I had always known Ray Comfort as “that foreign street preacher who works with Kirk Cameron“. I guess I need to spend more time on YouTube! (just kidding—no one needs to spend more time on YouTube!)

It was through my searches there, though, that I came across Living Waters, Comfort’s film company that has made a number of incredibly thought-provoking sermon-style documentaries. One particular film is Exit: The Appeal of Suicide. I encourage you to watch the film, then read this book, as the film gets to the heart of the message quickly and really helps clarify what the book is all about.

How to Battle Depression and Suicide is a provocative, no-nonsense title, though the text itself isn’t so succinct. Rather than clearly laying out the “How To”s, Comfort instead fictionalizes his teaching by writing as if he were meeting a suicidal man named John atop the Golden Gate Bridge one foggy morning. Comfort approaches the man cautiously and is able to engage him in conversation, which ultimately turns into his talking the man off the edge, convincing him to consider the Truths of the Bible, and helping convert him to saving faith in Jesus. The rest of the book describes John’s newfound hope and fervency as they talk over burgers and deliciously salty fries.

While I did appreciate the organization of the topical passages at the ends of chapters, I felt like the fictionalized style distracted me from the teaching. This may just be my personal preference, though, for I’ve never really battled depression and suicidal thoughts. I came to this book wanting simply the nitty-gritty, and so I didn’t really care for the emotional fluff. Someone coming from a different, more depressed, more suicidal perspective than mine, however, might need this barrier instead of the hard-nosed, in-your-face Truth. After all, I’m drawn to other parabolic tales, like the conversation pieces by Ravi Zacharias. Others not myself might really enjoy this style by Comfort.

I also found John’s sudden transformation a little exaggerated. This is not to say that spiritual rebirth and becoming “a new creation” doesn’t bring immediate, noticeable changes! But this guy seemingly turned from a introvert to extrovert overnight, and that seems to promise more than the Gospel offers. Again, it’s just a story (and it may even be a true story for all I know!), but Comfort ought to be careful not to oversell the Gospel, because change in many areas (especially personality) takes time, even after a person is brought from death to life.

I enjoyed the book overall, and I certainly would recommend it and the film to anyone battling depression or suicidal thoughts. The film brought tears to my eyes (especially his conversation with the girl with the colorful hair), and I’m sure it’ll do the same for you, if you have an ounce of love in your body.

©2018 E.T.

Read More from Ray Comfort and Kirk Cameron:

• Hell’s Best Kept Secret (1989)
• How to Battle Depression and Suicidal Thoughts (2017)
• Saving Christmas (2014) Movie starring Kirk Cameron