They Were Christians: The Inspiring Faith of Men and Women Who Changed the World

by Cristóbal Krusen

What do Abraham Lincoln, Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Louis Pasteur, Frederick Douglass, Florence Nightingale, and John D. Rockefeller Sr. all have in common? They all changed the world--and they were all Christians. Now the little-known stories of faith behind twelve influential people of history are available in one inspiring volume.

They Were Christians reveals the faith-filled motivations behind some of the most outstanding political, scientific, and humanitarian contributions of history. From the founding of the Red Cross to the family crisis that drove America's favorite president to his knees and cracked his religious skepticism, the fascinating stories of these faithful history-makers will inspire, encourage, and entertain readers of history and biography.

Genres: History, Christian, Biography, Nonfiction, Audiobook, Religion, Christian Living

224 pages, Paperback

Published May 3, 2016

Reviews

[Kim Wells · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book over a period of about three days. It was just that good. Like a mini history lesson combined with an inspirational sermon, They Were Christians by Cristobal Krusen was both motivating and informative. It reads like a collection of short stories, each one standing on their own. The author has such a talent for storytelling that I felt drawn into the lives of each of these people, but he also has obviously done extensive research on each of the subjects. Including well known historical figures such as Frederick Douglass, Florence Nightingale, Abraham Lincoln and Charles Dickens as well as the lesser known Dag Hammarskjold, Jen-Henri Dunant and Chiune Sugihara this book truly serves to convince the reader that absolutely anyone can make a significant contribution to the world if only they will commit their lives and hearts to the cause of Christ.

I had just finished reading “Letters to a Birmingham Jail” before I read this book, so the account of Frederick Douglass was particularly moving to me, though ALL of the stories in this book were extremely well written and affected me deeply.

Each chapter begins and ends with the author’s own stories and thoughts on each of the men and women of faith. His thoughts after the story of John D. Rockefeller, Sr. were particularly poignant and it was obvious that he was personally inspired by the story of Charles Dickens.

They Were Christians is filled with stories of regular people who faced enormous obstacles yet, with a foundation of faith in Christ, overcame those obstacles and went on to make an incredible impact on the world. Stories of perseverance, faithfulness, love, kindness and sacrifice. Stories like how Charles Dickens wrote out The Life of Our Lord specifically to teach his kids and grandkids about Jesus. Or how John D. Rockefeller, Sr. gave away half of his fortune and started multiple schools, hospitals and churches all over the world. Or how Florence Nightingale was willing to give up a life of luxury and excess to pursue her passion for taking care of the ill and suffering, ultimately pioneering a new standard in nursing and contributing greatly to the field of medicine as a whole. It is impossible to read this book and not be inspired to stand up, step out and faithfully pursue your own God-given task in this world.

Some of my favorite quotables from this book:

“Slowly the truth began to permeate Fyodor’s soul – all men are equally men; all men are made in the image of a loving God. The goal of universal brotherhood is not to be attained by class warfare but by mutual love and forgiveness.” (chapter on Fyodor Dostoyevsky, pg 101)

From the chapter on Abraham Lincoln, regarding his thoughts about the Bible: “It seems to me that nothing short of infinite wisdom could by any possibility have devised and given to man this excellent and perfect moral code. It is suited to men in all conditions of life, and includes all the duties they owe to their Creator, to themselves, and to their fellow man.” (p131)

From the chapter on Joseph Lister and Louis Pasteur:

A quote from Louis Pasteur: “One does not ask of one who suffers: What is your country and what is your religion? One merely says: You suffer, that is enough for me.” (p145)

The author’s thoughts on Lister and Pasteur: “They were individually gifted by God and uniquely motivated by his Spirit to work for the common good. All of us can be forever thankful for the tenacity they displayed, the discoveries they shared, and the indelible and life-changing contributions they made in this world.” (p160)


Disclosure: I received a copy of this book through Baker Books Bloggers. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

[Jeffrey Romine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inspiring stories! Delightful reading.

[Hannah Schmidt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was not only inspiring but, also challenging. In fifty years or so what will be remembered of us? Our car, house, or money? I hope it will be our kindness, forgiving spirt, and our fortitude for our Lord Jesus Christ. I enjoyed throughly learning about these men and women who have given more then we could imagine.

[Mary Lou · Rating 5 out of 5]

SOUNDBITE
“The twelve individuals I have gotten to know through writing this book have become personal friends. They are highly regarded today for their contributions to science and medicine, literature and philanthropy, government and diplomacy. Unfortunately, people seldom—if ever—remember them for the rich storehouses of faith that gave their lives meaning and purpose in the first place. It is time to change that. It is time to let the record show that They were Christians” (They Were Christians: The Inspiring Faith of Men and Women Who Changed the World, Cristobal Krusen, Baker Books, 2016, p. 12).

