SPCK Publishing

'Amazing story and highly recommended for church libraries.' Church Libraries

The remarkable true story of renowned Chinese Christian Brother Yun.

This is the gripping story of how God took a young, half-starved boy from a poor village in Henan province and placed him on the front line for Jesus, in the face of impossible odds. Instead of focusing on the many miracles or experiences of suffering, however, Yun turns his gaze to and centers his story on the character and beauty of Jesus. Interspersed with his personal account are contributions from his wife, Deling, made mostly during her husband's frequent periods of imprisonment.

This dramatic autobiography of one of China's dedicated, courageous, and intensely persecuted house church leaders is a watershed book that will turn the reader to prayer and praise. It deserves comparison with past classics such as Tortured for Christ by Richard Wurmbrand, or the Life of Watchman Nee.

Few of us are superheroes. Most of us are plain ordinary. In spite of this fact God continues to throw the impossible in our direction and, invariably, we shout back 'I can't!' Yet we discover this is the best background against which God can 'do immeasurably more than we can even ask or think' as the apostle Paul put it.

'When We Can't, God Can' sets side by side the stories of men and women from both the biblical narrative and today who said 'I can't', only to go on to accomplish great things for the God who declares his strength to be made perfect in weakness.

Catherine's particular gift is to encourage, and to provide connections between the experience of biblical characters and life today.

Dangerously Alive tells the epic and adventurous biography of Simon Guillebaud and his 10 years of being a front-line evangelist in Burundi - one of the most dangerous countries on earth.

In 1999 Simon went to Burundi with a team of evangelistic, which he pulled together to reach the youths of the streets. Several colleagues died and God honoured their efforts. Hundreds found faith and miracles became almost a daily occurrence.

Simon tells us in the book how he did not expect to survive, however God had other plans. A lady that Simon met called Lizzie was willing to share his tough life: they now have three children.

During his time in Burundi Simon was determined to construct the best conference centre there, which was built without incurring debts or paying bribes.

Simon states -
'The book combines prayer letters, diary entries and reflections from ten years in a war zone, from very humble beginnings to a massively fruitful ministry. It covers witchcraft, miracles, evangelism, Islam, orphans, street kids, aids, business for mission, and stories of triumphant faith in the midst of hideous suffering. It includes dark times and disillusionments. It's real, vulnerable and raw.'

In today's world, where Christian believers are facing increased levels of persecution, we need to understand why Peter calls the Gospel the "living hope" that overcomes.

In a world where false teaching is often accepted and encouraged, we need to understand why Jude "felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God's holy people."

In today's world, where the commentators seem to agree that the Church will soon succumb to its enemies, we need to understand what made John so sure that the Church would "overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world."

These letters could not be more relevant to our generation.

Their message could not be more urgent.

Allow them to show us how the Church can survive and thrive in our day. The Gospel always triumphs...Straight to the Heart of Peter, John and Jude is one of a series of devotional commentaries which allows people to get to grips with each book of the Bible one bite at a time.

Each book contains 60 punchy and relevant chapters, crammed with fascinating and accessible scholarship.

More than any other book in the Old Testament, Isaiah reveals the depth of God's character, the depth of the Gospel and the depth of God's great plan for world history.

Isaiah wants us to know that God is holier than we think (Isaiah 1-12), and to warn us that God is sterner than we think (Isaiah 13-35).

And yet, he also wants to reassure us that God is stronger than we think (Isaiah 40-55), and to call us to action because God is closer than we think (Isaiah 56-66). Isaiah wants his prophecies to kill off our small-minded ideas about God: He wants to open our eyes to the Holy One of Israel; to stretch our minds and blow our senses with the reality of God. Isaiah has good news: God is far bigger than we think.

Straight to the Heart of Isaiah is one of a series of devotional commentaries which allows people to get to grips with each book of the Bible one bite at a time.

Each book contains 60 punchy and relevant chapters, crammed with fascinating and accessible scholarship.

An illustrated years' worth of dog stories with reflections on aspects of God's character, together with verses of Scripture to encourage, inform and possibly even amuse.

It might be that a line from a reflection will lead you towards a deeper concept. It might be that a thought provides a timely contemplation for the day, relevant to your circumstances and concerns. Anyone who has ever owned a dog knows that their company enhances your life. Anyone who has walked day by day in the company of the Almighty knows that His presence transforms your life.

Stephen Poxon combines these truths, reflecting day by day on how the dogs he has known speak to him of some aspect of God's nature. A walk with a dog can easily become a walk with your God too. As a dog devotee who tries to follow God these readings bring reminders of His love. As the seasons change and experiences vary between good, bad and indifferent, our relationship with a loving Heavenly Father remains a rewarding constant.

