Acknowledgements

Prologue

Chapter One

• Waiting for Sarah
• Stories to Share

Chapter Two

• Khalianna's Story
• Passion and Purpose
• Another Side to the Story; Rob and Marion White, co-founders of Hope for Justice

Chapter Three

• Tobias and Elena's Story
• Gathering Momentum
• Another Side to the Story; Tim Nelson, International Development Director, Hope for Justice

Chapter Four

• Welcome to Mumbai
• Another Side to the Story; Peter Stanley, former Strategy Director at Stop the Traffik

Chapter Five

• Jared's Story
• Taking the Stand
• Another Side to the Story; Patrick Thompson, Rend Collective

Chapter Six

• Magdalene's Story
• What Now?
• Another Side to the Story; Jeremy Alford, former Hope for Justice Director or Operations

Chapter Seven

• Lucas's Story
• Structure, Strategy, Sustainability
• Another Side to the Story; Philippa Roberts, solicitor and Legal Director, Hope for Justice

Chapter Eight

• Zoe's Story
• Zoe's Challenge
• Another Side to the Story; Tom Lister, actor and Hope for Justice Advocate

Chapter Nine

• William and Samuel's Story
• Family Matters
• Another Side the Story; Deb Cooley, co-founder of Hope for Justice

Chapter Ten

• Ma Ni's Story
• Better Together
• Natalie's Story; Natalie Grant, singer, songwriter and co-founder of Hope for Justice (Intl).
• Another Side to the Story; Athena Pond, International Programme Operations Director and co-founder of Hope for Justice (Intl).

Chapter Eleven

• Elita's Story
• We Don't Have the Time
• Another Side to the Story; Elita, victim of human trafficking and rescuee of Hope for Justice

Epilogue

Working for SPCK, the UK's leading and largest Christian publisher, means I get to read alot of books. Some of them are brilliant. Some are average. Some are awful. Some, though, make you sit up, read them at the weekend, and think about ways of recommending them. Impossible is a Dare, by Ben Cooley, is one of the latter.

This is a book that is brilliant for two reasons. First, and foremost, it is a brilliant story. The short history and brilliant work of Hope for Justice, of which Ben Cooley is one of the co-founders, is authentically and honestly told. Secondly, as I've previously blogged, this is a book with a message that the world needs to hear. That message, hidden in plain sight in the title, is not an unthinking triumphalism. The way that Ben works his passion out is inspiring - not least as he carefully unpacks the importance of policy and oversight, strategy and vision, as well as the 'exciting' stuff. This is a book, then, about worship, the kind of worship God wants, with eyes fully fixed on the future and hands and feet fully engaged in the present.

This book isn't for everyone. This is a difficult book to read, because of the subject matter. Ben focuses, as he has focused his life, mission and ministry, on the subject of modern-day slavery. This book is peppered with stories of brutality. Some end well. Others don't. This is a book about justice in all its gory detail, not for armchair horror fans, but for those of us willing to really engage. The book ends with an invitation to join Ben and Hope for Justice in ending slavery. Ben's fast paced writing style, inescapable enthusiasm and passion, not to mention the way he models even in the writing of the book the kind of leadership he suggests, mean that this is a book that I found very hard to put down.

This book is one of few I've read where the character of the author is both fundamental and not as distracting as you'd think. In some books - like Journeys in Grace and Truth, for example - the presence of the editor or author is overwhelming, distracting, and ultimately infuriating. In this book, despite Ben clearly being larger than life (google him, or follow him on Instagram, if you need evidence) he is careful not to get in the way of what he's saying, and also to radically give the stage over to other people too. The book is peppered with stories told from other people's perspective. Some of them are refreshingly honest about the main authors failings. This is a warts and all book, and it is better for it.

The core message of this book is anti-slavery. The secondary message is two fold - firstly, that what seems impossible might not be, and Ben dares you to give it a go - and secondly, that leadership is in need of some serious subversion. The language of Impossible is a Dare resonated with me - I'll write a little blog post about it soon. The stuff on leadership in this book is also brilliant. Ben is advocating and modelling an open form of leadership, which empowers people and recognises the weakness of individuals. A lot of his God stories are about Ben's weakness, and there are some chuckle-worthy moments as God places the people Ben needs on his path.

In closing, then, this is a brilliant little book. Buy and read it because it is inspirational and harrowing on the challenge of human trafficking and modern day slavery. Buy it and read it if you've ever been told your dream is impossible. Buy it if, like me, you find the language and practice/culture of leadership that you find in the world (And often infecting the Church) to be missing something.

Go on, I dare you.

Ben Cooley was just 26 years old when he booked Birmingham's NEC Arena. He didn't have the first idea about putting on a major event. But he did have a vision: to live in a world free from slavery.

This is a story of passion turned into action.

Here, Ben shares the journey of Hope for Justice from being one man with a wobbly desk to an international organization helping to fight trafficking in the UK, US, Cambodia and Norway.

Featuring real-life rescues and the voices of Rend Collective's Patrick Thompson, actor Tom Lister, Athena and James Pond, Natalie Grant and many others, this book is about more than fighting slavery. It will inspire all readers to find and fight for their own vision and see the impossible for what it really is . . . nothing but a dare.