In The Space Between Memories, David Joannes shares a captivating journey through his life, moment by moment, story by story. He is vulnerable about the victories and the trials of life as a missionary in China. He learned one of my favorite God lessons: Jesus is the vine, and we are the branches. If we let Him, He will prune us until our lives are hidden in Him, so we can see what He sees and feel what He feels. I pray that as you read this powerful book, you will surrender your heart in a deeper way to the only One who can teach us what love looks like. I pray you will be inspired by David’s life to see the poor and the broken as treasures God wants to bring to His banqueting table and invite them home.

The caricature of the missionary as some stodgy old plodder swathed in polyester has never had much basis in fact, and anyhow The Space Between Memories blows all that to pieces. David’s tales of wildfaring and wayfaring, close calls and close encounters, all in the service of the Gospel, unfold like an Indiana Jones plot. Or better: like a sequel to the book of Acts. If your own faith has gotten a bit stodgy of late, here’s the antidote.

The Space Between Memories is a stirring masterpiece of adventure, danger, excitement, and heart-wrenching passion for people. The imagery David paints with words makes you feel like you are actually there, wishing you could jump into the story with him!

The letters on these pages are inked in blood from a heart for China spilled out on digital cotton, burned in by a passion aflame for the lost. Reading this reminds me why we do what we do—for the sake of the unreached. Be careful—in reading this book, you, too, might catch fire.

David Joannes retells his experiences on the mission field with both wit and humor, then peppers his narrative with a healthy dose of humility. In The Space Between Memories, David raises critical questions that have long concerned those aspiring to be missionaries. At the same time, he brings comfort to those who have lived on the mission field and experienced failure and disappointment. His stories capture the complexities of cross-cultural ministry and give the reader an impressive assortment of diversified daily situations that any ordinary (or extraordinary) missionary might find themselves in. The story is as entertaining as it is enlightening, which is a rare find for books dealing with the harsh realities of missions in the darkest, most unreached areas of the world. Above all, The Space Between Memories gives glory to God and rekindles in all of us the child-like excitement on the journey of global missions.

I highly recommend The Space Between Memories! David uses his God-designed artistic gift to communicate his passion, calling, and how God transformed his life as he journeyed to the unreached world. The Space Between Memories will inspire, challenge, and encourage you in ways you may have never experienced. But be warned! You may just find yourself giving up everything to advance God’s Kingdom after you read this book! Consider yourself warned!

God has a plan for every nation, tribe, people, and language on the earth, and His plan includes you. He is passionate for those without access to the Christian Gospel, unwilling that any should perish without ever having the opportunity to hear about His grace and glory. In The Space Between Memories, David Joannes wields words in an artistic fashion to reveal the heart of God, the struggle of unreached people groups, and an urgency for the missionary venture. Are you ready to take part in God’s epic redemptive plan? This book will help you realize that God wants you to join Him in redeeming the times and ushering in the Kingdom of God.

At once a travelogue, a love story, and a profound reflection on the missionary task, David’s memoir narrates an intense odyssey of the heart. In the process, he captures a pivotal time in China’s recent history as paddy fields gave way to skyscrapers and a fledgling persecuted church matured into an outward-looking movement with a heart for the nations. David’s journey, from the streets of Hong Kong to the jungles of Yunnan and beyond, brings you face to face with the unvarnished realities of frontier evangelism as the Gospel breaks through geographical, cultural, and political barriers. He relates in poignant detail the joys and struggles of ministry among the Yao, a hitherto unreached people group in which David witnessed God’s sovereign work despite many apparent setbacks. David’s missiological reflections go beyond textbook theory and probe deep into the question of what it means to have a heart for the unreached and a lifestyle to match. The Space Between Memories is both inspirational and informative, a personal narrative that speaks to the heart and an in-depth look at God’s work among the peoples of China during the past two decades.

David Joannes is a man who has clearly said, ‘Lord, use my life as You want.’ In The Space Between Memories, David gives a crystal clear example of a man who heard God’s call and obeyed it—an increasing rarity in our world today. The end result is a man who has been used in mighty ways. As you read this book you will be encouraged and challenged, not only by what God has done in David’s life but what He can and will do in your own as you obey His call.