I received By Life or By Death compliments of Moody Publishers in exchange for my honest review.
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By Life or By Death by Andrew Montonera is about the life and legacy of missionaries John and Betty Stam. The book tells of how the Stams grew up, were educated, went to China to become missionaries, and were married there. Their story is incredibly sad as they were beheaded by Communist soldiers in China leaving behind their three month old daughter, Helen Priscilla.
I enjoyed learning about John and Betty as I was unfamiliar with their story prior to reading By Life or By Death. I felt the tension of being sorrowful yet always rejoicing upon reading about their deaths and the death of another missionary’s baby due to illness. The Stam’s were dedicated to obeying Christ regardless of the cost and to some degree, that encourages me to remain faithful to what He has called me to.
The Stam’s life and legacy is worth reading about. Although their lives ended as the result of brutality, their legacy lives on as they inspired Elisabeth Elliott and many others worldwide to commit to following Jesus wholeheartedly. My heart is still sad about how things turned out for Helen. She became famous worldwide as her photo was shared in media publications and was eventually raised by family members. She does not give interviews and opted out of contributing to By Life or By Death. My heart feels heavy for her yet hopeful that she’s received the comfort of Christ to help her grieve the trauma and loss she’s experienced.
This book is neat in that it includes some of the letters and poems John and Betty wrote as well as pictures of them. What is unique about By Life or By Death is that its author is a descendant of Cornelius Stam, John’s younger brother. Including photographs, this book is only 133 pages making it an accessible read. If you’re wanting to learn more about the Stams and their legacy, you’ll enjoy By Life or By Death.
