From Nero's burning of Rome to the 20th century charismatic renewal... major people, events and ideas that shaped the long history of Christianity. Brush up on the people, places, and events every Chr...[More]

From Nero's burning of Rome to the 20th century charismatic renewal... major people, events and ideas that shaped the long history of Christianity. Brush up on the people, places, and events every Christian should know about with this fascinating, accessible guide. Ideal for pastors and speakers.[Less]

The Untold Dtory of Iranian Christian Martyrs. Iran, 1993. A judge issues an official death sentence to Mehdi Dibaj, a man already imprisoned for 10 years. A copy of the official execution orde...[More]

The Untold Dtory of Iranian Christian Martyrs. Iran, 1993. A judge issues an official death sentence to Mehdi Dibaj, a man already imprisoned for 10 years. A copy of the official execution order is leaked to Haik Hovsepian, the leader of the Evangelical Christians in Iran. Haik, at peril to his own life, releases the document and launches an international campaign to bring an end to the civil rights violations of the Iranian Islamic courts. International pressure mounts, and the Iranian government is forced to release Dibaj at the eleventh hour. But there is a price to pay... A Cry from Iran is an award-winning documented true story, that includes hidden camera footage filmed in Iran during the actual events. It has inspired viewers from all backgrounds.

"Had the book of Hebrews been written in our time, he would have been mentioned in there." - Dr. Ravi Zacharias
Only available in North American format.[Less]

Probes the history of the church not only within Western civilization, but also how the Christian experience progressed and developed as the church emerged in her worldwide social, economic, cultural ...[More]

Probes the history of the church not only within Western civilization, but also how the Christian experience progressed and developed as the church emerged in her worldwide social, economic, cultural and popular contexts; with sidebars, photos, maps, illustrations.[Less]

In this new book, one of the world's the leading writers in the field, looks at Christianity's long history in China, its extraordinarily rapid rise in the last half of the twentieth century, and char...[More]

In this new book, one of the world's the leading writers in the field, looks at Christianity's long history in China, its extraordinarily rapid rise in the last half of the twentieth century, and charts its future direction.

Bays expertly tracks the expansion of Christianity in China from the seventh century to the present day, charting how a religion first brought into China by a foreign mission has been adapted by the local population into part of their religious landscape. Beginning with the Nestorian mission in the seventh century, Bays presents a bold reinterpretation which reveals a process that was closely bound up with national and local politics. The account moves through the expansion of Christianity in the Dynastic era, its survival under fire in the mid-1900s, and the growth of the Chinese Church from the end of the Cultural Revolution to the early twenty-first century.

The book concludes with an examination of the way in which China is both similar to and different from other non-Western societies-for example Africa, Korea, Indonesia, and the Pacific Islands-where Christianity is surging. Throughout, "A New History of Christianity in China" offers a broad scope and incorporates the major scholarship of the last 30 years, weaving a balanced narrative of Christianity's long history in China, tracing its transformation from an imported, Western religion to a thoroughly Chinese religion today.

"This study is a splendid culmination to Daniel Bays' life-long engagement with Chinese history. It is lucid, succinct, balanced, reader-friendly, informative, and altogether authoritative. Readers interested in solid historical treatment of the dynamic story of Christianity in China need look no further. This is THE book." --Mark Noll, University of Notre Dame[Less]

The Other Side of the Story For too long, the history of Christianity has been told as the triumph of orthodox doctrine imposed through power and hierarchy. Butler Bass persuasively argues that...[More]

The Other Side of the Story For too long, the history of Christianity has been told as the triumph of orthodox doctrine imposed through power and hierarchy. Butler Bass persuasively argues that corrective--even subversive--beliefs and practices have always been hallmarks of Christianity. She brings to life the movements, personalities, and spiritual disciplines that have always informed and ignited Christian worship and social activism.