True Scientists, True Faith: Leading scientist reveal the harmony between their science and heir faith.

Some atheistic campaigners continue to stress that science and faith are incompatible. This is simply untrue, as the distinguished contributors to this volume demonstrate.

Scientists from a variety of different disciplines have provided their own accounts of how their science and their personal faith intersect .They come from a range of Christian backgrounds, but all are orthodox believers.

Contributors include:

• Joan Centrella, NASA
• Francis Collins, Human Genome Project
• Bob White, Professor of Geophysics, University of Cambridge
• Alister McGrath, Professor of Theology, King's College London, and molecular biologist
• Wilson Poon, Professor of Physics, University of Edinburgh

This new edition also includes five contributions from distinguished younger scientists.

Baroness Cox of Queensbury was appointed a Life Peer in 1982. A former deputy speaker of the House of Lords, she is a tireless advocate for international human rights.

She visits the most forgotten people in the world, often in highly dangerous conditions, to carry their stories of abuse and persecution back to the West. She has been under fire many times while taking aid to war victims in Armenia, Sudan and Indonesia. 

Vice President of the Royal College of Nursing, Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons, recipient of the Wilberforce Award and of the Commander Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland, she has also received honorary degrees from universities on three continents. 

Her motivation is profoundly Christian: "Faith without deeds is dead; love without action is dead."

Using the book of James as a road map, this multi-authored work will lead you on an adventure along the narrow road of discipleship. Only the Brave brings both challenge and excitement, while offering plenty of practical tips along the way!

The five authors - Lisa Holmes, Krish Kandiah, Sim Dendy, Cathy Madavan, and Cris Rogers - each explore a chapter of James using these key themes: Face it; Live it; Tame it; Lose it; Finish it. They consider how we can use our heads, hearts, and hands to answer the challenge James, and ultimately Jesus himself, laid down. It takes courage to go beyond simply believing in Jesus: to live him, love him, and share him.

Only the Brave urges us not to play it safe, but to live a life of abundance based on the example Jesus lived out on earth. Only the brave will change the world, and this book will inspire anyone who reads it to do just that.

Christians today are becoming more and more interested in studying the roots of their faith and the development of the church.

Finally there is an accessible but authoritative series every Christian can turn The Monarch History of the Church. Readers will not merely learn the basics but also examines much-ignored themes, such as the role of popular religion, women, and the history of the Bible.

In volume one, The Birth of the Church, Ivor J. Davidson helps readers explores the first 300 years of church history using the most recent biblical research and historical scholarship. This highly readable series also examines recurring problems of the church, like its relationship with the state, other religions, and secularism.

The Monarch History of the Church is an eight-volume series by world-renowned historians and theologians.

Each volume offers an even-handed, comprehensive and readable assessment of the main strands of Christianity within its period.

From a brutal and impoverished background in Reading, England, Tom Hamblin became a believer as a teenager before serving as a missionary in the Far East.

He and his wife Edna spent more than a decade leading expeditions into the heart of Borneo. Gradually they become convinced that the Lord was calling them to minister in the Arabic peninsula: in particular, to carry in thousands of Bibles in Arabic, Farsi and Urdu.

They conveyed shipment after shipment into this region, never losing a copy and surmounting all restrictions. Customs guards turned a blind eye. Tom distributed Bibles very simply: walking around with a bag and waiting for people to ask him what he was doing!

The Islamic world is widely regarded as closed to the gospel, but this is untrue. Tom discovered an extensive network of believers - very few churches, but many clandestine meetings for worship - and a huge hunger for truth.

The book of Job is one of the oldest surviving pieces of writing in human history. It also deals with two of the biggest questions that humans have asked throughout history - what is God like, and why does he allow such suffering in the world?

Allow Phil to take you on a journey through the book of Job to discover insights that have shaped the way that people have viewed God and viewed humanity for over 3,000 years.

God inspired the Bible for a reason. He wants you read it and let it change your life. If you are willing to take this challenge seriously, then you will love Phil Moore's devotional commentaries. Their bite-sized chapters are punchy and relevant, yet crammed with fascinating scholarship. Welcome to a new way of reading the Bible.

Welcome to the Straight to the Heart series.

"To be ignorant of what happened before you were born is to remain a child always," claimed the Roman orator Cicero. Perhaps that's why Genesis is one of the most loved and hated books ever written.

Genesis - the name is simply the Greek word for "Origins" - is the God-inspired history of the world from its inception, and right from the outset it was always controversial.
God inspired the Bible for a reason. He wants you read it and let it change your life.

If you are willing to take this challenge seriously, then you will love Phil Moore's devotional commentaries. Their bite-sized chapters are punchy and relevant, yet crammed with fascinating scholarship.

