Faith & Courage (Praying with Mandela)

In a world riven by poverty, prejudice, and power struggles, the faith and courage of activist Nelson Mandela remains a beacon of hope. South African Archbishop Thabo Makgoba recounts his ministry of prayer and presence in the final years of Mandela's life—and how, time and again, the politician taught the pastor about ministry.

In this powerful and poignant memoir, Archbishop Makgoba explores how the struggles of his ancestors shape his life today, how growing up in apartheid South Africa fuels his desire for justice, and how faith compels him to champion the difficult work of reconciliation. These lessons of faith and courage provide insight for audiences around the world, for all people who care about Jesus' commandment to love one another.

Archbishop Makgoba echoes the bravery and boldness of Mandela in challenging inequality, injustice, and abuse of power at all levels. Indeed, Makgoba says his conversations and prayers with the elder statesman reminded him of the deep truth of one of Mandela's most famous sayings: that courage is not the absence of fear but the capacity to triumph over it. The Bible asks us to read and digest its stories, not only to recall what God has done before but also to watch for what God is doing now. If we embrace the Bible as something more than a history book, we must open our minds to the continued existence of angels—and look at these apparitions with an eye to understanding our own lives and the role of angels within them.