Let My People Go

by Cal Bombay

Does worldwide Christian persecution still take place? Author Cal Bombay maintains that it does, with corroborating evidence taken from his personal journey thorough the corridors of death and horror in the Sudan.

Genres: Christian, Africa, Nonfiction

192 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1998

Reviews

[Yibbie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book bothered me. The stories of so many people suffering horrifically while the world turned its back are heartbreaking, haunting. These people are true heroes. They have saved so many from such suffering. Then the author’s courage to share the true freedom of the Gospel under such circumstances is wonderfully encouraging. Still, the pain in these pages will haunt you.
But there was something else. It has nothing to do with the actual actions of the author of this book, but how the book presents it. Large sections, actually the vast majority, simply chronicle the author’s travel struggles. There are only two short sections, with only a couple pages each, that actually share the stories of those who slaves who were freed. Then each person’s story is only given a paragraph or two. Instead, he tells us about how tired he was after walking to the meeting place, how rough or wet the road was, how hard it was to set up a tent, and how long it took to purify water. Each of those topics is discussed over and over. It is his story, not theirs. The focus was just too much on the author and not on the people he was there to help. It’s a travelogue. I wasn’t interested in how many bottles of pop he drank; I was interested in the success of the food convoys from Ethiopia that we are left in the dark about.
It is also very dated. It was written to galvanize the church into immediate action in 1998, so large sections are no longer relevant.
If you are looking for a book about travels through the Sudan war zone 20+ years ago, this would be a good book. If you are looking for the stories of people living through the Dinka and Christian genocide, this isn’t the book for you.

[Kimberly Lange · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first hand account of a Canadian minister trying to help the Sudanese people taken into slavery. The accounts of the killings, torture, beatings, rape and FGM make my heart and soul cry out for these people. Made me think how very lucky and blessed we are to not be living in a war torn country and to have our human rights.

[Laura Poole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let My People Go is a riveting first person account of missionaries secretly purchasing slaves’ freedom during the 1990s genocide committed in southern Sudan. The book outlines the quest by the Arab Muslims in the north against the predominantly Christian south to wipe out their culture and convert them to Islam. After villages were burned, slave traders sold the women and children into bondage to the north Sudanese landowners.

The missionaries were an eclectic group from various walks of life who chose to travel to Sudan at their own peril. If the Sudanese government had discovered them, they would have been killed. As a former missionary to Africa, Canadian author and radio personality Cal Bombay takes you on a journey that fluctuates between heartbreaking and humorous with dangerous situations and tales such as when Mr. Bombay, admittedly overweight, pedals an old bike through miles of sand, up and down hills. Your pulse will race as the missionaries cross treacherous rivers, fly in unsafe planes, and sit through dangerous meetings with militant northern Sudan Arab slave traders to buy the slaves’ freedom and return them to their homes in the south. The first person accounts from slaves are heart-wrenching. This book educated me and gave me a passion for the Sudanese people.

[Amber · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Let My People Go" explains the current slave trade that captures women and children in Sudan. What we once thought was a century or more behind us in the United States is present in Africa. The stories broke my heart and I believe it is a good idea to educate students about events as well as injustices going on around the world. I would use this lesson as world history or geography instruction. I would want my students to research Sudan and learn about organizations that help the plight of people in this country. I would also want to help the children organize a fundraiser (simple or large based on their interest) that we could send to an organization and that would help people caught between this horrid environment. This book is great for a personal read as well as reading segments to your class.

[Audrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a disturbing book about the atrocities that some people face in regards to slavery and persecution in their lives. It is a brave account of missionaries who go to Sudan to face and fight the evils first hand. I am so thankful there are people who are willing to get out of their comfort zones and follow their Lord and Savior even if it means going into danger to help save the less fortunate.

[Danielle Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an insider's look at the conflict in Sudan. Written through the eyes of a Canadian missionary / Pastor. This was tough to read, especially knowing that although this book was written around 1997, much of the same conditions continue to exist today. The slave trade is disgusting, inhumane and needs to be stopped.

[Elijah Abanto · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thank the Lord for this book. Marshall's book on persecution has given substantial information about Christian persecution in Sudan, but Bombay's narrative here of his own experience helping people in Sudan is like a magnifying glass. He shows actual stories of persecution from actual people, making it more personal, putting a face to the persecuted Christians there.

[Traci · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heart-wrenching what people go through in slavery, politics, persecution and the risk to help those in need.

[Anita Kapten]

Glad that there are still good people in the world.