BOOK REVIEW: Most of us have heard the inspiring stories of missionaries Jim and Elizabeth Elliot, Hudson Taylor, Adoniram Judson, William Carey, or Amy Carmichael. But beyond these heroes of the faith, there were countless others who also risked their lives to share the light of Christ with the world. This book illuminates their stories---some known, some never told, until now. In this book, former missionary Larry Sharp recounts their remarkable stories. Sacrificing their comfortable lives for the gospel, these trailblazers faced serious cultural, health, family, and linguistic challenges. Although they endured sometimes severe sacrifices, they never regretted being true to their calling. May the stories of this World War II generation--which Tom Brokaw dubbed "The Greatest Generation"--now inspire a new generation to follow God's leading to bring the gospel to those yet unreached across the globe.
MY REVIEW: I enjoyed this book. Larry is right, we know the well-beloved missionaries, but there are so many whom we've never known. This book is divided into several sections on different aspects or locations of missionaries. I liked how that kept the book from feeling like a mere collection of stories. However, it is a book of stories, so the information is not going to be abundant. There is anywhere between a few paragraphs to a few pages on each missionary, giving a well-designed synopsis of what brought them to the field and what their impact was there. As a whole, this book packs a punch for what missionaries faced and how they dealt with it, but each story on it's own is not a full account. But that keeps the book moving and flowing together well.
One thing that really stood out to me is the section on family strain. Often children were sent to boarding school at an early age, because there were no schools obviously, and homeschooling was not a popular option. This was quite hard on both parents and children, and brought about various results. This was one of the many sacrifices missionaries had to make.
Another section is about missionaries who never left their country, but served on mission boards as secretaries, recruiters, or even those who supported missionaries by sending much needed funds. The home-front people are just as necessary and impactful as those on the field--neither can get very far without the other and it's important to remember that.
This book is a fount of incredible stories. Often couples each had a heart for missions, and met their spouses at various mission schools/institutions and went on their life's work together. There were even times when couples married because they could not serve as singles. Each story is inspiring and unique. Other stories of language barriers, and cultural shocks, and primitive jungle life can only cement the love of God and the lost that these missionaries had. They left everything they knew and loved, and devoted years of their lives to bring the gospel to every corner of the earth. Their example is one to emulated.
I received a copy of this book from HENDRICKSON PUBLISHERS and was not required to write a positive review.
