‘Gullible’s Travels’ – Book Review

Last week, as my flight from Amsterdam touched down in Tbilisi I closed the cover of Gullible’s Travels. Intrigued by the title, compelled by the subject-matter, but even more drawn in by my recent conversation with the author, I had decided to read this book on my way back ‘home’ to Georgia #thecountrynotthestate.

Gullible’s Travels is the story of Nick and Sue Long who are missionaries currently living in Austria. Before that, they were missionaries serving for almost three decades in Germany. The years in between Germany and Austria were years of wilderness-wanderings, or perhaps better described as years of the crawling, consuming, and chewing locust (Joel 1-2).

Gullible’s Travels is the painfully raw, yet bold account of a man whom God saved and used to share His light and love in the nation of Germany, but who also was led down a rabbit hole of medically-induced drug addiction. A before-Christ life marked with drug use plus doctor-prescribed opioid concoctions used to treat severe pain do not result in anything good. Nick’s pain treatment would result in a years-long nightmare of addiction, deceit, danger, lost time and memories, and almost the loss of his marriage.

Gullible’s Travels is a well-written book with a warning. The biggest lie that any of us can believe is that we are immune to the tricks and deceits of the enemy. “A roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” is not just metaphor. Satan has a plan for your life–that is for your downfall, your destruction. Our pride will tell us that we are immune, our hypocrisy will tell us we are better, but if we remain ignorant of his devices then we will be bloody prey dangling from that wolf’s mouth.

Nick Long’s story is personal, moving, and redemptive. In light of other pastors who have struggled (or are currently struggling) through similar battles, I highly encourage people to read Gullible’s Travels. In our day of massive opioid addictions and overdoses, the New Testament warnings of sorcery (pharmakeia) could not apply more. Pray for your pastors. Share with your friends. “The end of the world is coming soon. Therefore, be earnest and disciplined in your prayers. Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.” (I Peter 4:7-8 NLT)

$1.99 – Distant Fields – Read an Excerpt for Free!

Distant Fields is on sale from now through Valentine’s Day!

The following is an excerpt from the book describing the arrival of George and Pam and their eight children to Ukraine:

Independence Day

Flying into Kiev on July 4, 1992, was an unforgettable experience. As the wheels of the plane touched down, dilapidated shacks, old planes, and trees and overgrown bushes surrounding the airport seemed to race by. Thuds were felt every second as the plane rode over the concrete slabs that had been laid down for a runway. The tall grass growing up in between these concrete slabs left one wondering how many flights actually arrived into this airport. Eventually the plane came to a stop at the Borispol International Terminal.

Upon exiting the plane, the family discovered that looking for a baggage carousel was an effort in futility. While pondering the status of their belongings, the Markeys and everyone else from the plane were herded into an empty room and left standing and wondering. Soon the sound of a tractor jolted everyone into alertness. Gazing around the room, local people soon began to congregate around an open area in the middle of the room. The sound of the tractor grew louder and then finally emerged from new beginnings the back of the room. Behind the tractor was hitched a trailer, and on the trailer was a huge mound of luggage. Before the tractor even came to a halt, people from the plane were climbing up onto the trailer and hunting for their luggage.

As the engine of the tractor finally shut down, George climbed onto the trailer and began searching for their belongings, passing them to his children. All of the bags were gathered and the family was once again left standing and wondering. A line was forming, meandering into a dark corridor over to their left. The all-important matter of lines would be something that the Markeys would learn over time. For now, the 10 family members got into line, amazed at the pushing, shoving, and trampling as people rushed to cut in front of them. To their right stood a small glass-encased display cabinet offering “duty free” items, and to which no one seemed to be paying attention. A solitary light bulb dangling over their heads was the only source of a dim and insufficient illumination to the path before them.

After passing through customs, the family followed the other passengers to a set of doors. As the doors opened, all that could be seen was a wall of humanity. The passengers ahead of them walked directly into this mass of people, and as they did, a small crevice emerged through which they then inched forward. Not wanting to miss out on their chance, George led the charge, the people in the crowd seemingly not phased by the commotion, elbows, and other body parts clashing into each other. Any apologies offered for bags rolling over shoes went unanswered by people who were returning only empty stares and confused expressions…

Continue reading.
Get your copy of Distant Fields today for $1.99!

Free Kindle Book – “A Story of Grace,” by Phil Metzger

I wanted to let you know of a book that is FREE right now on Kindle! “A Story of Grace” is a history of the missionary work in eastern Europe, and the beginning of the movement of Calvary Chapel in Hungary. It is written by long-term eastern European missionary (and friend), Phil Metzger. You can download it now here.

Phil Metzger is senior pastor of Calvary Chapel of Budapest and is also the director of Calvary Chapel Bible College Europe (CCBCE). Pam Markey is the director of the missions training program at this Bible college. CCBCE a remarkable place for young people to receive solid Bible training while getting their feet wet in practical missions.

Free Copy of Distant Fields!

