EMQ » April–June 2021 » Volume 57 Issue 2
By Arthur Lin
Studies in Chinese Christianity Series
Pickwick Publications, 2020
188 Pages
US$24.00
Reviewed by Will Brooks, Professor of New Testament and Missions at two seminaries in Asia.
Mission studies often focus on the new and trendy in order to advance the gospel. But there is also much to be learned from former generations, including their choice of strategies and the challenges they faced. In this way, Arthur Lin has provided the church a great service through this book as he details the work of taking the gospel to one of the historically least receptive provinces in China.
Lin begins by providing an overview of Guangxi Province, including its setting and history to orient the reader to the stories and the work of missionaries which follow. The next four chapters present a historical overview of mission efforts, starting with the Catholics who first arrived in the late sixteenth century and continuing through the departure of missionaries in the mid-twentieth century.
After this historical survey, Lin addresses a range of topics. These issues include inter-societal relations, notable missionaries, ministries to minorities and students, missionary methods, challenges, and receptivity. These chapters focus primarily on the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the period when there were the most missionaries in Guangxi. This organization of topics is very helpful as it allows Lin to cover many topics in a short space.
The most enjoyable of these topical sections focuses on notable missionaries. Lin recounts the stories of Robert Jaffray, Rex Ray, Rhoda Watkins, Walter Oldfield, and Bill Wallace. It is fascinating to read their personal accounts of being raided while on river journeys, being taken captive by bandits, and surviving bombings during World War II. Yet they continued to find ways to make the gospel known. These stories of lesser-known missionary heroes will inspire all who read them to more fervently proclaim the good news.
Lin’s book is well-researched, well-written, and easy to read. This book would be especially beneficial as a supplemental text in a history of missions or introduction to missions course. It would also be helpful for those who desire to serve in Asia, providing a strong historical understanding of the challenges and opportunities associated with taking the gospel to this part of the world.