REVIEW
The author of They Were Christians is a global Christian due to his family background and experience living and working in Latin America, Australia, and the United States. Cristobal Krusen’s book reflects his global understanding. He writes about people known and unknown, including as Dostoyevsky (from Russia), Frederick Douglass (African-American slave), Frank Pais (from Cuba), Dag Hammarskjold (from Sweden), Florence Nightingale (from England), and Chiune Sugihara (Japan). His description of each person’s contribution to the world and walk of faith is inspiring. It is noteworthy that many of his models had sought God for their purpose in life. The faith journey of these history makers needs to be told. This book is worth the read. Dr. ML Codman-Wilson, Ph.D., 5/13/16


EXCERPTS ARE FROM A FEW OF THE KNOWN AND RELATIVELY UNKNOWN PEOPLE KRUSEN HIGHLIGHTS:
Dag Hammarskjold:
“As I consider Dag’s life and legacy now, I realize that one of the greatest statesmen of the 20th century (indeed of any century) has been my brother in the Christian faith. He left me—and the world—a shining example of what it means to serve others and ‘so fulfill the law of Christ’ (Galatians 6:2) (They Were Christians: The Inspiring Faith of Men and Women Who Changed the World, Cristobal Krusen, Baker Books, 2016, p. 16)
[During his lifetime, Dag wrote a manuscript called Markings]. Dag describes his journal as ‘a sort of white book concerning my negotiations with myself—and with God’…Dag was using the diplomatic term for an official government report, a position paper bound in white…What made this document so compelling was the identity of its author, the many world figures he had known, and his sudden untimely death…The diary contained nearly 200 typed written pages…
When Dag was asked to take the post of Security Council Secretary-General, he told them ‘he needed to sleep on it.’ Two days passed before he cabled the Security Council with his answer. After admitting to ‘strong feelings of personal insufficiency,’ he nonetheless concluded that ‘he could not refuse to accept the task imposed upon him.’ What the world did not know—indeed what most of his friends did not know was that Dag, always an intensely private individual, had prayed years before for God to give him a life defining task…
He established a Secretariat of nearly four thousand administrators and drafted new regulations defining their responsibilities. He also found ways to trim the budget. Dag hoped to create not only a well-oiled machine but also a community of like-minded souls, men and women who would work tirelessly for peace on earth and goodwill toward all…As Dag wrote in his diary, ‘in our era the road to holiness necessarily passes through the world of action’…On his election to a second term he wrote: ‘the best and most wonderful thing that can happen to you in this life is that you should be silent and let God work and speak’” (pp. 21-24, 29, 32).

Frederick Douglass:
As a young slave, “he had already seen more in his few years living in Talbot County, Maryland, than any child should—arbitrary and brutal whippings, children forcibly separated from their mothers, unprosecuted cold-blooded murders. He had suffered from hunger and cold all of his life. He had never owned a pair of trousers or shoes and slept on a mud floor at night…He wrote later, ‘the frequent hearing of my mistress reading the Bible soon awakened my curiosity in respect to this mystery of reading, and roused in me the desire to learn. Having no fear of my kind mistress, I frankly asked her to teach me to read and without hesitation, the dear woman began the task’…Her husband, however, did not share his wife’s excitement. Apart from the fact that it was illegal to teach a slave to read, there were the inevitable and undesirable consequences should Freddy actually gain an education. Mr. Auld forbade his wife to ever teach Freddy again and considered the matter settled…It was not. As the years passed, Frederick took advantage of every opportunity to build his vocabulary and increase his knowledge…He continued to read everything he could find. He learned of the abolitionist movement by reading The Columbian Orator and by weighing the many compelling arguments against slavery that were presented in public debates. He also maintained a keen interest in the Bible. He recounts in his autobiography how he lovingly rescued torn fragments of the Bible from the gutters of Baltimore streets, washing and drying the pages so that he ‘might get a word or two of wisdom’”(pp. 36, 37, 39).
“Frederick yearned for a spiritual mentor, and his prayers were answered in the form of a free, elderly black man named Charles Lawson…Uncle Lawson told his young disciple that the Lord had shown him there was a great work for Frederick to do and he must prepare for it. He would one day preach the gospel to the entire world. ‘But how can that be?’ asked Frederick. ‘Trust in the Lord,’ Uncle Lawson said kindly, ‘He’ll bring it to pass in his own good time.’ ‘But, Uncle, don’t you see, I’m a slave, a slave for life.’ The old man reached out and touched Frederick on the shoulder. ‘The Lord can make you free, my dear. All things are possible with Him. You only need two things…Have faith in God, Frederick, and ‘ask and it shall be given to you.’ If you want liberty, child, then ask for it in faith’…Frederick believed God would deliver him from bondage. But it would not happen overnight” (pp. 40- 41).

