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Reviewed by Divine Zape for Readers' Favorite
In this simply plotted, mesmerizing tale, Leon James Francis examines the symbolic nature of faith when a Christian community receives a message from a stranger who claims to be sent by God. The congregation of Plains Community Baptist Church is composed of sixty-one members and on Easter of 1994, they are ready to celebrate the church that had taken twenty years to build. In the midst of the service, a man dressed in tatters walks into the church and moves directly to the front. Arresting the attention of everyone, he announces to the fearful, attentive, and speechless congregation: “I bring you a message from God. He says, ‘I have seen your sacrifice, but to you, I give a greater challenge. Destroy this church, and on the third day, I will raise it up again more glorious and magnificent than you could possibly imagine!’” Their initial reaction is denial, which pushes them to throw the stranger out. After much thought, they decide to do as they are commanded, destroying the church. After three days, the church remains destroyed. But something else happens to the Christian community. Can they accept the call to revival or remain disillusioned?
This is a symbolic tale that makes readers think about the power of faith and what it really means. The author draws a portrait of a Christian community, establishing bonds between them and defining the threads that hold them together. The characters, both major and minor, are well-sculpted, including Charles, Steven, Rebekah, Jessie, Paul, and Pastor Ross. The rural nature of this community is so beautifully rendered that readers find themselves in a place where everyone knows each other. The theme of faith is cleverly written and there are gripping moments of conversation among members. The prose is crisp and the narration is littered with sparkling dialogues. Messengers of Isaiah by Leon James Francis is a wonderfully crafted tale for fans of Christian fiction, a story that is not just deeply moving but is thought-provoking and inspiring.
