Hope For The Prodigal


Hope For The Prodigal: Bringing the Lost, Wandering, and Rebellious Home by Jim and Bill Putman is such a unique book in that Bill has been a prodigal and been the father to prodigals, and so has Jim. They know both sides of the coin and are able to offer such a fresh, unique, and interesting perspective of the parable of the prodigal son. The back cover says:

"Our God specializes in lost souls

The statistics are sobering: between 80 and 90 percent of kids who have grown up in the church are leaving the church after age eighteen. Children slipping away into a culture that tells them the Bible isn't true, sin is no big deal, God isn't real, or there are many ways to get into heaven.

With wisdom that comes from personal experience, Jim Putman and his father, Bill Putman, offer brokenhearted parents and loved ones hope for their prodigals. A prodigal in his younger days, Jim has also found himself in the role of the prodigal's father when his own son rejected the faith. This family's powerful story of restoration, along with solid biblical truths and practical advice, will inspire, motivate, and equip you to go after your lost sheep with acts of love and service.


"This book is helpful for individual parents and for churches that experience the loss of those they helped to raise in the faith. It will give you hope as well as clear steps to do your part as a parent and church member."--Josh McDowell, bestselling author, Evidence That Demands a Verdict

"Hope for the Prodigal is raw, vulnerable, and incredibly helpful. It's a practical and powerful look into the heart and response that God has toward His own prodigals--and the kind of heart and response He calls us to have toward the prodigals in our own lives."--Larry Osborne, pastor, North Coast Church, Vista, CA; author, Thriving in Babylon

"Many of us have strayed or know someone who has strayed into a dark and dangerous place and we want to know if there is a way back. Jim reminds us that the story isn't over yet."--Randy Frazee, senior minister, Oak Hills Church, San Antonio, TX; author, The Heart of the Story

Jim Putman is the senior pastor of Real Life Ministries in Post Falls, Idaho, and the author of Church Is a Team Sport and The Power of Together, as well as the widely adopted Real-Life Discipleship program.

Bill Putman has served in ministry for more than fifty years as a pastor, a church planter, or an executive. He currently serves at Real Life Ministries. He and his wife, Bobbi, have five grown children and fourteen grandchildren. They live in Idaho."

Hope For The Prodigal is a really helpful resource, because not only does it offer help and advice for people who are currently dealing with a prodigal in their life, but they also start off by giving help and advice for preventing your children from becoming prodigals in the first place. This is so important because if you can head it off at the pass, you can avoid the pain of going through a prodigal experience. Of course, there's no 100% guarantee to making sure your child doesn't become a prodigal, but there are steps you can take to lower the chances. Then, the book moves on to what to do when you already have a prodigal in your life. Their advice is soaked in biblical wisdom and also experience. I don't currently have a prodigal, but I still gleaned a lot from this book. I recommend this book to any Christian parent, regardless if you currently have a prodigal or not.

I received a copy of this book from Baker Books in order to provide an honest and unbiased review. All opinions are my own.

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