Florence Nightingale:
“Flo longed for a purpose in life. She wanted to make a difference in the world. And why not? She possessed a keen mind, physical courage, and a first-rate education. Through her family connections she had access to the nation’s highest echelons of power. But to what end? Girls in nineteenth-century England, even those of the privileged upper classes, had no pathway to a career outside the confines of hearth and home. A woman’s place—her only place—was with her family… ‘On February 7, 1837,’ she wrote in a private note, ‘God spoke to me and called me to His service.’ Flo was in the habit of praying and communing daily with God. But this was something else, something distinct…At the age of twenty-five, when Flo had decided to become a nurse, she asked her parents for permission to work at nearby Salisbury Infirmary. However, in nineteenth-century England, nursing occupied a rung in society roughly equivalent to that of a streetwalker. Only people from the lowest class of society took up such an occupation. Hospitals were known to be places rank with disease and dirt more than places of healing. To cope with the degrading environment, nurses often drank too much and were open to sexual advances by patients and doctors alike…People thought Flo was mad to consider such a pursuit. Flo, however, was not one to give up easily. God had spoken to her years before. She was sure of it. How could she disobey the heavenly vision?” (pp.61, 63-65).
During the Crimean War (1853-1856) “reporter William Howard Russell, from the Times of London, wrote: ‘Not only are sick and wounded soldiers kept, in some cases, for a week without the hand of a medical man coming near the wounds,’ not only are they left to aspire in agony, unheeded and shaken off, it is found that the commonest of appliances of a workhouse sick-ward are wanting’…[By then Flo had completed her nurses training.] She was galvanized into action. She became the Superintendent of the Female Nursing Establishment of the English General Hospitals in Turkey. She mandated new standards of care,…lobbied through her contacts back in Britain for funds to purchase more fresh food and medical supplies, [and worked among the sick and dying tirelessly.]…When the other nurses retired for the night, Flo would continue making her rounds, typically carrying a lamp in front of her. She would go from bed to bed checking on each man, voicing a comforting word, whispering a prayer. The soldiers adored her; they knew she was their champion and would fight for them to receive the best care humanly possible. They began calling her ‘the lady with the lamp’…All agreed that Florence Nightingale was the only true hero to emerge from the Crimean War” (pp. 68-71).


Frank Pais:
“Frank Pais was a true hero of the Cuban revolution and an evangelical Christian…He didn’t oppose Batista (the Cuban Dictator) because he had turned from his Christian faith but because he believed it was what his faith demanded of him…He saw his fellow Cubans suffering cruel oppression, many facing torture and murder at the hands of Batista’s secret police, and decided to do something about it…He formed the National Revolutionary Action Party (or ANR). It consisted initially of underground cells of students and young working-class folk in Santiago de Cuba. Under Frank’s leadership, these youthful revolutionaries (their average age was 17) began storing weapons and medical supplies for a future uprising. They also organized mass street protests and published a small bulletin countering Batista’s censored version of the news…Frank held to the view that tyranny should be resisted on the basis of personal conscience; that a godly man should ‘defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed’ (Psalm 82:3)…The following year in April, Frank and his group clashed with the military and police in Santiago de Cuba. The next year he took the lead in organizing an uprising meant to coincide with Fidel Castro’s group landing on Cuban soil…Frank’s uprising went off as planned on November 30, but Castro’s group did not reach the shores of Cuba until two days later and were very nearly wiped out…Batista now readied his long knives to end the rebel resistance once and for all…In June 1957, police arrested, tortured, and killed Frank’s youngest brother, seventeen-year-old, Josue. His body was dumped on the streets of Santiago de Cuba. A month later Frank suffered the same fate…It is worthy speculating what might have happened had Frank lived to see Batista’s defeat and the Revolution’s victory in 1959…Would he, instead of Castro, have become Cuba’s leader? If he had, …likely he would have worked as tirelessly to reinstate the Cuban Constitution of 1940 as he had labored to unseat Batista (pp. 78, 82-87).