"Intelligent and sassy, honest and redemptive. ...a warning that if we don't remember the blood-stained pages of the past, then we are doomed to repeat them., but also an invitation to participate in the next chapter of what it means to be the Church in this broken world." -- Shane Claiborne, author of The Irresistible Revolution

"Western Christianity is suffering from a bad case of spiritual amnesia," Diana Butler Bass writes in her illuminating new history. The barb is aimed not at conservatives -- "those asserting certainty" -- but liberal Christians, assailed by "secular humanists and their self-assured religious cousins" and caught between "rejecting the past and bearing its weight." Bass's primary goal in this book is to restore what she calls "Great Command Christianity," a reference to the tale of the Good Samaritan and Jesus's subsequent admonition to "go and do likewise." Bass explores the myriad ways in which that teaching has been interpreted and embodied. The result is sometimes subversive and often joyful"--Matthew Shaer (Washington Post's Book World)[Less]

The Other Side of the Story For too long, the history of Christianity has been told as the triumph of orthodox doctrine imposed through power and hierarchy. Butler Bass persuasively argues that...[More]

The Other Side of the Story For too long, the history of Christianity has been told as the triumph of orthodox doctrine imposed through power and hierarchy. Butler Bass persuasively argues that corrective--even subversive--beliefs and practices have always been hallmarks of Christianity. She brings to life the movements, personalities, and spiritual disciplines that have always informed and ignited Christian worship and social activism.

"Intelligent and sassy, honest and redemptive. ...a warning that if we don't remember the blood-stained pages of the past, then we are doomed to repeat them., but also an invitation to participate in the next chapter of what it means to be the Church in this broken world." -- Shane Claiborne, author of The Irresistible Revolution

"Western Christianity is suffering from a bad case of spiritual amnesia," Diana Butler Bass writes in her illuminating new history. The barb is aimed not at conservatives -- "those asserting certainty" -- but liberal Christians, assailed by "secular humanists and their self-assured religious cousins" and caught between "rejecting the past and bearing its weight." Bass's primary goal in this book is to restore what she calls "Great Command Christianity," a reference to the tale of the Good Samaritan and Jesus's subsequent admonition to "go and do likewise." Bass explores the myriad ways in which that teaching has been interpreted and embodied. The result is sometimes subversive and often joyful"--Matthew Shaer (Washington Post's Book World)[Less]

Napoleon once said, "When China is moved it will change the face of the globe." Today those words are becoming a reality through the powerful spiritual vision of the Chinese church to send 100,000 mis...[More]

Napoleon once said, "When China is moved it will change the face of the globe." Today those words are becoming a reality through the powerful spiritual vision of the Chinese church to send 100,000 missionaries across China's borders to complete the Great Commission, even in this generation!

Here Brother Yun, Peter Xu Yongze and Enoch Wang, three Chinese house church leaders who between them have spent more than 40 years in prison for their faith, explain the history and present-day reality of the Back to Jerusalem movement. Christians everywhere who are called to fulfill the Great Commission, will be thrilled by this testimony and inspired to live bolder lives as disciples of Jesus Christ today.
Read more about the exciting possibilities of what is happening in China: Jesus in Beijing[Less]

Globalization, African Migration and the Transformation of the West. In part one the author (a Fuller Seminary professor) synthesizes studies on the impact of globalization, revealing that its ...[More]

Globalization, African Migration and the Transformation of the West. In part one the author (a Fuller Seminary professor) synthesizes studies on the impact of globalization, revealing that its outcomes will likely not be determined by the Euro-American heartlands that sparked this movement. Instead, in part two he shows that migration in general is having an enormous effect on shaping a new world order, and in part three, "Mobile Faith," he advances the case for the migration of Christians as carrying within it the seeds of renewal for the whole church, and also the potential to reshape church-state and religion and culture relations globally.[Less]

In "Boundless Faith," the first book to look systematically at American Christianity in relation to globalization, Robert Wuthnow shows that American Christianity is increasingly influenced by globali...[More]