Welcome to a new way of reading the Bible. Welcome to the Straight to the Heart series.

Daily readings with Scripture verses and prayers, based on the life and ministry of Catherine Booth, wife of General Booth and co-founder of The Salvation Army, often called "The mother of The Salvation Army".

An ardent temperance campaigner, she and William developed together the firm convictions about salvation and poverty that led to the formation of the Army. Catherine Booth was eloquent and compelling in speech, and articulate and devastatingly logical in writing.

At first, Catherine and her husband had shared a ministry as travelling evangelists, but then she came into great demand as a preacher in her own right, especially among the well-to-do. Although it was virtually unknown at that point for women to speak in public, and despite her nervousness, she developed a considerable preaching ministry.

Catherine was both a woman and a fine preacher, a magnetic combination that attracted large numbers to hear her. This book of daily readings introduces us to Catherine's heart and convictions. Here we find the passion, urgency, thought and humanity which drove her on. Each devotional will take one page of the format above. Catherine's succinct, direct style is ideally suited to this form.

"Hymns are prayers in our pockets", writes Pam Rhodes, expressing how hymns help us to respond to God.

Pam brings together reflections on some of her favourite hymns. Drawing on her experience of presenting Songs of Praise and sharing the stories of hymn writers past and present, she helps us to make use of their words in expressing our joys and sorrows to God, and finding hope and inspiration in them.

Whatever our circumstances, these hymns turn us again to the God who created, knows and sustains us with that "love so amazing" described in the immortal words of hymn writer Isaac Watts.

Pam Rhodes has presented the BBC's Songs of Praise for many years. She has written numerous novels, including With Hearts and Hymns and Voices, Fisher of Men, and Casting the Net.

Gifted - women in leadership.

You would be mistaken if you thought this book was just for women.

It looks at the history of women in church life and leadership, at egalitarianism and complementarism and says - women are leaders and so are men, what can we learn from each other ? It's looks at different leadership styles, gifts and skills. And it's also includes other women's stories from Margaret Sentamu and Christy Wimber to a Vicky Thompson and Bev Murrill. There are other contributors.

This book describes how a new understanding of dementia is leading to better care, helping to maintain the personality of the sufferer. It also offers practical, day to day advice from a hands-on perspective, using a narrative structure.

It follows the story of an older couple, Linda and Frank. Frank develops dementia. The story covers the first, early signs and the development of the disease; the couple's struggle to manage and find help, the wife's failing health and the search for a suitable care home, and life after Frank goes to live in the home.

An index at the back of the book allows readers to look up help on specific topics.

Throughout, the narrative keeps a clear Christian perspective. For example, Linda finds that singing familiar hymns as she dusts around the house not only helps her feel better, but lifts Frank's spirits, too, and he will sometimes join in. Each chapter concludes with a short section of devotions for carers and sufferers.

Here are 500 prayers for every occasion. Prayers for relationships; for problems; for saying thank you; for crying out in anger or pain; for times of spiritual dryness; for times of starting again.

They can be used for worship together, and for worship alone. They can open up new possibilities, and help to bring a bad day to a better close.

The 500 prayers will be split into thematic sections, including:

- Seasonal (Including: Christmas, Easter, Pentecost)
- Thanksgiving;
- Praise and worship; School (including exams, bullying, relationship with teachers)
- Relationships (including friendships, sex, and boyfriend/girlfriend)
- Justice (including prayers about the environment, poverty etc)
- Knowing God (including prayers for spiritual gifts)
- Pain and problems (including bereavement and illness).

The prayers themselves will be numbered but continually varied - featuring a mix of ancient prayers (approx 20%), and prayers written by the author and by young people. They are written in a variety of styles, and are preceded by a short introduction where necessary. An extensive index is included alongside features to help young people in developing a prayer life.

In September 2013 Tony Collins took advantage of a long-overdue sabbatical to walk the 490 miles of the Camino, from the French border to Santiago de Compostela in northern Spain.

For decades he had helped to provide the evangelical churches of the world with reading material.

Now he was deliberately stepping out of his comfort zone: a pilgrimage, carrying his pack, through a land whose language he did not speak, into a religious culture far removed from his own, in search of sources of reverence.

He would not walk alone: the Way has many adherents, well over 200,000 completing their Camino during that year. He had expected the Way to be arduous, and so it proved. But he had not expected so bracing an internal journey, his battered soul laid down for examination, past errors offered up for scrutiny. Nor had he expected such moments of intense spiritual encounter; nor so many precious friendships. He discovered, above all, as have many before him, that the Road leaves an indelible mark.

