No Greater Love by Levi Benkert –
Book Review & Giveaway

No Greater Love by Levi Benkert and Candy Chand

Book Review – No Greater Love by Levi Benkert

Have you ever received a phone call that forever changed your life?

Former real estate developer Levi Benkert has. During a period when his business was failing and he faced an uncertain future, Levi received an urgent call from Steve, a former family friend turned pastor.

“I just found out a few guys I know are heading to Ethiopia to help with an orphanage project and was wondering if you’d want to join them.”

“Sounds like fun,” I said, trying to humor him,

“No really.” He almost pleaded. “You’ve got to hear this. There’s a rural tribe that are killing their children because of some superstition…”

“There are more children…who are going to be killed if someone doesn’t rescue them… Will you go, Levi? Will you help?”

No Greater Love – One Man’s Radical Journey Through The Heart Of Ethiopia by Levi Benkert and Candy Chand is the riveting story of a man who risks everything to save children who are destined to die by their own parents’ hands because they are “mingi”.

Mingi means “unclean” or “cursed”. In certain Ethiopian tribes, elders can declare children mingi for reasons such as these:

  • The child’s parents are not married.
  • The child’s top teeth come in before their bottom teeth.
  • The parents do not announce to the elders they are planning to conceive in an elaborate ritual ceremony.

Once a child is pronounced mingi, the parents must kill their child to protect themselves and the tribe from evil spirits. As many as one thousand Ethiopian children a year die as a result of mingi sacrifices.

  • Do mingi children ever survive?
  • What happens when a mingi child is rescued?
  • How do tribal parents feel about mingi?
  • What happens when parents and mingi survivors meet?
  • What is the Ethiopian government doing to protect mingi children?
  • How can I help?

You’ll learn the answers to these questions and more in this amazing story!

No Greater Love is one of the most compelling books I have read this year. The story is both hope-filled and heart-breaking. Although the author begins the book by acknowleging that the ending isn’t what he envisioned as he began his journey, the outcome is very true to life. I look foward to reading more about Levi’s new adventures as he and his family embrace their new role in the lives of the Ethiopians – one that is part of God’s larger redemptive plan.

I highly recommend this book (5 stars) and, thanks to the generosity of Levi and Jessie Benkert themeslves, would like to give away a copy to one lucky reader! If you would like to enter the giveaway, please follow the instructions at the end of this post!

No Greater Love by Levi Benkert – Book Trailer

If you are reading this book review in a format where you cannot see this video, click here.

Levi Benkert

Levi Benkert

Levi Benkert is a former California real estate developer who moved to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia with his wife Jessie and his four children to create a better life for orphaned Ethiopian children. He formed a community called Bring Love In that helps create families made up of orphans and widows within the local Christian church community. Levi is passionate about his family, orphan care, and writing.

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No Greater Love – Giveaway

Giveaway Rules

Updated 11/3/12
Congratulations to Courtney Eller,
The Winner of this Giveaway!

Would you like the chance to win a copy of No Greater Love from Levi and Jessie Benkert? I would be delighted to award a copy to one lucky Create With Joy reader!

To enter, complete the Required Entry and then any Bonus Entries you desire. Please leave a SEPARATE COMMENT on this blog post for each entry you submit. Include your Name, E-Mail and any requested data so that I can verify your entries and contact you in the event that you win!

1. Required Entry: Follow Create With Joy through Google Plus, Twitter, Linky Followers, E-Mail Subscription, Pinterest, Stumble Upon or RSS Feed, then leave a comment letting me know how you follow and why you would like to win this book! Include your e-mail and the method/name you are following under for verification purposes.

2. Bonus Entry(s): Share this giveaway on your blog and/or your favorite social media platforms. Receive 1 bonus entry with each verifiable link you submit!

3. Bonus Entry(s): Share this giveaway on Twitter using the tweet below (or a similar tweet)! You can tweet up to three times a day. You will receive 1 entry per verified tweet.