In "Boundless Faith," the first book to look systematically at American Christianity in relation to globalization, Robert Wuthnow shows that American Christianity is increasingly influenced by globalization and is, in turn, playing a larger role in other countries and in U.S. policies and programs abroad. These changes, he argues, can be seen in the growth of support at home for missionaries and churches in other countries and in the large number of Americans who participate in short-term volunteer efforts abroad. These outreaches include building orphanages, starting microbusinesses, and setting up computer networks. Drawing on a comprehensive survey that was conducted for this book, as well as several hundred in-depth interviews with church leaders, Wuthnow refutes several prevailing stereotypes: that U.S. churches have turned away from the global church and overseas missions, that congregations only look inward, and that the growing voice of religion in areas of foreign policy is primarily evangelical. This fresh and revealing book encourages Americans to pay attention to the grass-roots mechanisms by which global ties are created and sustained.[Less]

The Return of Hope to the Middle East. When was the last time you felt a sense of hope in regard to the Middle East? When was the last time you even heard some good news about the Middle East?<...[More]

The Return of Hope to the Middle East. When was the last time you felt a sense of hope in regard to the Middle East? When was the last time you even heard some good news about the Middle East?

Missionary Tom Doyle, who travels extensively throughout this key region of the world, finds much cause for hope. In fact, he observes that a spiritual breakthrough has come to the Middle East. A new generation of believers, passionate for God in spite of great challenges, including persecution, provides reason for genuine hope. Breakthrough! was written to tell their story.

Doyle reports that in recent years a good number of people in the Middle East-particularly Muslims, but also individuals from Jewish or traditional Christian backgrounds, have come to Christ. While surveying how the Christian faith is blossoming in the Middle East, the heart of this book is its personal stories. These stories will inform, inspire and challenge you to pray more effectively for the Muslim world in general and the Middle East in particular. (Tom Doyle pastored churches in Colorado, Texas, and New Mexico for a total of twenty years before becoming a missionary in the Middle East.)[Less]

East, Central, and Southern Africa, 1939-64 There are many histories of overseas mission and many histories of the last days of Great Britain's empire in Africa, but there has been no book-leng...[More]

East, Central, and Southern Africa, 1939-64 There are many histories of overseas mission and many histories of the last days of Great Britain's empire in Africa, but there has been no book-length study on the relationship between them until now. In "British Missionaries and the End of Empire," historian John Stuart thoroughly and critically examines British Protestant missionary experiences during the tumultuous years between 1939 and 1964 in east, central, and southern Africa.

Focusing on Botswana, Zambia, Malawi, and Kenya (with an eye for South African influence on mission affairs), Stuart portrays the uneven and evolving relationship between Protestant missionaries, the British empire, and African nationalists. He shows how missionaries sometimes supported empire, sometimes drew comfort from it, sometimes criticized it, yet finally learned to live with its formal demise, continuing their work in the newly formed African independent states even after the end of empire.[Less]

1,300 years of Christians in China who have died for their faith. A vivid inspirational reference volume describing how these martyrs lived and why and how they died. The underlying purpose is...[More]

1,300 years of Christians in China who have died for their faith. A vivid inspirational reference volume describing how these martyrs lived and why and how they died. The underlying purpose is to motivate readers to a deeper commitment to Christ.

Most of the information about recent martyrs has come from personal interviews with eyewitnesses. Other sources include books, magazines, correspondence. The historical context and incidents leading to these martyrdoms is important, and the book is laid out in chronological order. It is the fruit of many years of research.

