Sign-In
Cart
Desperados: The Insane True Story of Undercover Missionaires, Counterfeit Rock Stars & the Music Hoax of the Century
Paperback
Biographies GeneralChristian MusicGeneral Christianity
Publisher Price: $19.99
Publisher: Shane Almgren Multimedia & Entertainment
Published: Sep 12 2024
Pages: 352
Weight: 1.04
Height: 0.73 Width: 6.00 Depth: 9.00
Language: English
When the Almgren undercover missionary family returned to the US after getting kicked out of China following the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre, they'd been instructed by the Communists never to speak of what they'd seen or heard. Above all, they were told never to come back.
There was just one problem: the mother, Susie Almgren, believed God had given her a divine mission to organize the first-ever Christian concert in Communist China, where Christian activity of any kind is highly illegal and strictly forbidden, and only one Western band (Wham! in 1985) had ever been allowed in to play.
Upon returning to the US, Mom set out on a decade-long journey to contact and convince a world-renowned Christian band to visit China for no pay, and with no guarantees of a safe or even certain return, and to somehow convince the Chinese government to not only allow all of this to take place, but to sponsor and promote the entire thing themselves.
Through a series of synchronicity, dumb luck, chance encounters, divine intervention, serendipity, coincidence, and a heaping helping of sheer audacity, a deal was reached and a series of dates were booked for October 1999 with the biggest Christian band in the world: the award-winning Australian pop/rock band, the Newsboys.
But because of Mom's duplicity in the arrangements, China didn't know they'd booked a Christian band, and the Newsboys didn't know that China didn't know they were a Christian act - a potentially deadly disaster waiting to happen. Then, 12 days before the concert dates-after 10 arduous years in the making -the Newsboys backed out.
Not one to a let a little thing like not having a band get in the way of throwing a concert of global proportions for God, Mom hastily improvised: she found a local church drummer, bass player, and lead singer where she was living in Pittsburgh; enlisted her son (in Florida) as the keyboardist, and told him to go find a great guitarist with a passport. Their mission (should they choose to accept): with the 5 band mates living in different states and unable to rehearse together, somehow become a unified band in under two weeks, prepared to go to China under threat of arrest and/or possible death, and masquerading as the real Newsboys with all of China none the wiser.
With potentially international consequences, what unfolded was one of the most improbable, harrowing, exhilarating, usually hilarious, and ultimately triumphant tales of courage, resourcefulness, teamwork, adventure, perseverance, creativity, the power of intention and positive thinking, faith, and a steadfast refusal to let obstacles or fear stand in the way of the mission becoming the Newsboys to the entire country of China, and pulling off the Greatest Musical Hoax of the 20th century.
Also in
General Christianity
The Early Versions of the New Testament: Their Origin, Transmission, and Limitations
Metzger, Bruce M.
Hardcover
The Destiny of Modern Societies: The Calvinist Predestination of a New Society
Zafirovski, Milan
Paperback
The Death of Christ: The Bible and Popular Culture Vs Archaeological and Historical Evidence
Rutledge, Steven
Hardcover
The Gnostic Secrets of the Naassenes: The Initiatory Teachings of the Last Supper
Gaffney, Mark H.
Paperback
A Child Shall Lead Them PB: Martin Luther King Jr., Young People, and the Movement
Burrow, Rufus
Paperback
Twelve Ordinary Men: How the Master Shaped His Disciples for Greatness, and What He Wants to Do with You
MacArthur, John F.
Paperback
The Unseen Battle: Spiritual Warfare, the Three Rebellions, and Christ's Victory Over Dark Powers
Muddamalle, Joel
Paperback
Becoming Like Jesus Bible Study Guide Plus Streaming Video: A Bible Study on the Beatitudes
Chandler, Matt
Paperback
The Jesus Discoveries: 10 Historic Finds That Bring Us Face-To-Face with Jesus
Johnston, Jeremiah J.
Paperback
Experiencing the Heart of Jesus for 52 Weeks Revised and Updated: A Year-Long Bible Study
Lucado, Max
Paperback
Church History in Plain Language, Fifth Edition: The Story of the Church for Today's Readers
Shelley, Bruce
Paperback
The Elijah Mandate: A Call to Courageous Faith in a Hostile World
Tsarfati, Amir
Piflaks, Tolik
Paperback
Contend: Standing Boldly for Biblical Truth While Winning the War Within
Mitchell, Philip Anthony
Hardcover
Torn: Why People We Love Are Leaving the Church and What We Can Learn from Them
Strong, Jeff
Paperback
Tactics, 10th Anniversary Edition: A Game Plan for Discussing Your Christian Convictions
Koukl, Gregory
Paperback
Christian Beliefs, Revised Edition: Twenty Basics Every Christian Should Know
Grudem, Wayne A.