Please Copy & Paste The Following Tweet For Your Entries

Win No Greater Love by @LeviBenkert at http://create-with-joy.com via @CreateWithJoy1 thru 10/31/12 #Books #Contests PLS RT

4. Bonus Entry(s): Award Create With Joy +K in Books, Creativity, Crafts and any other Klout Topics of your choice. Leave your Klout ID information in the comments for verification purposes. You will receive 1 entry per +K.

Additional Information

This giveaway closes on October 31, 2012. The winner will be chosen using a random number generator. The odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received. The winner will be contacted via e-mail and have 24 hours to respond before another winner is chosen.

This giveaway is open to all Create With Joy followers, ages 18 and over. No purchase is necessary. Void where prohibited by law. All decisions by Create With Joy are final. By submitting an entry, you are indicating that you have read and agree to these Official Rules.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book from Tyndale Publishers for review purposes. I was not compensated for this review, nor was I required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

57 Responses to “No Greater Love by Levi Benkert –
Book Review & Giveaway”

Read below or add a comment...

  1. Hi there! Boy, would I LOVE to win a copy of this book! We are in the process to adopt a boy from Ethiopia and this book captured my attention when I read a review about it a couple months ago. I would be thrilled to receive a copy!

    I’m following you on twitter:
    @ellerfamily

    I tweeted out the giveaway:

    I’m following you on Google+:
    Courtney Eller

    Many thanks for offering this giveawaya.

    • Create With Joy
      Twitter: CreateWithJoy1
      says:

      Dear Courtney,

      I am thrilled to hear that you are in the process of adopting a boy from Ethiopia and I pray that the process goes smoothly for you!

      I host a weekly party called Inspire Me Monday and would LOVE for you to share your updates with us there! I’m sure your story would inspire a lot of other people as well!

      Thanks for entering the giveaway. Best of luck to you! 🙂

  2. I would love to win this book because I was unaware of this ritual and would like to learn more. I am following you on Google+. Email address: 4lkinsatgmaildotcom.
    Thank you for hosting this giveaway and review!

  3. Levi Benkert says:

    Wow! What a blessing it was to read your message here! Thank you so much for your kind words, and for helping spread the word.

    • Create With Joy
      Twitter: CreateWithJoy1
      says:

      Thanks so much for stopping by, Levi, and for sharing your book with one of our readers!
      What you and your family are doing in Ethiopia is AWESOME.
      I wish you all of the best and look forward to reading about how God is moving in your life and the lives of those you touch on your websites!

  4. emily wierenga says:

    this book sounds amazing. a beautiful review! thanks for linking with imperfect prose.

  5. Katherines Corner
    Twitter: goaskkatie
    says:

    Thank you for sharing at the Thursday Favorite Things hop. xo P.S. Have you entered my latest giveaway?

  6. Liesel Hill says:

    Hi there! I found you via Alison Can Read’s bloghop! New follower via Linky! 😀 My FFs are at Musings on Fantasia and LKHill. Happy Friday! 😀

  7. Hey there! I didn’t see a FF post so I’m commenting here. 🙂

    New Follower! My FF @ Pink Fluffy Hearts

  8. Crystelle says:

    How touching is this review. Inspiring that people do their best to make a difference….

  9. Lisa says:

    Great review! Sounds like a wonderful book!

  10. WOW, what a great review of this wonderful book. I want to read it now. Thanks for linking up to the Empowered Living hop. This is empowering hands down.

  11. Mary Preston says:

    What a powerful & emotional read. Yes please!!

    Email Subscriber:

    marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com

  12. Rosey says:

    Good gracious, even the review tugs at your heart. Grab a box of Kleenex and thank God for big hearts, I already know… 🙂

    Thank you for the introduction to this book. It really does sound fabulous.

  13. Paula J says:

    Looks like a great pick, very inspirational 🙂

    Thanks for sharing with my NO RULES Weekend Blog Party!

