Reynard Faber

FrontRunner: The Story of an Apache Indian is the memoir of Reynard Faber. Faber is an Apache, a member of the Jicarilla Apache Nation, who grew up in the reservation's only town, Dulce, NM. His life shows the full spectrum of events good and bad, with the latter including several aspects that are, unfortunately, all too common among Native American populations.

Faber has organized his story in snapshots, either by showing his life at a particular stage, such as a youth living on the reservation, or in themes, such as a section devoted to his work with overseas missions. I think this is a strength of the book, as it allows him the opportunity to delve deeply into that stage or theme.

More than anything else Faber's account is spiritual. As a young adult Faber became a Christian and it is his faith that permeates each stage of his life. He presents a very open and honest account of his life, not dramatizing either the high points or the low points. He simply describes them as they happened, although often with an eye to showing how they pointed him towards greater spiritual maturity.

I felt that the strongest feature of the book is the way in which Faber consistently points not to himself, but to his Savior. It is Faber's memoir, but he persistently and consistently points to God as its central character, to God's glory. Reading Faber's story of faith provided illumination to my understanding of my own journey with Christ.

I highly commend this book, particularly to people who have known really hard times and wonder what, if anything, God can bring to their life. Faber's story may help you to see that God may not coordinate things in your life the way that you desire them, but that what He does do will always be good.

(In the interest of full disclosure I moved to Dulce, NM, in August, 2013, and became personally acquainted with Reynard Faber through the ministry that I work with there.)… (altro)