share the gospel there, which in turn led her to missionary work in Ecuador.
Poor Ecuador
Sheila worked hard at language learning and took every opportunity to share the gospel, but increasingly she wondered what use she was to the people. However, a question from a local: ‘How can I listen to you? I can’t hear you; I’m too hungry,’ changed her approach. She trained as a nurse and returned to Ecuador with ‘Reach Beyond’ in order to meet people’s physical needs as well as their spiritual ones. Her experience of healthcare in Ecuador, in challenging and sometimes dangerous circumstances, led to her involvement in disaster response across the world. These teams worked in dependence on God, with local churches, and wonderfully displayed his love.
Poor exegesis?
However, I had questions regarding her understanding of works of mercy. She suggested that Jesus himself first met physical needs, whereas in many cases (such as the healing of the paralysed man in Mark 2) he first dealt with his need for forgiveness. Jesus certainly did meet felt needs, but they were not his priority; preaching the good news of the kingdom was. Much of Sheila’s account is about practical care rather than the advance of the gospel. Nonetheless, this is a story of a life transformed by the gospel and of an ordinary person empowered to do extraordinary things for him.
