The Miracle of Africa byMike Neilis an historical fiction adventure novel set in 1911 and 1912, just two years after Teddy Roosevelt’s famous safari. The story is about John Rivers, a science professor and devout atheist who became interested in Africa because of the hunting, and also because he thought he could win fame in finding Darwin’s missing link. 

The Miracle of Africa begins with John returning home from a safari on the train to Chicago. Five years prior he and his wife, Betty, had lost their only son when he was just ten-years-old to a tragic illness, and Betty had slipped into depression.  John found her difficult to be around and had gone half way around the world just to find peace.  One of the workers on the train is Jason, a young man who had lost both of his parents.  John takes an immediate shine to Jason and invites him to his Chicago mansion.  Upon John’s reunion with Betty he realizes her beauty, and they rekindle their love.  Betty also takes a liking to the boy and they decide to offer him an education.

Betty confides in John that she would love to share his love for Africa and pleads with him to take her on a safari.  Even thought he never thought Africa was a place for a woman, he relents.  What ensues is an African safari where they take a long-time-friend, Chuck, and Jason, and meet up with John’s good friend Lance who is a White African farmer.  John discovers that during his absence Lance has met and married a Black American Evangelist named Esther.  This creates some interesting problems for this time and place.

This is a love story about a man and his wife who were struggling in their marriage.  It’s a story about the ethics of hunting, and the adventure of Africa.  It’s a story about the search for truth and the peace that results in finding it. 
You will be drawn to this book because of Africa, the gripping adventure, and the striking images and you will be forever changed by the message.  There are two lions in scripture that stand out; Christ the Lion of Judah, Genesis 49:9, and Satan the roaring lion, 1 Pet. 5:8.  One lion saves and the other destroys; one lion draws men to God, while the other drives men to God.

Deep in the African bush, John Rivers experiences The Miracle of Africa.  This is a teaching book about faith and the eternal perspectives of life.  It is about how God prunes us and how we must hold everything in an open hand, being grateful just for the gifts that He gives us for a time.

This book is in the final stages of editing and will be used by God in His time.