From September 26th – 28th (in memory of George W. Markey’s birthday), Distant Fields–The Amazing Call of George Markey from Farmland to Missions is available as a FREE digital download for all Kindle devices and applications! Just click here to get your FREE copy at Amazon.com.

Furthermore, paperback copies are on sale for $7.99 — that’s $5 off the retail price, when you use discount code VJRMJ8AU at check out. Click here to order your discounted paperback copies at the CreateSpace store.

Please share this FREE resource and sale with your friends on Facebook, your blog, or in an email. Also, if you have read Distant Fields and would like to post a review, please do so at Goodreads, Amazon, or other book sites. This giveaway and sale end on September 28th. Help spread the word. Thanks!

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“This book has challenged my life in every way. The life of George Markey has always been an inspiration to me, but being able to read this book and put together all of the details has been invaluable. He was a true servant leader. His testimony is a modern day inspiration that is on the same level as Hudson Taylor and Isobel Kuhn.”
– K. Spencer, taken from a review at Amazon.com

“George was one of the most servant-hearted men I have ever met.”
– Jeremy Camp–Grammy-Nominated Singer/Songwriter

“George was a tremendous example. When I think of him, I think of simple faith, simple trust.”
– Pastor Chuck Smith–Founding Pastor, Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa

In Loving Memory of George W. Markey
September 28, 1941 – February 13, 2007

Mp3 of George Markey’s Last Message!

Now available for download!

Many have inquired about obtaining a copy of the last message that George Markey gave at the mission’s conference. It was given a little more than a month before he passed away. Much of his message is a summary of his life, as well as lessons he learned as a pastor both in the U.S. and overseas. The mp3 audio recording can now be found here.

Kindle ebook of Distant Fields–Now Available!

Announcing the release of Distant Fields in Kindle format! Get your copy here or by searching for “Distant Fields” in the Kindle Store.

After you have read the book, we would appreciate your review on the Amazon page for Distant Fields. Thanks!

A Review of Distant Fields

“This is not just a ‘missions story’ this is Radical (the book) beyond the theoretical and into the real day to day life of just one very usual man with very unusual faith.

I was blessed to have George as my pastor for about 8 years and you know what? I didn’t ‘get’ him.

I enjoyed the sweet wine of the miracles that God did through George and his family and even saw how they flowed from the completely normal water of his life literally poured out for the Gospel. I loved and respected George. But I didn’t ‘get’ George.

Thankfully, his son-in-law Jed Gourley has done such a great job of tracking down friends and colleagues and family of George and telling his story in their words that after reading this – for the first time I realized so much more of why God did such groundbreaking work through George and his family in Ukraine.

Close to (over?) 20 churches spread throughput Ukraine – Kyrgyzstan and Siberia, Christian books translated- printed – and distributed, numerous worship albums with original songs, not to mention the countless lives added to the kingdom through the message of Grace that George not only preached but lived…and on and on…all of these works of God can trace their roots back to the direct influence of George’s faithful ministry of the Gospel.

But more than that, even though I knew George, I went to his church, ate meals with his family – this book challenged me – as if his story was completely new to me – to again wholeheartedly live for God. George’s story makes me long for heaven just like George did. I read it and was convinced once again to seek grace, to live boldly, to simply trust and obey.

I really recommend it (it’s a quick read!) and for anyone that doesn’t want to get to the end of their life and say – ‘Well, was it worth it?’ George lived life to the fullest, using every opportunity for the Kingdom and I’m blessed to have known him.”

– Cara Denny

$2.00 Off Discount Code!

I just got a discount code from the printer. This is the code: U37QP9DY  It is for $2.00 off and is to be applied at check out. Again, here is the site: https://www.createspace.com/4853600

If anyone is interested in bulk orders for reselling at churches or book stores, let us know and we will look into getting discount codes for those. Just use the contact page to let us know.

Please note: The discount code only works with CreateSpace, not Amazon.
Discount ends July 4th, 2014

Distant Fields – Now for Sale!

Distant Fields is now for sale through the printing company, CreateSpace–a subsidiary company of Amazon. You can purchase the book by clicking here, or by copying the following address into your browser: (https://www.createspace.com/4853600).

Please share this information with anyone whom you think would be interested. All marketing of this resource is by word-of-mouth right now, so, any sharing, emailing, tweeting, or anything else that you can do will be helpful.

Distant Fields will “go live” on the main Amazon site in about 3-5 days. Once it does go live, we appreciate any helpful reviews (especially positive ones :-)). There is also a Kindle version coming soon, and perhaps other formats as needed.

We appreciate all of the prayers and assistance in making this book a reality. May God be glorified, and may the Gospel of Jesus Christ continue to go into the Distant Fields of the world.

Soon to be Published!

The Amazing Call of George Markey from Farmland to Missions

“It is a story that needs to be told,” is a phrase that I have heard many times over the past few years. Now, only weeks from being published, Distant Fields, the biography of George Winston Markey, is a journey that takes us from the heartland of America into the urban centers of the former Soviet Union. It is a story of a unique man whose simple faith and trust in God led to the formation of churches. His was a  life that continues to resound in the hearts of people around the world.