By Tony Lambert
OMF/Monarch Books. 256 pages. £8.99,
ISBN 1 85424 431 0
With its 30 - 50 million Christians, China is the second largest community of evangelical believers in the world, and is set to overtake the USA in the next decade if present rates of growth continue.
Tony Lambert writes from wide experience and detailed research. He carefully describes the situation in both the Three Self Patriotic Movement churches, and the house churches, showing the particular challenges and pressures faced by those who are registered and those who are not. He tells of how often through persecution, God has sent revival and how despite repression, believers have boldly spread the gospel, resulting in massive growth.
An extensive appendix surveys the growth of the church, province by province. Although many of the regional names will be forgotten, the lasting impression is one of praise to God as you attempt to take in the dimensions of the growth of the church in China, and the courage of the believers.
The author is realistic about the challenges facing the Chinese church, and deals with issues such as the influence of cults; the need for Bible training for leaders; and the difficulties of children's work, given the attitude of the government.
This is a book to humble you, cause you to review your own spiritual life, and ponder what God can do with a life totally committed to Him.
