Book review: “Knocked down but not out”, by Bongani Putsoane

This book is by far the best book I would recommend for the youth and their parents. If you lost hope in yourself or your children, prepare to have your mind transformed.

A true story of a young man who, like most children, was a wayward kid: addicted to drugs, a drunkard, stealing money from home, disruptive and getting suspended at school, failing, having multiple girlfriends, disrespectful and a disgrace to his family and the community. The amazing thing is how God suddenly changed his life from the day he attended church after being invited. It was the day he received Christ as his Lord and Saviour.

“It got worse to the point that my father said, ‘From now on, you’re no longer my son. I disown you'”.

Bongani was born into a religious family. Going to the religion classes and reading the relevant material became a daily routine that he later realised didn’t instil any values in him, especially at the critical age of building the foundation of a child. He was frustrated, because as a child he never had an opportunity to play with other kids. He then developed hatred towards the religion and decided to call it quits. His parents let him be since he had already stopped the routine, and both the teacher and the parents had failed to discipline him.

This resulted in him being exposed to the world, as he had more time in his hands, and that’s when things spun out of control. It got worse to the point that his father said, “From now on, you’re no longer my son. I disown you.” He was ordered to pack his clothes and leave. That was a critical moment – Bongani cried because he didn’t know what to do or where he would go, until God came to the rescue. God sent a friend who told him to give his life to God.

“No one laid hands on me, but by praying a sinner’s prayer, my petrol and all other addictions died.”

Since he didn’t come from a financially stable family, he wore torn trousers, but that didn’t stop him from attending church the following day. He said the sinner’s prayer after the church sermon and accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Saviour.

That was the beginning of his new nature, new life. Bongani’s substance addiction stopped completely. He started behaving and being respectful at home, and God led him to his purpose which he is currently living out: being a motivational speaker and an entrepreneur.

If God could change Bongani’s story, He certainly can change anybody else’s. We serve a God of mercy, a God of second chances, a loving God, the God that brings glory unto Himself through us.