Everyone has a story, and Dennis Grennell, in his self-published autobiography, has proven just that. Never Give Up is a raw and honest account of one man’s testimony to God’s ability to take a Chatham Island Maori boy and turn him into an internationally preaching ‘trophy of grace’. With easy-to-read paragraphing and font size, and the odd typo here and there reminding us of the author’s humanity, Grennell’s story is written as if it had been spoken to friends and family over a lazy afternoon tea.

Packed with gems of history and snippets of real-life anecdotes that both shocked and surprised, this book had me smiling and laughing aloud throughout. His recollection of historic national events are interlaced in everyday childhood happenings as he shares his gentle and natural order of memories.

We journey with Grennell through his days of rugby and music, the courting of his childhood sweetheart and now wife of over 50 years, and the many antics he got up to as a young man prone to enjoying a few down at the local pub. It was at one of his visits to the hotel that a voice spoke to his heart — there was a better way of life than this.

Grennell’s testimony of once being known as a Sunday morning drinker who would heckle local evangelists, to then becoming a fired-up Friday night street preacher himself, is one of growth and of grace.

His story gives the reader an insight into human behaviour despite one’s beliefs, and the way in which he tells it with such openness and transparency — “warts and all” — is both humbling and inspiring.

Much is to be learned about the author and his life story, not just by what is written but by what is not written, with each anecdote short, sweet, and to the point.

From humble beginnings as an interim pastor in Auckland to ministering to thousands in India, Grennell remains aware of his limitations and true to his calling. Throughout his lifetime and travels he has survived the depression of the 1930s, World War II, almost being run over by a truck in India, the gravely unhygienic treatment for malaria he contracted in Madras, and near electrocution. Having lived a committed and colourful life since a young age, Grennell now proceeds to encourage others to live life to the full. He co-founded the never2old fitness programme for over 60s after graduating from the Auckland University of Technology as a fitness instructor aged 69.

Never Give Up is a great read for people of all ages, backgrounds and beliefs and Grennell’s warm heart and wonderful sense of humour shine through this walking testimony of finding one’s purpose in life and persevering through trials and tribulations into triumph.

His story reminds us that we are all in the same boat — journeying through life together, each of us finding our own faith and truths as we stumble in our humanity.