The 'couples culture' is everywhere: church family events, valentine’s day, cinema, popular music and even supermarket offers. Being single can often mean you are singled-out. But Kate wants to encourage Christians, holding singleness up as a unique opportunity for holiness, personal development and Christian living.

In her book, Kate tackles the common challenges many face when reconciling their relational choices:

- Issues of Identity: church roles, social invitations and being whole without an 'other half'
- Finance: learning to live alone when it's cheaper to live with others
- Sexual Pressure: staying pure, in thinking as well as action
- Friendship: how to be 'just friends' with the opposite sex
- Calling: when the cost of obedience is to stay single
- Divorce or Bereavement: learning to be single again

"When we are sold out for God," she says, "then life will be the very best that it can be - whether married or single, with children or without - because we will be on our way to becoming who we were created to be."

Some gay Christians have sought healing. Others have turned away from a conservative interpretation of the biblical texts. Others have remained celibate and invested their lives in Christian service. All have found that their sexual orientation has strongly influenced who they perceive themselves to be, and how others perceive them.

Jeanette believes that to identify herself as 'gay' does not do justice to what God has been doing in her life. As a Christian you can be identified by the fact that you belong to Christ.

Allowing God to dismantle your false identity permits you to live out of your authentic self. As you grow in Christ you are able to perceive true goodness and health; you rid yourself of old habits of thinking; you learn to recognise what is holding others back; and discover new areas of ministry. You do not have to accept the labels that the world - and the church - attach to you.

Jeanette's book is in four parts: Identity; Surrender; Abiding; and Fruitfulness.

The 'Vicar of Baghdad' encounters daily tragedy.

What happened to his faith when a young girl in his congregation died, after much hope and prayer?

He has met the best and worst: articulate, agreeable imams and rabbis; Christian venality and dishonesty. What has kept him willing to see the best? Every time he returns to Iraq he may be saying goodbye to his family for the last time. What do they think?

He suffers from MS. How does he remain cheerful despite his physical weakness, and its progression? What does he say to God, alone in his study, late at night? He has been caught up in momentous events.

Can he see the hand of God? Looking ahead, can he be optimistic about the future? Where are his sources of spiritual energy? He solicits prayer: why?

'Not everything God calls us to do is painless,' he comments. 'Much of my work is simply about showing love to the unlovely.'

We all have tough questions we would like to ask Jesus. Most of us assume we will never get an answer. But Jesus welcomes people's questions.

This book takes your fifteen toughest questions and sees what happens when Jesus places himself right where we want him to answer them. There are no excuses and no evasiveness. Just honest answers.

In 30AD, Jesus of Nazareth looked to have been an utter failure. If you don't understand that, then you will miss the message of the book of Acts. It is a record of survival through adversity, triumph against all odds, and victory snatched from the jaws of defeat. It is the story of a group of ordinary people who turned the tide of history through the power of their extraordinary God.

God inspired the Bible for a reason. He wants you to read it and let it change your life. If you are willing to take this challenge seriously, then you will love Phil Moore's devotional commentaries.

Their bite-sized chapters are punchy and relevant, yet crammed with fascinating scholarship too. Welcome to a new way of reading the Bible with fresh eyes. Welcome to the Straight to the Heart series.

This story of a mother's journey heartache, loss and total reliance on the grace of God is told with remarkable honesty as disappointment turns to devastation, anger and finally to peace and acceptance.

Not just one, but two, of Catherine's three children are born with multiple disabilities. With her pastor husband, they had two daughters who were genetically damaged. Despite faithfully nursing them until they died at the ages of 13 and 10, the girls never developed the ability to recognise their parents.

In time Catherine came to view her family tragedy from a different perspective. In this heartfelt retelling, she shows us the delights as well as the sorrows of her family life; we get to stand Under the Rainbow with her as she experiences the promises of God, which eventually lead to acceptance and freedom.

This book will make you laugh, and it may make you cry, but ultimately it will reveal to you a God who always keeps His promises. More than an autobiography, the book takes a glimpse at issues such as friendship; helping children grieve, and turning pain into gain. It will make you laugh, and it may make you cry, but ultimately it will reveal to you a God who always keeps His promises.

Fresh From the Word: The Bible for a Change will inspire your reading of the Bible in a changing world.

Bringing together top theologians and biblical scholars, creative writers from around the world, cutting-edge church leaders, activists for peace and justice and a range of others, Fresh From the Word offers 365 sets of notes, prayers and suggestions for action on biblical themes. This fresh approach to Bible reading is aimed at new readers of the Bible from across the church, as well as anyone seeking a faithful, creative and challenging conversation with the Bible every day of the year.

Contributors this year include:

• Theologian and pastoral counsellor in Samoa / Alesana Fosi Pala’amo / on a new heaven and a new earth
• New Testament scholar / Catrin Harland-Davis / on love for one another
• Aid and development worker / Mark Mitchell / on rain, storm and sunshine
• Chaplain of Sheffield United FC / Delroy Hall / on facing the darkness
• Entrepreneur, author and speaker / Bola Iduoze / on readings from Luke

The idea that God is interested in us as individuals is an unfamiliar concept to many, while rejection has become a fact of life.

This book encourages the reader to embrace the truth of a personal God; one with whom we do not need to struggle to gain recognition, who intervenes and acts on our behalf. A God who knows our name!

Each of the six chapters contains two sections, dealing with situations of rejection. Each tells the story of an individual from the Bible narrative, explaining how God stepped in to change their situation, thus revealing how important they were to Him. The second, connecting story, tells of a present day individual in similar circumstances and how God also positively intervened in their lives.

These are true stories, using carefully researched material for authenticity and accuracy. The stories are told with remarkable power and conviction.

“Whether you are new to the Christian faith, or have been a believer for many years, this book will inspire and equip you to return to the heart of discipleship. I found myself equipped by this message, to make big changes in lots of small, simple, practical ways that anyone can do.”

Pete Greig, International Director 24–7 Prayer, Senior Pastor Emmaus Rd, Guildford

Life, God, and faith contain endless “Terra Incognita”, or uncharted territory, just waiting to be discovered. You were made to believe, think, and act with a Newlandic spirit, and to live in a Newlandic way. Regardless of whether you greet new things with enthusiasm or a hint of scepticism, God is Newlandic. He wants to lead you to wide open spaces, to break down barriers that limit you, to broaden your horizons. Boppi identifies four Newlandic territories: our image of God, our own hearts, our relationships, and our interaction with the world. As we let go of fear and begin to apply God’s Newlandic principles, we will begin to see a breathtaking panorama.

Bob Hartman's bumper collection of Bible stories is drawn from both the Old and New Testaments.

There are stories for individual and group performances, stories for the major Christian festivals, stories for a variety of age groups. Each story is followed by discussion questions to encourage the audience to delve deeper into each tale.

Incorporating Bob's three books - Telling the Bible, Telling the Gospel and Anyone Can Tell a Bible Story - this extensive resource includes extensive notes on story-telling, essential for any performer. Discover why Bob is in such demand in this entertaining and insightful collection.

A Guide to Growing Up is an engaging, clear, and helpful guide for young people that shines God's light into the topics of puberty, bodies and sex.

It is profoundly positive; about sex, about self, about faith, about relationships, love, boundaries, pleasure, choices - about all the sorts of things that could possibly matter when it comes to growing up. Full of distinctive illustrations that grab the attention, conversations with young people and detailed chapters on hot topics, such as masturbation and same-sex attraction; A Guide to Growing Up is an invaluable tool to support parents in talking to their children, and an essential guide in any young person's journey - a guide they can go back to time and again.

Jeremiah and Ezekiel are among the most neglected treasures of the Bible.

They knew that what they said would be unpopular - both then and now - but they also knew that it was God's Word and the only remedy for the problems that were facing the people of God. As a result, Christians today can still discover what God says to a Church in trouble. The truth isn't always popular, but Jeremiah and Ezekiel show us that it's glorious.

God inspired the Bible for a reason. He wants you read it and let it change your life. If you are willing to take this challenge seriously, then you will love Phil Moore’s devotional commentaries. Their bite-sized chapters are punchy and relevant, yet crammed with fascinating scholarship. Welcome to a new way of reading the Bible. Welcome to the Straight to the Heart series.

The last book of the Bible is not primarily about weird beasts, strange allegories, or encoded detail about the final years of Planet Earth. It's a book which focuses on one great fact which trumps all others throughout the whole of AD history. It's a simple fact, but a fact which changes everything: God is on the Throne of the universe, and he is working out his strategies from the control-room of Heaven.

God inspired the Bible for a reason. He wants you to read it and let it change your life. If you are willing to take this challenge seriously, then you will love Phil Moore's devotional commentaries.

Their bite-sized chapters are punchy and relevant, yet crammed with fascinating scholarship too. Welcome to a new way of reading the Bible with fresh eyes. Welcome to the Straight to the Heart series.

Have you ever wanted to change the world? Authors Gavin and Anne Calver examine our culture and consider where we stand as the Church within it. Drawing on the narrative of Moses, they show how we can be Game Changers.

God is very much at work in the world; He is doing new and different things by the power of His Spirit. The question is; do we want to join Him? If so, it's time to become Game Changers.

