* Hidden Sorrow Lasting Joy by Anneke Companjen
"The most important aspect of the Suffering Church is the victorious women. Without them, the church has no future. " - Brother Andrew.
As the wife of the President of Open Doors International, Anneke Companjen has travelled the world and seen at first hand the tragic toll of persecution. Following the suicide of a woman she had befriended - the wife of an imprisoned Vietnamese pastor - she decided the world should hear the stories of these women of incredible faith and courage.
What is it like for a Christian woman living where it is illegal to live openly for Christ?
How does a wife and mother respond when her husband refuses to give up his work of faith despite the physical and emotional risk to himself and his family?
What happens to her when he is arrested, imprisoned or murdered because of what he believes?
These are questions facing real women in today's world. While stories are told and retold about the men who suffer for their faith, these women are the forgotten victims of the Persecuted Church.
"Will challenge even the most apathetic." - Fiona Castle
- Available from www.cbeinternational.org
* Lilies Among Thorns by Danyun.
True testimonies from the underground church in China, right out of the Book of Acts. Written in Chinese and translated into English. A book to read on your knees and great fuel for intercession. This book should come with a ‘consumer warning’ because after reading it you will never be the same. Something of God’s heart for the Chinese people will be imparted to you forever after reading this. Available from Revival Christian Church www.rcmi.ac
- Available at Amazon.com
* Wild Swans – Three Daughters of China by Jung Chang.
“It is impossible to exaggerate the importance of this book”, writes one reviewer. It is the personal account of the author, her mother (during the tumultuous Communist era); and her grandmother (during the feudal era). China’s history unfolds naturally as the story of this family is told, due to Jung Chang’s excellent and flawless scholarship. This book is compulsive reading and makes China’s dramatic history palatable and accessible to Westerners. If you want an understanding of China’s history and culture without having to read heavy historical text-books – this is the book.
- Available at Amazon.com
* Hungry Ghosts by Jasper Knight.
This book will sure make your blood boil. Not quite as easy to read as Wild Swans but still excellent. It’s written by an English man who writes of the secrecy covering up the appalling famines in China in which millions (perhaps 20 million) Chinese people dies of starvation in the 50’s because of Mao’s disastrous economic policies. Will help understand the insanity of what is going on presently in North Korea. Basically, pride, image and totalitarian control matter more than people’s welfare. This book is important for Christians to read in order to understand the Communist mindset and because the very regions where the most deaths occurred are the same regions that are now the revival hot-spots.
* Hudson’s Taylor’s Spiritual Secret.
Anyone desiring a life of cross-carrying, Jesus-following discipleship, walking in close friendship with the Lord, cuddled against his breast – should read this book! Do not attempt to read this book unless you are ready for your life to change forever. You’ll never look at life the same way again! Hudson Taylor is the “grandfather” of mission to China and we believe that we are here partly as a result of his prayers. Some books about Hudson Taylor contains thousands of pages, but this slim volume is easy to read. It takes you from his boyhood in England to his journey to China when he was barely in his 20’s and tells of the many struggles he had. Then it tells of his spiritual journey, how the Lord taught him to deal with stress (of which there was an abundance! Including the massacre of Christians during the Boxer rebellion) by drawing nearer to God. “It does not matter, really, how great the pressure is”, writes Hudson Taylor, “as long as the pressure does not come between you and the Lord. Then no matter how great the pressure is, it only serves to press you closer to his breast.”
- Available at Amazon.com
* The Heavenly Man by Brother Yun with Paul Hattaway.
This book is a “5 boxes of tissues” book. You will start reading on the couch but finish on your knees. If you can get through it without shedding tears, let us know – it would be a truly rare phenomenon. The testimony of Brother Yun was first related in a book published 10 years earlier – Lilies Amongst Thorns.
- available at Amazon.com
* Back to Jerusalem by Brothers Yun, Xu and Wang with Paul Hattaway. This book is a challenge to discipleship in order to complete the Great Commission. It is marching orders for every Christian committed to taking up their cross and following Jesus, and to preaching the Gospel. Warning: this book will permanently evict you from your comfort zone and change your life! It is pretty much the standard operations manual for Autumn Rain International. You will love this book. It will make you cry and laugh and shout hallelujah!
- available at Amazon.com
www.backtojerusalem.com
* Red Moon Rising by Pete Grieg and Dave Roberts.
Pete Greig used to work with Jackie Pullinger in Hong Kong, and has been involved in Bible couriering before. He is the founder of the 24/7 Prayer movement. His inspiration poem, ‘The Vision’, is found in this book which will compel you to prayer and to action. This book is a voice calling God’s people everywhere to intense worship, adoration and intercession, that will be outworked in the Great Commission. The passion for prayer becomes a passion for mission too.
- available at Amazon.com
www.24-7prayer.com
* Daughters of Hope by Kay Marshall Strom & Michele Rickett
Stories of Witness and Courage in the Face of Persecution.
Despite the challenges, God is active and present with His suffering people. Throughout the world today, Christians continue to face instense persecution and Christian women are often the most vulnerable. In Pakistan, girls are kidnapped, tortured and raped. In China, women pastors are sent to labour camps for holding illegal home meetings. In many Muslim countries, a woman can be killed by her brother or father for converting to Christ. In this deeply moving book, Strom and Rickett tell the stories of persecution of Christian women around the globe. From Africa to the Middle East to Asia, they give voice to our sisters persevering under the yoke of oppression and injustice.
" An encouraging, inspiring and challenging collection of testimonies of women who embrace our living hope - Jesus - in nations where bearing the name of Christ can bring rejection,loss, beatings, imprisonment and even death."
- Dr. Tom White, Director, Voice of the Martyrs
- Available from www.cbeinternational.org