Steal Away Home

"I loved this book and did not want it to end. I was unfamiliar with the story of the famous preacher Charles Spurgeon and the slave Thomas Johnson, and how our sovereign Lord brought them together in what can only be called a divine friendship.  Now I am. I was greatly moved by this work and more than once brought to tears. Humans can be very evil, but our God is very good. This book is a wonderful witness to both of those truths."
 
Daniel L. Akin, President, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Wake Forest, NC
 
"I’ve long been a great fan of Charles Spurgeon. I wasn’t familiar with Thomas Johnson, and enjoyed reading about his part in the drama. As a fiction writer I appreciated the creative storytelling elements of this account. Matt Carter and Aaron Ivey have done a great job selecting historical realities and weaving them together into a compelling story. I really enjoyed Steal Away Home."
 
Randy Alcorn, author of Deception, Safely Home and We Shall See God: Charles Spurgeon’s Devotional Thoughts on Heaven
 
"We live in a time and a culture when many people feel their stories are worth telling. It is certainly not for me to judge the worthiness of every story out there, even the one you hold in your hands. However, I will offer this—I cannot imagine having not been given the opportunity to know this story. 
 
Charles Spurgeon is, of course, a giant of both Christian history and lore. But where his story intersects that of the faithful, enduring man,
Thomas Johnson, it creates for us an almost cinematic tale. 
 
Matt and Aaron have worked tirelessly to accurately and fairly capture the history in which this story is set. The evil of slavery and of those who perpetuated it. The indomitable spirit of the African-American people, acutely seen through the life of Johnson. The sacredness of true friendship, and the beauty of the gospel are all at the fore, and I cannot more strongly encourage you to read this powerful work."
 
Pastor Léonce​ B. Crump Jr., Senior Pastor of Renovation Church and author of Renovate: Changing Who You Are By Loving Where You Are
 
"Gripping and creatively presented, Steal Away Home explores the unexpected friendship between Charles Spurgeon and the Virginia slave-turned-missionary Thomas Johnson. It is a remarkable story of courage and redemption—one that captures the spirit of both brave men."
 
Dr. Christian T. George, Curator of the Spurgeon Library, assistant professor of historical theology at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and editor of The Lost Sermons of C. H. Spurgeon (B&H Academic)
 
"A fresh and artful treatment of two remarkable, gospel-shaped men. I’ve read lots of books on Charles Spurgeon. I’ve never read one like this one. Once you start it, you won’t put it down."
 
J.D. Greear, Ph.D., Pastor, The Summit Church, Raleigh-Durham, NC