Game Changers aims to inspire, equip and transform the lives of its readers, enabling them to go out and change the world in the name of Jesus. The book uses the example of Moses as a core topic, and covers five areas: Encountering God, Engaging your community, Ensemble (pulling together), Equipping the people of God, and Empowering the next generation.

Want a concise and reliable way to share some of the deeper truths of Easter? One Life shows just how revolutionary Jesus sacrifice is in a way that shows just why it is so important.

A great Easter resource for evangelism, One Life can be shared with those looking to learn about the greatest sacrifice ever offered.

This punchy and challenging book aims to provide us with a deeper understanding of Jesus himself. Phil Moore, explains six aspects of Jesus' life and what it means for us: He became flesh; He lived among us; He died a violent death; He rose from the dead; He sat down in heaven; He is coming back.

The biggest question facing all of us is this: Is God for me? The world around us says no, but One Life trumps this with a resounding yes. As one ancient theologian put it, "God became what he was not so that we might become what he is." God has shown us that he is for us by doing something truly astonishing. He has become one of us.

• Do you feel riddled with questions about faith?
• Answering the tough problems of freedom and faith, this book is a thorough deep-dive into doubt
• You'll become assured and confident when discussing determinism

Determined to Believe is written for those who are interested in or even troubled by questions about God's sovereignty and human freedom and responsibility.

John Lennox writes in the spirit of helping people to get to grips with the biblical treatment of this issue for themselves. In this comprehensive review of the topic of theological determinism, Lennox seeks firstly to define the problem, looking at the concepts of freedom, the different kinds of determinism, and the moral problems these pose. He then equips the reader with biblical teaching on the topic and explores the spectrum of theological opinion on it.

Following this Lennox delves deeper into the Gospels and then investigates what we can learn regarding determinism and responsibility from Paul's discussion in Romans on God's dealings with Israel. Finally Lennox tackles the issue of Christian assurance.

This nuanced and detailed study challenges some of the widely held assumptions in the area of theological determinism and brings a fresh perspective to the debate.

Have you ever felt the call of God to go into all the world?

David and Rosemary Harley did, and through simple obedience to that call they were able to have a worldwide impact on the spread of the Gospel. Together in Mission tells their story of leaving the UK to become full-time missionaries in Africa, and via several unexpected events helping to run All Nations College and latterly lead OMF International. Their story is in many ways a remarkable one, but the heart of this book is to inspire anyone and everyone to answer the call of God on their lives and see where it might lead them. It also highlights the continued need for the global Church to work together for the sake of the gospel.

This crisp, clear summary provides a handy reference tool enabling the reader to see how the Bible fits together. Despite its many authors and vast time frame, there is a core narrative that runs throughout the text.

Each of the fifteen chapters focuses on a key theme, taking the reader progressively from Genesis to Revelation. Chapter One covers Genesis 1-11: God has deliberately made us to be creatures dependent on their Creator. Adam and Eve rebelled against His rule, as did Cain. Abel, Seth and Noah submitted to it. This is the big picture of displayed in the Bible: Will you try to be your own god or will you serve the Creator God?

The author's style is punchy and engaging and the text is fast-paced and succinct. It is sure to be a hit with readers keen to get to grips with the wider narrative of the Bible.

Set Me on Fire examines what it means to be filled with the fire of God, as the believers were at Pentecost. For over 20 years Malcolm Macdonald has been thinking about, studying, and teaching on this subject.

Set Me On Fire is aimed at people who have a sense of spiritual hunger and desire for revival, but are not sure what this means, or how to get there. It uses the theme of the fire of God across scripture to paint a picture of what it looks like to be on fire for God.

Author, Malcolm Macdonald covers themes such as holiness, revival, mission, God's presence, prayer, intimacy with God and suffering He helps readers to grasp the challenges of seeking to be a radical disciple, along the way offering personal reflections from his own journey.

Through the Year with John Wesley refreshes and presents some of the theological and reflective writings of the Reverend John Wesley, renowned as 'The father of Methodism'.

A deeply spiritual man of high integrity and indomitable character, Wesley strove to present great Christian truths to the non-churchgoing masses of England throughout the 1700s, making a powerful impact upon the nation; the like of which has rarely been felt since. Each daily reading is a pure extract from Reverend John Wesley's prolific output as an intelligent, thoughtful and passionate writer.

Married to appropriate verses of Scripture and a daily prayer, the words he left behind carry an ancient power.

In One for All: The Implications Malcolm Duncan brings a prophetic call to the Church to be truly one body, and to work towards unity.

In this volume, Malcolm faces up to the challenges and explores principles for being a united Church. Instead of fracturing over secondary issues, Malcolm is passionate that the global Church should celebrate our God-given unity, centred on mission and the primary truths of faith. His call: Let's learn how to be One for All.

