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Guerrilla Hostage: The Dramatic Story of Ray Rising's Ordeal in the Colombian Jungle
Recounts the twenty-six-month capitivity of Ray Rising at the hands of communist guerrillas in Colombia, and describes how his faith enabled him to survive
- GenresBiography
239 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 1999
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
December 27, 2023
Great book! I have an autographed copy because Ray Rising used to go to my church.
Read Around The World - Columbia
Read Around The World - Columbia
December 3, 2018
An awesome story about a couple who ministered in Colombia. He was kidnapped and lived in the jungle on the run with the guerillas in Colombia. His life was an example to the men and women who kidnapped him. Good story of how is survived not only physically but spiritually.
May 20, 2009
Someone I work with gave me this book, which is the story of Ray Rising's kidnapping and long captivity by Colombian guerrillas. I took interest because I remember my family praying for Ray and his family over those years, and I was interested to hear the full story. I also read the blog of the daughter of another missionary in Columbia that was kidnapped, but her father was killed.
Sadly, I was disappointed by Guerrilla Hostage. It seemed to brush over too much. At times Siino attempted to get into the details of the captivity, but it seemed trite. Siino was an LA Times reporter, and it came across like a reporter who was used to writing brief, emotionless stories took on a huge drama that was way bigger and more dramatic then she knew how to write. There were scattered stories of Ray's interactions with particular guerrillas, but the characters remained flat and never became familiar, so the interactions were mostly boring. Although we hear of Ray missing his family, the author focuses more on documenting the story vaguely rather than really grappling with Ray's emotions and questions.
Ray has a Spanish Bible through almost all of his captivity, and Siino will punctuate her stories with little proof-text revelations. Something will happen, Ray will be confused and disappointed, and then he will think of a certain verse and then Siino gives a couple of sentence long Sunday-school lesson on what it means. I struggled with this because the way the book is written, it makes it seem as though these are particular times that Ray struggled with these particular questions and was answered with this particular scripture. However, he was a captive for nearly three years and he had to leave his journals behind when he left the jungle. It seems more like Siino fitting scripture into her own story and putting these revelations into Ray's mouth rather then Ray actually processing these things himself. It seemed... misleading?
In any case, given that Ray rising was kidnapped and held in the jungle away from his family for years, this story has such potential to be powerful, but instead it felt devoid of real emotion. I wouldn't recommend it unless you already know about Ray and really want to read his story.
Sadly, I was disappointed by Guerrilla Hostage. It seemed to brush over too much. At times Siino attempted to get into the details of the captivity, but it seemed trite. Siino was an LA Times reporter, and it came across like a reporter who was used to writing brief, emotionless stories took on a huge drama that was way bigger and more dramatic then she knew how to write. There were scattered stories of Ray's interactions with particular guerrillas, but the characters remained flat and never became familiar, so the interactions were mostly boring. Although we hear of Ray missing his family, the author focuses more on documenting the story vaguely rather than really grappling with Ray's emotions and questions.
Ray has a Spanish Bible through almost all of his captivity, and Siino will punctuate her stories with little proof-text revelations. Something will happen, Ray will be confused and disappointed, and then he will think of a certain verse and then Siino gives a couple of sentence long Sunday-school lesson on what it means. I struggled with this because the way the book is written, it makes it seem as though these are particular times that Ray struggled with these particular questions and was answered with this particular scripture. However, he was a captive for nearly three years and he had to leave his journals behind when he left the jungle. It seems more like Siino fitting scripture into her own story and putting these revelations into Ray's mouth rather then Ray actually processing these things himself. It seemed... misleading?
In any case, given that Ray rising was kidnapped and held in the jungle away from his family for years, this story has such potential to be powerful, but instead it felt devoid of real emotion. I wouldn't recommend it unless you already know about Ray and really want to read his story.
October 3, 2011
The true story of Ray Rising, kidnapped by guerillas in Colombia and then held as a hostage in the jungle for several years, reads like an adventure novel. It was amazing to learn what Mr. Rising endured and yet kept faith through it all…the harsh and comfortless environment, insect infestations, overall physical taxation, skirmishes, and exposure to godless ideology. Through this work, so skillfully written by Denise Marie Siino, I came to have compassion and even a fondness for some of the guerillas—not their cause, but as individuals—gaining insight into their personal plights. The only thing left I desired to know: how much was the ransom? What exactly did it take to make the exchange after the final “proof of life?” But that’s just my curiosity probing. Really, that had little to do with the point of this story so full of grace. I thoroughly enjoyed this deeply moving testimony and how it was conveyed.
August 21, 2016
It was very interesting to follow all of Ray Risings thoughts and fears as he went through the 810 days of captivity. Especially how God spoke to Ray and encouraged him through his daily Bible devotions.
The one thing that really stood out to me was the fact that so many of the Guerrillas were teenagers. Young people who had come from broken homes and physical and sexual abuse. It showed how important teenagers are to the continuation of a good moral society are.
The one thing that really stood out to me was the fact that so many of the Guerrillas were teenagers. Young people who had come from broken homes and physical and sexual abuse. It showed how important teenagers are to the continuation of a good moral society are.
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February 3, 2016Another wonderful JAARS publication. (JAARS is a division of Wycliffe Bible Translators). This is an exciting account of Ray Rising's abduction and experience in the jungles of Colombia with his captors. Reading this book gives me courage to trust that God will take care of matters even when I don't feel up to it.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews