Chains of grace

A good family read?

CHAINS OF GRACE
By Peter Jeffery
Day One. 120 pages. £6.00
ISBN 978-1-84625-127-6

This easy to read book is an autobiography of Peter Jeffery who ministered in churches in Wales and England in the 1960s, 70s and 80s, and more recently had an itinerant preaching ministry. He is the author of many books and booklets.

Because the writer is a widely respected Bible teacher and pastor, I feel somewhat ambivalent about reviewing his book in anything other than glowing terms! Although it is an interesting record of his ministry, I am not clear who it is aimed at. Those Christians who have been privileged to enjoy his ministry will be glad to read it, I’m sure, but I am not convinced of its value to the rest of us. The family photos are lovely, the reminiscences informative, the testimonies of converts encouraging, but I did not feel I got to know the author through the book, despite its personal tone.

Anyone preparing to preach could learn some useful lessons from some of the examples in Peter Jeffery’s book. He underlines clearly the need to stick to the gospel of repentance and faith. But, frustratingly, he leaves other things unsaid. For instance, ‘We both knew what the will of God was. There was no need for discussion; it was clear that the Lord wanted us in the ministry’. A young Christian struggling over guidance or wondering whether they are called to a particular area of ministry will want to ask, ‘How did you know? What made it clear?’

Peter’s family and friends will be pleased to read this book; I apologise if my lack of enthusiasm for it is the fault of the reviewer rather than the author!

Jen Watkins,
Longmeadow Evangelical Church, Stevenage

© Evangelicals Now - March 2009
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