Building on the theology explored in his previous volume, One for All: The Foundations, here Malcolm offers the Church a solid grounding in how to apply this.

Highly entertaining account of a young man's first year as a rookie comedian. His comedy is focused on the world rather than the church, and he gigs regularly around the country - average three times a week.

He has a considerable following through the churches but also does a great deal of work through the mainstream comedy circuit. He has performed regularly at all the main Christian events.

"The book represents my first year in the world of comedy. The book will chart the reality of life on the comedy circuit - and how those ups and downs affect my faith, my relationships, my goals etc. It is also about a 25 year old slightly at odds with his environment. The gigs are a stepping stone for observations on life in general. I want to provide good quality humour that faces outwards and talks about life in general, rather than looking inwards and seeing the funny side of church."

Most of us can expect to live longer than our parents, and much longer than our grandparents. But longevity comes at a cost, and many older people are isolated, get depressed, suffer mental and physical ill health, are beset by worries about money and grandchildren, feel lost in a swiftly changing environment.

Louise Morse, who has immense experience of working with older people and those who care for them, is convinced that there is a huge amount that we can all do to live well as we live longer.

The basics are not complex, but they do require thought and preparation, and many of the solutions touch on the spiritual - issues of respect, belief, purpose and outlook. God sees old age as a time of harvest; of fruitfulness and wisdom, of the crown of splendour the Bible describes.

This is a straightforward, wise, practical book which offers real benefits in terms of fruitfulness and cheerfulness - and shows how all of us can continue to play a part in tomorrow's world.

'Straight to the Heart of Solomon' joins the popular series of devotional commentaries for lovers of fascinating Bible study and haters of garbled theology.

The illustrious series of accessible commentaries now includes the wisdom literature: Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Song of Songs. When describing the series, author and London pastor Phil Moore, quotes Winston Churchill after defeating Nazi Germany replying to the claim he was the 'Lion' who won the war: "It was a nation and race dwelling all around the globe that had the lion's heart. I had the luck to be called upon to give the roar."

His wish for readers is to hear the 'roar' of these books so they help you see the Lion and communicate with the Lion's heart. Discover the books of the Bible, the originals authors' intent, the Holy Spirit's work and the voice of God challenging you further in your Christian walk.

International speaker Terry Virgo explains how he discovered the life-transforming truth of God's lavish grace for himself.

This wonderful survey of the impact and outworking of God's grace in the life of the believer will revitalise the most threadbare faith. In his early years as a Christian, Terry Virgo experienced "zealous but rather condemnation-driven Christianity". Then, one day, he explains, "I began to grasp the wonder of God's glorious grace. I gave myself to fresh study, and then began to preach God's grace with new freedom, joy and certainty, having personally experienced the complete transformation of my own Christian life."

You will spend on average six years of your life dreaming. This is more than a simple mental process. It is clear from the Bible that dreams and visions are important ways in which God chooses to speak to people.

This book teaches you how to understand the language of dreams and visions so that you can hear what God is saying to you at night, and during your prayer times.

Love has a Voice and He wants to speak to His modern-day people.Everybody dreams, and there is great interest in dreams. Interpreting dreams for non-Christian people can help them to receive God.

For former biologist Dr Ruth Bancewicz, experiencing scientific research first hand brings a sense of awe that enhances faith.

As a communicator of science and Christianity over the last ten years, she has encountered many others who have similar stories to tell. This book is a distillation of that experience, and an exploration of the common ground that exists between science and faith. Science can be unglamorous and difficult, but people enjoy it. It gives the opportunity to use creativity and imagination, to appreciate the beauty of the natural world, and to experience the wonder and awe of finding out new things - thinking God's thoughts after him.

Through the eyes of the author and six other experienced scientists, God in the Lab shows how science can build faith in God, and gently challenges non-Christians to consider the connections between science and faith.

Here, Malcolm Duncan uses his poem, God Gazer, to entreat us to stop and look into God and to let Him look into us. This is a call to return to our primary calling: to seek and discover God. We see that to be world changers we must learn to gaze into God; that we can have an impact, but only as we look into Him and let ourselves be changed. Once we have seen Him, our passion becomes that others will see Him, connect to the Source, and see their own lives transformed. 

Reflective, engaging and inspiring, this book will help readers connect with the beauty, mystery and wonder of God.

The question of how, and whether, God answers prayer has been intellectually shaped by the rise of science, the problem of evil and the nature of the biblical records.

Scientist and theologian David Wilkinson shares his own struggles with the question of how God answers prayer. Science does not rule out God acting in the universe in surprising ways; the Bible shows a God who acts in the world in response to people's prayers. Yet there is always a mystery about the nature and outcome of prayer, not least in the experience of unanswered prayer.