Paul Hattaway is an expert on the Chinese church and author of THE HEAVENLY MAN, the story of Brother Yun; OPERATION CHINA, and many other books.[Less]

Churches are growing all over China. Under Mao, Christianity virtually disappeared from sight, but was never stamped out. Now we are seeing what is probably the biggest revival in world history. Stati...[More]

Churches are growing all over China. Under Mao, Christianity virtually disappeared from sight, but was never stamped out. Now we are seeing what is probably the biggest revival in world history. Statistics from the Communist Party itself show exponential church growth. In this new edition of a widely read and authoritative expose of the plight and perseverance of believers in China, author Tony Lambert suggests reasons for the growth and shares sobering truths that Western Christians need to hear.[Less]

For most of Christian history the Chinese have been underrepresented in the global Church. Now they are here at last, in numbers, and by their life and suffering are reminding all the rest of us how h...[More]

For most of Christian history the Chinese have been underrepresented in the global Church. Now they are here at last, in numbers, and by their life and suffering are reminding all the rest of us how high Christ's standards are. "Combines serious research with a racy modern style, very fair, robustly truthful in a gracious way .. a really good read." -- Tony Lambert, OMF International[Less]

The Third Lausanne Congress in Cape Town, South Africa, convened in 2010, was hailed as the most representative gathering of the global church in the history of Christianity. Thousands of delegates fr...[More]

The Third Lausanne Congress in Cape Town, South Africa, convened in 2010, was hailed as the most representative gathering of the global church in the history of Christianity. Thousands of delegates from almost 200 nations gathered to hear from God and each other, as they cast new vision for world evangelization in the third millennium. Global leaders grappled with the most significant issues facing the church today, reaffirming the urgency of reaching a globalized world through both word and deed.

Now collected in this volume are major presentations from this landmark event, addressing themes of:

Truth: Making the case for the truth of Christ in our pluralistic and globalized world
Reconciliation: Building the peace of Christ in our divided and broken world
World faiths: Bearing witness to the love of Christ among people of other faiths
Priorities: Discerning the will of God for evangelization in our century
Integrity: Calling the church of Christ back to humility, integrity and simplicity
Partnership: Partnering in the body of Christ towards a new global equilibrium
Contributors include: Billy Graham, John Stott, Ajith Fernando, Ruth Padilla DeBorst, John Piper, Vaughan Roberts, Calisto Odede, Ramez and Rebecca Atallah, Os Guinness, Rebecca Manley Pippert, Michael Ramsden, Antoine Rutayisire, Tim Keller, Christopher Wright, Femi Adeleye, Patrick Fung, Libby Little and Lindsay Brown.

This book also includes powerful testimonies of a North Korean student's witness, reconciliation between Palestinian and Jewish Christians, and a Nigerian archbishop's faith in the face of persecution.

Together the worldwide church declares the embodied truth of "God in Christ, reconciling the world to himself" (2 Corinthians 5:19). Discover here the inspiring global witness to God’s work in the world.

"In every generation, we need to understand our times, as the men of Issachar understood theirs. Only through the dedicated hard work of studying Scripture and studying the world around us will we, like those men from Issachar, 'know what to do.' John Stott loved to remind us that Christ gave gifts to the church to share. He referred to The Lausanne Movement rather beautifully as 'an exchange of gifts.' We offer this book as a gift from the church on all continents to the church in your nation. May it be a means of enriching one another in our grasp of Scripture and in our love of Christ." —Doug Birdsall, Executive Chair, The Lausanne Movement[Less]

The Global Expansion of Evangelicalism in the Twentieth Century (Studies in the History of Christian Missions). This volume takes an in-depth look at the global expansion of evangelical Protest...[More]

The Global Expansion of Evangelicalism in the Twentieth Century (Studies in the History of Christian Missions). This volume takes an in-depth look at the global expansion of evangelical Protestantism during the past century. While this topic is currently on the agenda of many, the significance of this book lies in its concern to understand evangelical faiths and institutions in widely differing cultural contexts beyond the Western world.

Based on new research by prominent historians of religion, these chapters explore the expansion of evangelical Christianity (including charismatic Christianity) into non-English-speaking lands, giving special attention to dynamic indigenous responses. The range of locations covered include western and southern Africa, eastern and southern Asia, Latin America, and Oceania. An important concluding article provides a sociological account of evangelicalism's success, highlighting its ability to create a multiplicity of faith communities suited to different ethnic and geographical regions.

