The great issue of contemporary Christianity is globalization. Rescue and Redeem tackles the relationship of the Church with the rest of the world starting in 1860 and continuing to the present day, illustrating the struggles and triumphs of God's people in the last 150 years with biographies of Hudson Taylor, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and C.S. Lewis, as well as many other far less well-known saints. Far less Euro- and Americo-centric than its four predecessors in the History Lives series, this volume looks at Japanese, Indian and African Christians remembered for their faith and contributions to the spread of God's Word to every tribe and nation.
There are plenty of surprises here. The first biography is about Nijima Jo, who left his life as a samurai warrior in Japan to come to America where he was converted, attended seminary, and returned to his people to minister to them in the name of Christ. Or Janani Luwum, an Anglican bishop in Uganda whose faith led to his martyrdom at the hands of Idi Amin. The Withrows also examine the history of Bible translation, the practical aspects of living as Christians in our modern world, and the possible future of the global church. While many of the stories here are fairly depressing and seem to bode ill for the continued well-being of the faith, the authors end on a hopeful note, directing us away from the evil perpetrated by men and toward the eternal hope the Church shares (and has always shared) in Jesus Christ.
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