Treasures in Dark Places: One Woman, a Supernatural God and a Mission to the Toughest Part of India Paperback – January 17, 2017

It drew me in, it excited me, it deeply inspired me and tore down the walls we all so easily erect to separate this earthly realm from the heavenly.The author, Leanna Cinquanta, is modern day proof of the truth of Jesus' prophetic words in John 14:12,"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also, and greater works than these he will do because I go to my Father."Leanna's story, while definitely outside any box, leaves no doubt in the reader's mind as to it authenticity - the proof is built in.Leanna holds a paint brush instead of a pen, the words flowing across the page are so rich, that the descriptions she paints draw you into the movie produced in living colour on your mind's screen. Your emotions and your senses are heightened and engaged - and you are loath to put the book down.I love this book ... and have read it aloud to my husband - and I have ordered hard copies to give to my grandgirls.I am not a book spoiler (smile) so if you desire a mind-blowing, inspiring read I highly recommend "Treasures in Dark Places."

I have admired Leanna Cinquanta's remarkarkable apostolic ministry to Northern India for a number of years. While the admiration was very real, the times I had heard Leanna share had left me uninspired wondering if the miraculous testimony of thousands of church plants could be true, So when I saw her book, Treasures in Dark Places, at the book table of a conference attended in August, I quickly chose not to add it to the avalanche of books on our headboard. My resolve not to buy any books got immediately challenged when I saw Brian Simmons' translation of Thessalonians right next to Leanna's book. As I moved forward to take a closer look, my knees buckled at the power of Holy Spirit. To be nearly knocked down at a book table was a new experience for me, and I knew Holy Spirit's intervention was about buying Treasures in Dark Places. My first read took two days only because I was working and attending the conference. Every free moment I devoted to Leanna's story. It captivated me. How our loving God wooed this most improbable hero of our faith alone would be story enough, but Leanna's description of the stronghold's over the area to which she was sent and God's Jericho-like wisdom and action for unseating the enemy left me in awe. Leanna is a gifted writer telling a beyond what can be imagined story. In the 21 years Leanna's TellAsia ministry has operated in the Ganges Valley, the fruit is 23,000 home based churches and 160 children's education centers and this I believe is just the beginning. God has recently given Leanna a strategy for aggressively battling human trafficking in this area that is already unimaginably successful and could be exponentially greater if more prayerful people with money catch the passion. I'm giving the book to friends and family. I'm sharing Leanna's testimony. Treasures in Dark Places will encourage all lovers of Jesus that one person obediently following God's blueprint for her/his life can truly move mountains.

I attended a conference where the author was speaking and she and her stories were absolutely riveting! If you want to help support a Worthy mission to rescue children from sexual slavery, please get this book and please support this ministry

Treasures in Dark Places is Leanna Cinquanta’s story of how she came to faith and became a missionary to India. Cinquanta also tells about the Indian people who became involved in the mission, and she closes the book with two different stories: one Indian girl receives an education, and another Indian girl is tricked into becoming a sex slave. This closing part of the book is a call to action.The writing style of the book was rather dramatic and flamboyant, but sometimes that enhanced the book. For example, Cinquanta tells the story of how she came close to becoming a Christian when she was trapped in snow while skiing, but, once she returned safely back to the ski lodge, she forgot all about her vulnerability and need for God. She likened that to Pharaoh in the Book of Exodus, who submitted to God during the plagues but hardened his heart once the plagues had passed!Her description of the Holy Spirit’s presence inside of her after she became a Christian was a compelling and vivid picture. While her story about how she became a missionary was initially grandiose, as if God called her to convert India to Christianity single-handedly, that was counter-balanced throughout the course of the book. Cinquanta did not always get what she wanted, for God placed her in an office job, while the work on the front-lines was to be done by Indian Christians themselves. Cinquanta also tells the stories of how God chose certain people over others for specific tasks, and how their specific backgrounds equipped them. In the course of the book, Cinquanta became one character among others, not the main star. The main star was God.The book is not exactly comprehensive in describing Indian culture and religion, but there are occasions in which Cinquanta provides glimpses into Indian religion: the disappointment of some Indians with Hinduism, and Hindu beliefs on heaven and hell. Occasionally, reincarnation was a part of her picture of Hinduism. Cinquanta’s view of Hinduism in this book was not particularly charitable, for she depicted Hindu gods as demons. I tend to prefer Bradley Malkovsky’s more charitable Christian view of Hinduism in his excellent 2013 book, God’s Other Children: Personal Encounters with Faith, Love, and Holiness in Sacred India. Still, Cinquanta speaks from her own experiences, and her stories provide a window into why some Indians forsake Hinduism for Christianity, as well as the uphill struggles they endure as a consequence.I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through Cross Focused Reviews and Netgalley. My review is honest!

Incredible and hard to put down story of what 1 woman who is sold out to Christ can do when she is submitted to the Lord God Almighty. I read it in less than 24 hours and it highly impacted my outlook on life. If we all took the Great Commission more seriously the world would see true revival!

Leanna’s testimony impacted me and my children with the awesomeness of what God can do with one person who commits to following him.

Everyone should read this book.

I've read hundreds of books and this has to be one of the best books I've ever read! It was so engaging and has been written with such detail that it puts you right in the moment, feeling every motion as you go through this amazing journey of Leanna's life. I couldn't put it down! It's definitely one to read and if you're looking for a deeper relationship with the Lord, or are looking for the cause He's created you for, it will bring a sense of destiny in your life. The way Leanna describes her communication with the Lord is something that every person on the planet desires, whether they realise it or not.