From Jerusalem to Irian Jaya: A Biographical History of Christian Missions

This is an excellent and engaging book about the history of Christian missions. It is composed of short biographies of missionaries (a few pages each) arranged in topical chapters (about certain areas of the world, or movements). This format makes it easy to pick up the book and read a few pages or chapters anywhere in the book. The book covers missions from all over the world and from every denomination. It is refreshing to read the biographies because they show both sides of each missionary. Tucker writes about the accomplishments as well as the flaws of everyday missionaries and well-known heros alike. I read parts of the original edition of this book earlier this year, which prompted me to buy my own copy. However I was disappointed to find some changes in the new edition. I don't have the original edition now, so I can't pinpoint all of the changes. I do know that a chapter I was looking forward to reading (about Bible translation) was gone. Even so, this is an excellent book and I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in learning more about the history of missions. It would be a great addition to any church (or personal) library.

This is an excellent book to portray where missions began and where it is going. It is a book that my husband uses in the college classroom and is also a book that we used for devotions in our home for our older children. The long term commitment of missionaries of past eras has spoken loud and clear to us that today's method of "doing missions" has drastically changed, at times for the better and at times not so. All laymen should read this book to see what obstacles those of the past overcame. We have the same God and similar or even greater challenges in missions today but with the promise that greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world!

I have read, reread, and taught from this book and it is an inspiring discourse on how God uses ordinary men and women to advance the gospel. I find it very interesting to see the progression of Christianity into the modern world and to imagine our own personal impact on our generation. It is an easy read that can be read by chronological order, by geographic regions, or by individual missionaries. Every time I pick up the book I am inspired to live a radical life of love in this broken world.

This book was required for a college class at Moody Bible Institute (www.moody.edu). The author did a great job of caputring some of the interesting missionary characters over the years. No life is glossed over with flowery words or unrealistic statements. The good and bad facts are presented here. Definitely an interesting read if you like history and missions. Good to read in short spurts as its set up similar to an encyclopedia. You can look up your missionary, read his or her blurb, and then skip around without missing much. I cannot think of a missionary that Ruth Tucker missed. She did a great job researching this book. Many missionaries I had never heard of with awesome stories are recorded here.

Enjoy a well written text book of Christian missions, from the eariliest beginnings to modern history. From the Apostle Paul, to Jim Elliott, each story will help you understand what the mission field is all about. It is so exciting to read about Patrick becoming a missionary to Ireland or Hudson Taylor going to China. It is exciting to read about David Livingston exploring Africa and William Carey in India. The book has exciting sections about Medical Missions, Single Women Missionaries, Twentified Century Martyrs and my favorite Missionary Aviation. Reading this masterpiece, you will learn by about these great men and women of God, how you too, can be an effective missionary. Learn about their trials they had to experience. From the South Seas, the Americas and to the remotest places on earth these missionaries traveled. Some lived long lives and others died for the cause of Christ. Some were even eating by cannibals. You can learn alot from their lives. This is must reading for every Christian in the world!!!