    Paula
    lifeasweknowitbypaula.blogspot.com

  14. Heather says:

    I will never understand how a mother could ever harm their child like that. Most of the time its due to mental illness, but further more I could never understand how an entire culture could kill their children. I am speachless. I have known about parents selling their children for food, livestock in these countries, or other people killing children…but never have I heard of families doing it. I am so sad that this is apart of the world we live in.

    • Create With Joy
      Twitter: CreateWithJoy1
      says:

      Hi Heather,

      One of the reasons I initially wanted to read this book was that I could not comprehend why/how this could occur either, and I wanted to try to understand the rationale behind what was happening more. I was shocked by what I learned in this book – but not in the ways that I expected. I wanted to share more of my thoughts in the review but chose not to because I did not want to give the entire story away, and I think this is one of these books that you need to read and process for yourself… but I will say that after reading this book, I felt a lot less judgemental and a lot more compassionate towards the tribes who are living in darkness… and I saw a lot of parallels between their cultures and ours that I did not expect.

      Fear does crazy things to people… and these people are steeped in fear and spiritual darkness. The people who practice mingi do so because they don’t believe they have a choice. Levi and his family are doing an amazing work in Ethiopia…they are bringing light to the area and offering innovative options. I hope you’ll have a chance to read the book!

  15. Sounds like a great read and something I need to know more about. I’d love to win it. I’m already a follower.

  16. I follow you via Twitter and Pinterest. Thank you for the opportunity to win the book!

  17. Sarah says:

    This is the most amazing inspiring story! Thanks so much for sharing it in my hop.

    I already follow you so I guess that’s my entry taken care of – I would love to read all the details of such an amazing journey.

    Sarah @ A Cat-Like Cusiosity

  18. Sarah Crosby says:

    Wow! I had no idea that such a ritual was occuring. How heartbreaking! I would love to receive this book and become educated! I follow on twitter 🙂

  19. Hazel Moon says:

    God bless Levi and his wife and children as they share the message of Good News through their writing and acts of kindness. Thank you for sharing his story at “Tell me a True Story.”

  20. I follow via G+ As Madison C.
    I would so love to win this book! I’m passionate about adoption, and it’s always good to get a new refreshment on how desperately children need homes.
    is also a fantastic cause that I’m very supportive of.

    Dolly

  21. Please check your spam folder, I think my previous comment got eaten by your spam filter 🙁

  22. Laura says:

    Sounds like an amazing story. What a gift this man has given to the world in saving these children. Just, wow.

  23. lori says:

    I still can’t believe this happens. So unbelievable. What an amazing call to answer. I need to read this book. I heard about it awhile ago at Amy Sullivan’s place. Glad to be reminded. I hate that I even need to be reminded.

  24. *Nicole* says:

    We sponsor a child through Compassion International and I my interest in this book is near to my heart! Glad to have found you at LIB…I am following via Google Connect and Pinterest…feel free to follow back… Love and Blessings *Nicole* Seven Flowers.

  25. You are my neighbor at Michelle’s. Such a pleasure to meet you. This book sounds absolutely fascinating. But don’t enter me, save it for others. I just wanted to say hello and its great to be beside you at the link up. Fascinated by the project. Elizabeth

  26. Chelle says:

    I am so glad the image on your button caught my attention at the Faith Filled Friday blog hop. I love the scripture “no greater love…it knits us all together as the family of God in such a unique way. I’m a new follower, and would love to win a copy of the book.
    Peace and good to you.

  27. Pamela says:

    The book sounds amazing. Thank you for the chance to win it. I always love your reviews.

  28. This sounds astounding… what a story. So grateful you shared it today on SITS Sharefest today!

  29. Charlotte says:

    How very sad. I had never heard of this. One of the churches we worked with had a deaf mission in Ethiopia and my hubby visited it once. The book sounds so interesting. Thank you for sharing.
    Blessings,
    Charlotte

  30. Nikki says:

    this makes me think of….when we give our hearts and lives to Him….we never know the amazing adventure He’s gonna take us on. Great review.

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