While the growth of evangelical Christianity in the non-Western world has already been documented (see The Next Christendom), the significance of this book lies in its scholarly treatment of that phenomenon.[Less]

Cross-Cultural Communication Since 1500. With Special Reference to Caste, Conversion, and Colonialism. This interesting volume challenges the long-held assumption that Christianity in India is ...[More]

Cross-Cultural Communication Since 1500. With Special Reference to Caste, Conversion, and Colonialism. This interesting volume challenges the long-held assumption that Christianity in India is nothing but a colonial or Western imposition. Leading experts here chronicle the histories and cultures of India's many Christian communities and show that local Indian leaders were the real agents of religious change in the subcontinent.

These chapters range widely over various facets of Indian society and its religious developments. Of crucial importance is the fact that in exploring their subjects the contributors take pains to avoid the Eurocentric nature of most studies of India and represent Christianity from a genuinely Indocentric perspective. The result is an entirely new vista from which to view the history, features, and influence of Indian Christianity.[Less]

A Theology of Mission for Today. Traces the history and theology of mission from the origins of Christianity to the present providing the most up-to-date and complete book of its kind. Const...[More]

A Theology of Mission for Today. Traces the history and theology of mission from the origins of Christianity to the present providing the most up-to-date and complete book of its kind. Constants in Context possesses a depth and structure that make it the standard account of both the history and theology of Christian mission. (Extensive Notes and Index; see Table of Contents)[Less]

The "White Fathers" During the Colonial Scramble (1892-1914). A masterpiece of historical reconstruction of the work of the White Fathers (now known as the "Missionaries of Africa"), caught ...[More]

The "White Fathers" During the Colonial Scramble (1892-1914). A masterpiece of historical reconstruction of the work of the White Fathers (now known as the "Missionaries of Africa"), caught between the cross of Christ and the flags of competing colonizing powers scrambling to secure their holds in northern, eastern, and central Africa (1892-1914). This is a book for anyone who wants to learn about the realities of early missions in Africa.[Less]

Pillars of World Christianity Long the dominant religion of the West, Christianity is now rapidly becoming the principal faith in much of the postcolonial world--a development that marks a mome...[More]

Pillars of World Christianity Long the dominant religion of the West, Christianity is now rapidly becoming the principal faith in much of the postcolonial world--a development that marks a momentous shift in the religion's very center of gravity. In this eye-opening book, Lamin Sanneh examines the roots of this "post-Western awakening" and the unparalleled richness and diversity, as well as the tension and conflict, it has brought to World Christianity.

Tracing Christianity's rise from its birth on the edge of the Roman empire--when it proclaimed itself to be a religion for the entire world, not just for one people, one time, and one place--to its key role in Europe's maritime and colonial expansion, Sanneh sheds new light on the ways in which post-Western societies in Africa, Asia, and Latin America were drawn into the Christian orbit. Ultimately, he shows, these societies outgrew Christianity's colonial forms and restructured it through their own languages and idioms--a process that often occurred outside, and sometimes against, the lines of denominational control. The effect of such changes, Sanneh contends, has been profound, transforming not only worship, prayer, and the interpretation of Scripture, but also art, aesthetics, and music associated with the church. In exploring this story of Christianity's global expansion and its current resurgence in the non-Western world, Sanneh pays close attention to such issues as the faith's encounters with Islam and indigenous religions, as well as with secular ideologies such as Marxism and nationalism. He also considers the challenges that conservative, non-Western forms of Christianity pose to Western liberal values and Enlightenment ideas.

"I am lost in admiration for Lamin Sanneh's magnificent study of world Christianity, for the work's geographical scope and historical sweep, and for the breadth of the author's learning. Throughout, Sanneh asks the critical question: how can we reconceive Christianity in a way that frees it from its European and imperial contexts, permitting the faith to adapt to the kaleidoscopic realities of different societies around the globe. This is a splendid achievement." --Philip Jenkins, author of The Next Christendom[Less]