Paperback
Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation
Kobes Du Mez, Kristin
Paperback
Magnifica Humanitas (Magnificent Humanity): On Safeguarding the Human Person in the Time of Artificial Intelligence
Leo XIV, Pope
Hardcover
When God Doesn't Fix It: Lessons You Never Wanted to Learn, Truths You Can't Live Without
Story, Laura
Paperback
Jesus & Your Mental Health: Linking God's Word and Modern Science to Find Peace about Mental Health
Maxwell Lmft, Rebecca
Paperback
Backslide: Reclaiming a Faith and a Nation After the Christian Turn Against Democracy
Jones, Robert P.
Hardcover
Friendship in the Lord: A Catholic Classic on Holy Friendship and Life in Christ a Christian Classic
Hinnebusch Op, Paul
Paperback
Magnifica Humanitas: On Safeguarding the Human Person in the Time of Artificial Intelligence
Pope Leo XIV, XIV
Paperback
Determined to Believe?: The Sovereignty of God, Freedom, Faith, and Human Responsibility
Lennox, John C.
Paperback
The War on Reality: Recovering Truth in a World That Celebrates Lies
Hayes, Phoenix
Turek, Frank
Paperback
Sounding the Seasons Enlarged Edition: One Hundred and Ten Sonnets for the Christian Year
Guite, Malcolm
Paperback
The Story of Reality: How the World Began, How It Ends, and Everything Important That Happens in Between
Koukl, Gregory
Paperback
Making Your Case for Christ Bible Study Guide: An Action Plan for Sharing What You Believe and Why
Strobel, Lee
Mittelberg, Mark
Paperback
The Case for Christ: A Journalist's Personal Investigation of the Evidence for Jesus
Strobel, Lee
Paperback
The Nag Hammadi Scriptures: The Revised and Updated Translation of Sacred Gnostic Texts Complete in One Volume
Meyer, Marvin W.
Robinson, James M.
Paperback
The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry: How to Stay Emotionally Healthy and Spiritually Alive in the Chaos of the Modern World
Comer, John Mark
Hardcover
Bloodline Deliverance Study Manual: How to Set Yourself, Your Family, and Your Bloodline Free from Demons and Curses
Brewer, Mike
Brewer, Andrea
Paperback
The Official Study Guide to I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist
Geisler, Norman L.
Jimenez, Jason
Paperback
Love Thy Stranger: How the Teachings of Jesus Transformed the Moral Conscience of the West
Ehrman, Bart D.
Hardcover
Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions-A Reader's Edition of the Book of Concord - 2nd Edition
Concordia Publishing House
Hardcover
Tactics Study Guide, Updated and Expanded: A Guide to Effectively Discussing Your Christian Convictions
Koukl, Gregory
Paperback
Evidence That Demands a Verdict Bible Study Guide: Jesus and the Gospels
McDowell, Sean
McDowell, Josh
Paperback
The Unoffendable Heart: Breaking Free from the Cycle of Offense to Live in Freedom, Love, and Forgiveness
Signorelli, Mike
Paperback
The Case for a Creator: A Journalist Investigates Scientific Evidence That Points Toward God
Strobel, Lee
Paperback
Imagine Heaven: Near-Death Experiences, God's Promises, and the Exhilarating Future That Awaits You
Burke, John
Paperback
All-In-One Holy Bible with Apocrypha: 300 Books in Print Plus Audiobook, Videos, and Thousands of Digital Books
Publishing, Dunatos
Hardcover
Did America Have a Christian Founding?: Separating Modern Myth from Historical Truth
Hall, Mark David
Paperback
From Genesis to Junia: An Honest Search for What the Bible Really Says about Women in Leadership
Sprinkle, Preston
Paperback
Every Moment Holy: Death, Grief, and Hope: (Pocket Edition) (Over 100 Prayers and Illustrations for Finding Purpose & Hope During Seasons of Loss or S
McKelvey, Douglas Kaine
Hardcover
The Divine Conspiracy Bible Study Participant's Guide: Jesus' Master Class for Life
Willard, Dallas
Paperback
Dwelling in Christ: Discover the Threefold Path of Spiritual Transformation
Bailey, Jonathan R.
Paperback