I received this book as a LibraryThing Early Reviewer. The book is a collection of conversion stories of sixty important and influential Christians, from the Apostle Paul and Constantine to Alvin Plantinga and Bono (a member of the band, U2). In general, each story opens with a short introduction of the person (who he/she is/was, a short background, and his/her key accomplishments, etc.). The interesting thing is that the main "stories" are reprints of excerpts of autobiographies or books and articles about the featured person. This feature makes the book a resource of primary or secondary sources. Good scholarly attempt for the original author and the current editor indeed.
To be honest, it would be dry reading if you attempt to read the book in one or two sittings. To use the book more effectively, you would either read it for research, or as daily devotion. Many of the stories are about 4 to 7 pages in length -- makes the articles quite readable for daily reading.
I should also point out an interesting chapter. There is a chapter on "a Chinese Christian" -- an anonymous person in the house church movement in China. A no-name, "ordinary" Christian who practices his faith but remain anonymous because of the fear of persecution, the story reminds me of millions of other Christians in the worldwide Church who are persecuted. Good inclusion!
John M. Mulder. Finding God: A Treasury of Conversion Stories. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company (2012), Paperback, 418 pages.
To be honest, it would be dry reading if you attempt to read the book in one or two sittings. To use the book more effectively, you would either read it for research, or as daily devotion. Many of the stories are about 4 to 7 pages in length -- makes the articles quite readable for daily reading.
I should also point out an interesting chapter. There is a chapter on "a Chinese Christian" -- an anonymous person in the house church movement in China. A no-name, "ordinary" Christian who practices his faith but remain anonymous because of the fear of persecution, the story reminds me of millions of other Christians in the worldwide Church who are persecuted. Good inclusion!
John M. Mulder. Finding God: A Treasury of Conversion Stories. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company (2012), Paperback, 418 pages.