Tom Lennie reviews ‘I Found the Key to the Heart of God’, by M. Basilea Schlink (2023)

Margaret Wiltshire reviews two biographies ahead of the Christmas break.

With so much unbelief in the truth of the Bible these days, including within the ‘Church’, it was a treat to read biographies of two Englishmen who have followed the Lord their entire lives.

One is five years older than me, the other five years younger. They have both created lasting legacies in God’s Kingdom; but how different their callings.

'Strands of Destiny' (2017, Sovereign World)

Peter Horrobin began his working life lecturing in college and university, and late moved into publishing. One day, while restoring a broken-down car, God spoke to him: “You could restore this broken car, but I can restore broken lives. Which is more important?” So began Peter’s search for what God meant him to do and finally the opening of Ellel Grange in Lancashire as the centre for a Christian healing ministry in 1986, 16 years after his original call to the healing ministry.

Peter’s model for the healing ministry has been replicated in two other centres in England: Glyndley Manor near Eastbourne, and Pierrepoint near Farnham. Ellel Ministries also has centres in 30 countries round the world; continuing to grow and spread the fragrance of Christ and his healing love. Peter remains international director.

This easy-to-read book about how God prepared Peter for his life’s calling and established his ministry over a period of several decades is encouraging and faith-building

‘Strands of Destiny: How God used a crashed car to envision and build a ministry that touches the nations’ (464pp) is available from the publisher for £14.99. Also on Amazon Kindle. Find out more about Peter’s life and work on his blog.

'A Man After God’s Own Heart' (2017, Eurovision)

David Hathaway’s biography is a much more challenging read. An evangelist from his early years, he found himself unwanted by the Church in this country. In 1959 he heard that there was to be a World Pentecostal Conference in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost in 1961. He wanted to be there, but had no money to buy an air ticket, so he decided to go by car and set up an expedition to take paying passengers.

Everyone said it was impossible, but his own father had taught him ‘that there is no such word in the English language as ‘can’t’’. His was the first overland trip - and it generated so much interest that he was almost forced to set up his own travel company. This led him to several Eastern European countries, through which he had been travelling, taking Bibles to the underground churches.

Eventually he was caught and spent a year in a Communist prison in Czechoslovakia. What he endured. How he learnt to pray! What vision and courage he had after his release, to proclaim the Good News to people. What miracles he has seen as he has evangelised in the former Soviet bloc. And now God has given him a heart for our own nation.

David’s own remarkable story definitely comes with a challenge to the reader. While we are not all called to ‘live on the edge’ in the way that he has, we are all called to deepen our relationship with the Lord and to grow our faith. Are we ready to step out, in our land, and see great things happen for the Kingdom?

‘David Hathaway: A man after God’s own heart’ (254pp, paperback) is written by Katie Morris and Timofey Medvedev. Available from the publisher for £10. On Amazon Kindle for less.

Charles Gardner reviews the newly published autobiography of legendary preacher JC Ryle.

Those wishing to be inspired and encouraged to stand up for Christ in these difficult times would do well to pick up a copy of a new book on legendary 19^th Century preacher JC Ryle.
Bishop J.C. Ryle’s Autobiography: The Early Years (edited by Andrew Atherstone and published by the Banner of Truth Trust) includes some wonderful old photographs, along with a selection of the tracts for which he became famous. It was originally written for his children in 1873 and never intended for publication.

The first Bishop of Liverpool, John Charles Ryle was one of the most influential evangelical clergymen of his time. His tracts were especially pithy, powerful and pungent – so unlike the often ponderous and long-winded literature of his contemporaries.

His voice continues to ring out down the generations, and is a timely wake-up call to a sleeping church.

Heaven to be Gained, Hell to be Shunned

Today, with evidence of apostasy all around as Christians come under tremendous pressure to conform to the world’s pattern of thinking, Ryle will stir your passions to renewed vigour and determination.

The book takes us to the end of his long ministry at Helmingham in Suffolk, where he wrote so many of his tracts. Some are included in the appendix and also speak to our time, like the one he wrote on the 1845 disaster at Great Yarmouth where 75 perished when a bridge collapsed during a circus event.

Today, with apostasy all around, Ryle will stir your passions to renewed vigour.

He reminded his readers in no uncertain terms that there was a Heaven to be gained and a Hell to be shunned, bluntly warning parishioners that they too could have been swept into eternity in a moment. And were they prepared to meet God?

Not Included: Israel’s Re-Gathering

Unfortunately not included in this otherwise fine record of a great ministry are messages on a subject close to his heart – the Bible’s teaching on the much-prophesied return of the Jewish people: first to their ancient land, and then to their Lord and Messiah.

I have visited the church at Helmingham myself and I quote from one of the many tracts I picked up there, written in the mid-19^th Century: “I believe that the Jews shall ultimately be gathered again as a separate nation, restored to their own land and turned to the faith of Christ (Messiah).”

And so it was, less than 50 years after he died in 1900, that the modern state of Israel was born! And a growing number of its people have since acknowledged Jesus as their Messiah.

Read the book, and stir your faith!

‘Bishop J.C. Ryle’s Autobiography’ (359pp, cloth-bound, 2017) is available from the publisher for £12.40 + P&P.

'A Wondering Jew', by John Fieldsend (Radec Press, 2014, 181 pages, available from CWI Bookroom for £8.99 + postage)

Here is an autobiography to warm the heart, a personal story of a life under threat in its early stages and yet which, under God's grace and guidance, has been long and fulfilled.

John Fieldsend was one of the Kindertransport children rescued from Nazi tyranny by Nicholas Winton. Born in Czechoslovakia and brought up in Germany during Hitler's rise to power, early pressures forced his family back to Vitkov in their native land- but there was to be no respite. Following the failure of the Evian-les-Bains conference in July 1938 to offer increased help for Jewish refugees, Nazi confidence and aggression grew. Before long, John was on his way to England.

Here, a long and eventually fruitful life started to take shape: education, marriage, ordination and ministry, especially in the area of Jewish-Christian relations where John was often a pioneering force. The drama unfolds in a way that demonstrates God's sovereign hand at work. He confesses that he did not experience a dramatic calling to full-time Christian ministry, but "the seed had been lodged in my mind while still in the RAF; it was growing and would not go away." (p63). It took others to reassure him of the reality of his calling, which he then readily followed.

Whilst John's story is enlightening and encouraging, its force lies in his admission of an identity crisis due to his Jewish background"

As well as providing enlightening historical details and encouraging personal memories, so clearly related, the force of his story lies in his admission of an identity crisis. The issue of being Jewish and Christian was one that "had pierced right into the heart of my being and pulled me into a deep identity crisis, which took the form of a long dark tunnel. I was dominated by wondering, 'Who am I?' and could find no answer." (p110). His honesty is refreshing, as he realises that such confusion would reduce his effectiveness to serve God. But eventually he came out of that tunnel as realisation dawned that rather than being a Christian with a Jewish background, he was a Jewish Christian, a Messianic Jew. God had set him on a new path that would help many others, a path that he continues to tread now, well into his eighties.

The rest of his story resonates with gratitude and a desire to live by faith, and is one that will bring hope and encouragement to others. Although the paragraphs are often overlong, the book is set in a clear, well-spaced type which helps readability. Overall, here is an account of a spiritual journey which should make us wonder afresh at the purposes of our loving heavenly Father.