Forming an Anti-fragile Faith 

EMQ » Oct – Dec 2024 » Volume 60 Issue 4

Reviewed by Randy Jackson, PhD, former missionary and current associate pastor of discipleship and missions at First Baptist Church of Milton, Florida. 

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Missionary activity is dangerous and risky work. The risks of kidnapping, uprisings, crime, government interference, and terrorism build a stressful environment. Missionaries must find ways to thrive despite the dangers. Facing Fear by Anna Hampton, a follow-up to Facing Danger, helps the church face the reality of a dangerous world. Hampton, with her husband, Neal, has served in Afghanistan and Turkey. She is a global risk consultant and has studied the theology of risk extensively. 

In Facing Fear, Hampton develops practical implications of a theology of risk. Part one of the book surveys the challenges facing the church in the twenty-first century. Part two examines the biblical background of a theology of risk, fear, and courage. Building upon the biblical background, part three examines in detail the essentials for making decisions in risk situations.  

Part four of the book focuses on the role of mission agency and church leaders. Part five describes how to develop the courage necessary to thrive in risk-heavy circumstances. Appendices A and B, written by Scott Brawner, explain the conditions for leaving and returning to a high-risk field situation. Appendix C describes the risk assessment and management training conducted by the Hamptons. 

The book contains a vast amount of information, but all of it is pertinent to the topic. While the primary audience consists of Christians facing persecution, the book has implications for believers in less risky circumstances. Hampton’s book helps missionaries facing less risk to make security-related decisions and helps local church members understand the need for security and caution in communications. 

Especially useful was the chapter on the biblical language of fear and risk, particularly what the Old Testament means by courage and fear. Also, important to read closely are the chapters on an anti-fragile faith, the entire section on decision-making, and the cryptically entitled chapter “Hope Like a Sewer Rat and PTSJ” which deals with the adjustments needed to thrive in a high-risk situation. 

The major contribution of this book is the idea of training missionaries before they reach the field to have resiliency and an anti-fragile faith (a faith that becomes stronger with trials). Anti-fragile faith becomes more likely to develop with an understanding that suffering and risks are part of the Christian life. With this understanding, believers can learn to prioritize their fears, as Hampton explains it, and place God as the one whom we should fear more than anything else. 

For those who do not specialize in security and risk mitigation in missions, parts of Facing Fear will seem like a bog to slog through. However, the reader should do so anyway. Leaders of mission agencies and local churches should understand the principles found in both Facing Danger and Facing Fear. Mission agencies must prepare resilient missionaries to work in high-risk areas to take the gospel to every people group. Churches must form disciples who have an anti-fragile faith to face the challenges of the twenty-first century. 

For Further Reading

Facing Danger: A Guide Through Risk, second edition, by Anna Hampton (William Carey Publishing, 2024) 

Building Resilience: Eight Simple Activities to Help You Develop a Mindset for Facing Adversity and Change by Tim Elverson (Life Transitions Development, 2020) 

The Insanity of God: A True Story of Faith Resurrected by Nik Ripken (Broadman and Holman, 2013)   

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EMQ, Volume 60, Issue 4. Copyright © 2024 by Missio Nexus. All rights reserved. Not to be reproduced or copied in any form without written permission from Missio Nexus. Email: EMQ@MissioNexus.org.