S.O.S.: Saving Our Sons – Confronting the Lure of Islam with Truth, Faith and Courage

Edited by Carl Ellis
Urban Ministries, Inc. (2007)
ISBN 9781934056745
Reviewed by Vicki Landes for Reader Views (1/08)


As Americans, we enjoy so many freedoms without even thinking about them – the ability to say or write what we feel, the independence to pursue what makes us happy, and the luxury to worship in the way we see fit – and usually, we take for granted what our forefathers fought so hard to obtain.  One of the ways we do this is by not paying attention to issues that have the potential of threatening those liberties until it’s too late.  Unfortunately, this has developed into more than simply protecting our borders; we are now seeing homegrown terrorists as a very real danger.  Editor Carl Ellis knows the enticing allure of Islam snaring many African-American men in our society and hopes to bring light to this disturbing trend in his book, “S.O.S:  Saving Our Sons – Confronting the Lure of Islam with Truth, Faith and Courage.”

“Saving Our Sons” is a call for all African-American Christians to take the quiet threat of Islam very seriously.  Assisted by Don Davis and Pastor R.C. Smith, Carl Ellis recounts the history and background into how the Islamic religion progressed from its inception, the different sects that have developed over the years, and why it is so attractive to African-American men.  Armed with plenty of Biblical scripture, “Saving Our Sons” gives Christians the ammunition they need to respond to Muslims with love, compassion, and patience as they try and bring them back to Jesus.  Further, the book gives advice on how to engage those of the Islamic faith using their ideals, terminology, and thought processes in order to make that conversion more logical and smooth.  A quick and easy read, “S.O.S:  Saving Our Sons” is a workbook-style manual with thought-provoking questions at the end of each chapter to help further reflect on the material presented. 

“Saving Our Sons” is a somber warning for mothers, fathers, grandparents, and other authority figures to no longer tolerate the cunning infiltration of this violent religion into their communities and homes.  Although targeted at African-Americans, I (a Caucasian Christian) found the material discussed very fascinating and quite startling -- not only does Islam prey on the painful racial sting still felt by our society today, it recruits in American’s prisons where our most violent criminals hold very deep grudges against our country and its laws.   

Editor Carl Ellis takes a bold stand on protecting America by focusing on an area of our society that we may not realize is at great risk of Islamic recruitment.  Although passionate about this cunning threat, Ellis maintains a foundation of love and understanding for all people.  “S.O.S.: Saving Our Sons” is an educational wake-up call for African-American families of this day and age.

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