The author shares his struggles with praying in the midst of his wife's long-term illness. What we believe affects how we pray. God is neither a slot machine, nor an indulgent parent, nor a divine dictator, nor a ruler in absentia.

Questions covered include:

How does God work in a world of science?

Why doesn't He answer more often?

Has God acted in history?

How did Jesus pray?

How, in a world governed by law and grace, should we pray?

Jesus of Nazareth sparked a massive revolution. A lot of people miss that fact. They are so used to the long-haired, blue-eyed, white-robed storybook Jesus that they imagine he was about as tame and domesticated as many of his churches today. But he wasn't. Jesus was a radical, dangerous revolutionary who made big waves and powerful enemies. He was not killed for preaching pithy parables, but because he claimed to be King.

God inspired the Bible for a reason. He wants you to read it and let it change your life. If you are willing to take this challenge seriously, then you will love Phil Moore's devotional commentaries.

Their bite-sized chapters are punchy and relevant, yet crammed with fascinating scholarship too. Welcome to a new way of reading the Bible with fresh eyes. Welcome to the Straight to the Heart series.

The five letters - from 1 Thessalonians to Titus - form a discipleship training school for anyone who wants God to transform their life.

Paul was forced to flee the city of Thessalonica so quickly the he wrote 1 Thessalonians as the first lesson in his discipleship training school, teaching us how to be true converts. He was unable to return so he wrote 2 Thessalonians as a second lesson, which teaches us how to be true warriors.

The last three letters were to individual graduates: Titus lays out the syllabus which we need in order to be truly fruitful; 1 Timothy explains how his young graduate can help the Ephesians to become truly mature in their faith and 2 Timothy acts as Paul's final will and testament in which he assures his converts that they are truly ready to continue the work after his death.

The Straight to the Heart of series of devotional commentaries allow people to get to grips with each book of the Bible one bite at a time. Phil Moore focuses on key sections which together form a useful introduction.

There will be 25 volumes in all, each containing 60 readings. The short chapters are punchy and relevant, yet crammed with fascinating scholarship.

A series of devotional commentaries, which allow people to get to grips with each book of the Bible one bite at a time.

Phil Moore focuses on key sections of each book. There will be 25 volumes in all.

Although the tone is light, the text is full of useful application and backed by substantial scholarship.

Hebrews addresses Jews who were in a dangerous position: a wave of persecution had caused many of them to drift back to the Jewish synagogues. The writer warns them that they are turning their backs on the gospel. Having started out with Jesus, they have started to side with the Sanhedrin who crucified Him. The book of James addresses Jews who understood and believed the Christian gospel but were tempted to compromise on lifestyle.

James is very practical, spelling out how Jesus shows us a better way of living.

Straight to the Heart of Hebrews and James is part of a series of devotional commentaries that allows people to come to grips with each book of the Bible one bite at a time. Each book contains 60 punchy and relevant chapters, crammed with fascinating and accessible scholarship.

When she married a poor African pastor and moved to Malawi, she was horrified by the thousands of orphans on the streets. Today Annie cares for 200 children, some HIV positive, and has built a small town called Kondanani ('Love one another'), with a medical facility, nursery school, primary school, high school and farm. In a country with more than one million orphans Kondanani is an oasis of love. Annie is tough. She has overcome molestation, divorce, carjacking, a broken back, attempted murder, attempted rape, and the death of her beloved husband. Yet she has a vision, and will not be deflected.

This is her story.

If you think that 1 and 2 Corinthians are somebody else’s mail, then you need to think again. Paul wrote them for you and he wrote them for me.

Right from the outset, his goal was far bigger than the city walls of Corinth. He copied them to "all the saints throughout Achaia" and to "all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." They are God's message to believers in any local church in any place at any time. They describe the kind of church God can use.

God inspired the Bible for a reason. He wants you read it and let it change your life. If you are willing to take this challenge seriously, then you will love Phil Moore’s devotional commentaries. Their bite-sized chapters are punchy and relevant, yet crammed with fascinating scholarship.

Welcome to a new way of reading the Bible. Welcome to the Straight to the Heart series.

God is invisible. That's a problem. It was a problem in ancient Egypt and it's still a problem today. In a world where people tend to worship what they can see and feel and taste and touch, an invisible God is all too easy to ignore. That's why we need Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy to show us God's glorious master plan to be seen through his People.

A series of devotional commentaries, which allow people to get to grips with each book of the Bible one bite at a time. Phil Moore will not cover the whole of each book, but rather focuses on key sections which together form a useful introduction.

There will be 25 volumes in all: each contains about 60 readings, but this may vary from book to book. Although the tone is light, the text is full of useful application and backed by substantial scholarship.