With Flaming Zeal
By Lionel Fitzsimons
Ambassador Publications. 140 pages
ISBN 1 84030 019 1
Although there is nothing original about writing brief life-stories of remarkable missionaries, those who read them will inevitably be challenged by lives of real sacrifice. It could be argued that in our far too comfortable age, such challenges are needed more urgently.
The reader of this book will find simple and easy to read treatments of an unusual group of foreign missionaries: Mary Slessor, James Gilmour, James Chalmers, Adoniram Judson, Henry Merriweather, Ian Keith-Falconer, Amy Carmichael and Allen Gardiner. The only link between them appears to be real sacrifice to the cause of making Christ known - on a long-term basis. So we move from the comparatively well-known like Judson and Amy Carmichael to the newly written up Henry Merriweather (1884-1977).
The task is accomplished effectively and the challenge to lifelong missionary service at home or abroad is strongly asserted.
The only valid criticism is the total lack of illustration. A few sketch maps showing key places, plus either photographs or line drawings of the missionaries would have helped readers to identify more closely with their labours. If there is a second edition, perhaps the publishers will consider this point.
The stories, though brief, could provide preachers and others who give talks with illustration, as inevitably there are elements of high adventure and acts of faith which illuminate biblical themes. The book is commended as suitable for a wide range of readers from teenagers onwards.
