Dan Fountain is a member of the ICMDA and a long-term missionary medic who worked in the Democratic Republic of Congo. He has received numerous awards for his contribution to Community Health and is a firm advocate of whole person healthcare.

This is not a book about 'faith healing' but about how Christian faith contributes to human wholeness. Early on, he distinguishes between disease, which he defines as 'a particular condition that upsets a person's well-functioning equilibrium', and illness which 'has to do with the person and the uncomfortable disturbing things that happen to and within that person when a disease is present'. He goes on to draw a line between cure, which relates to disease, and healing which relates to illness.

These distinctions are not just those of a pedantic physician but essential to our understanding of patients' needs and our response to their situation. Much emphasis is placed on the role of the Christian counsellor as a member of the healing team, the need to listen (really listen) to our patients and the place of a spiritual understanding of what is going on in the patient's life.

He deals with questions of sin, the chemistry of emotions and their effects on the immune system and our response to disease. Consideration is given to the nature of addiction, sexuality and depression. He illustrates the power of forgiveness and confession both from personal experience and from scripture. Finally, he explores the resources that Christians have at their disposal as they face up to the challenge of ill health. Do we see disease as a tragedy or a challenge? Our perspective will influence the outcome. In his final chapter, he looks squarely at issues of death and considers ways of finding hope in dark places. There is a useful appendix on a team approach to healing. This is a challenging and provocative yet helpful book. It is well worth reading.