Benji Cole of CBS Radio interviews the author of “The Saga of a Bent Nail” by Bob Leland

Benji Cole of CBS Radio interviews the author of “The Saga of a Bent Nail” by Bob Leland. Listen to the interview and gain meaningful insight into the subject matter.

Bob Leland grew up in Oak Park, Illinois, the oldest of five children. He currently lives in Presque Isle, Maine, with his wife, Amber. They are deeply involved in local church ministry and outreach. They are also teaching extension classes for the Grace Evangelical Seminary located in Bangor, Maine.

In “The Saga of a Bent Nail”, the author, who is a retired missionary, recounts adventures from his more than thirty years on the mission field in Indonesia (1971–2002). Both he and his wife answered God’s call to missions when they were just children (6 and 8 years old).

Their first posting was to Senggo (church planting), followed by several changes of duties, including house parenting, field administration, Bible College teaching, training missionary appointees, and translating the Greek Lexicon from English into Indonesian.

Bob’s book opens with a moment of deep crisis in the early days of the Senggo mission and is enhanced with Bible verses, black-and-white photos, frank admissions of shortcomings, and a lively sense of humor. The intriguing narrative shows how the couple survived sickness, accidents, and unexpected challenges in their ministry. Despite language and cultural differences, they were encouraged by how the Citak people and their students responded to the Word of God.

Bob and Amber remain active in church work in the US and helpfully offer this memoir as guidance for all Christians, but especially for those contemplating the mission path.

Listen to the full interview: