This one-volume history of Christian missions is, in one sense, comprehensive. Neill’s grandparents and parents had served as missionaries in India, bequeathing to him an insider’s knowledge of missionary life and work, which he augmented by serving in India with the Church Missionary Society for twenty years. His narrative reads like a story rather than a mere chronicle.

Hattaway calls Shandong “The Revival Province,” because it has witnessed so many massive turnings to God, often spilling over into other parts of China. Other provinces have more Christians and a greater percentage of Christians, but none has witnessed revivals as Shandong has.

The “bottom line” is that almost all strategies and methods of reaching Chinese and others worldwide with the gospel will have to be based on a world without the Pax Americana that has prevailed since the end of World War Two and without the same level of American personnel or financial resources.

Though published more than twenty years ago, this massive compendium of information remains an essential resource for all students of Christian missions, world Christianity, and world history.

Most churches and Christians do not emphasize deep transformation by God through the Holy Spirit. They communicate the facts of the faith well enough, but fail to address the deep idols of the heart that make us vulnerable to besetting sins, addictions, and despair when real trouble comes.

Though I cannot recommend that anyone purchase or read this book (see my Global China Center review for the reasons why), I do think that it contains some useful information and analysis.