Jean-Henri Dunant:
“Jean-Henri Dunant was raised in one of the leading families of hard-working and philanthropic Protestant Geneva during the time of the Reveil, a spiritual awakening in Switzerland marked by widespread religious fervor and works of public charity. His parents…were active in helping the sick and poor as well as orphans and prison parolees…(In Henri’s youth), he spent much of his free time visiting prisons and doing social work…At age thirty-one years he was living two thousand miles west of the Suez canals in the French colony of Algeria.” [His business was facing economic ruin because of the lack of water rights given the French colony.] “As far as he could tell, there was but one solution to his predicament—obtaining a personal audience with the French emperor Napoleon III, and making a case for financial support from the royal family…He wrote a personal attribute to Napoleon entitled The Empire of Charlemagne Restored, bound the book in handsome leather to present to the emperor in person and set sail for Europe. Meanwhile , Napoleon had declared war on Austria…and won victories over the Austrians at Montebello, Palestro, and Magenta…On June 24, 1859, the decisive Battle of Solferino was fought” (pp.111, 108-109).
“The toll of the battle was immense—forty thousand soldiers dead or wounded, houses demolished, farmland and orchards destroyed, thousands of horses and mules killed, the populace traumatized. Henri, meanwhile, certain he had at last caught up with the Emperor Napoleon, rolled into Solferino that night by private coach, dressed nattily in a white linen suit to stay cool in the summer heat. To his chagrin, he learned that the emperor had already moved on. Due to the late hour, he decided to wait for morning to continue his pursuit…At daybreak, Henri approached the battle field for a closer look. The terrible carnage of war was evident everywhere…The devastation Henri witnessed was shocking…The battle was over, the damage was done, and he had not traveled this great distance to embroil himself in the affairs of warring nations. He had a mission to accomplish, a somber responsibility to investors (an agribusiness firm in northern Algeria). At least, that is what his head told him. The clear and emphatic voice of his heart, however, presented him with a much different course of action… Instead of stepping over the dead and dying in dogged pursuit of the French emperor, Henri decided to stay and serve the weak and wounded at Solferino…Because he spoke French, Italian, and German fluently, Henri was able to moderate between all sides, ensuring that every soldier received attention regardless of nationality…He cleansed and dressed wounds, moistened parched lips with drinks of cold water, wrote letters home to the families of dying soldiers, and gave spiritual counsel when asked…In 1861, Henri sat down to write A Memory of Solferino, feeling throughout that he was ‘inspired by the breath of God’…The seed of an idea that had been formulating for the previous two years was now finding expression in the last chapter of his book. He wrote, ‘Would it not be possible in time of peace and quiet to form relief societies for the purpose of having care given to the wounded in wartime by zealous, devoted and thoroughly qualified volunteers?’…The book caught the attention of Europe’s ruling elite and…Geneva’s leading citizens. On February 7, 1863, the Geneva Society for Public Welfare appointed a committee of five, including Henri, to examine the possibility of putting his plan into action. They formed the International Committee for Relief of the Wounded…approved the 1864 Geneva Convention…and adopted as its emblem the inverse of the Swiss flag—a red cross on a white background…When he was honored in 1901 with a first ever Nobel Peace Prize for his role in founding the International Committee of the Red Cross, the ICRC’s official congratulations included these words: ‘Without you, the Red Cross, the supreme humanitarian achievement of the nineteenth century would probably have never been undertaken’” (pp. 109, 112-114, 116).

Chiune Sugihara:
“I have learned a number of things about Japan and its history over the years, but until recently I never knew about one of its most heroic sons—Chiune Sugihara. His heroism is still largely unrecognized, but if ever anyone embodied the best and noblest aspects of Japanese culture and tradition, it would be this man….In the fall of 1918, on his own initiative, Chiune began attending Waseda University in Tokyo…While there, he again broke with family tradition and entered Yu Ai Gakusha (Brotherly Love Learning Association), a Christian fraternity founded by a Baptist missionary to Japan. While at Waseda…he answered a classified ad for candidates interested in a diplomatic career with the Japanese Foreign Ministry. He passed the difficult entrance exam and was assigned to the national language institute in Harbin, China, near the border with the Soviet Union. While at the institute, Chiune became fluent in Russian and German…He worked his way through the diplomatic ranks…and in March 1939, he was sent to Kaunas, Lithuania, to run the newly open Japanese consulate…He and his wife learned firsthand from acquaintances in Kaunas’ Jewish community of the atrocities being committed by SS-run killing squads which were ‘Jew hunting’ in newly conquered Poland, murdering thousands of innocent civilians and destroying Jewish businesses and synagogues. It’s important to remember that during Hitler’s awful rise, the Japanese, by and large, did not share the anti-Semitism of the Axis allies” (pp.162, 165-167).
“On July 27, 1940…a crowd of people began gathering outside the gate surrounding the Japanese consulate…Chiune went outside and talked with leaders of the group and discovered they were mostly Polish Jews looking for a way out of Lithuania. Many of them carried visas provided by the Dutch consulate but needed additional transit visas through the Soviet Union and Japan to ensure their escape…Issuing visas to Polish Jews would likely be deemed a hostile act toward Nazi Germany…It was a sleepless night for Chiune…It seemed that many cares for the Jewish people occupied his mind. The next morning, Chiune sent the following cable to the Foreign Ministry in Japan: ‘Hundreds of Jewish people have come to the consulate here in Kaunas seeking transit visas. They are suffering greatly. As a fellow human being [and a Christian], I cannot refuse their requests. Please permit me to issue visas to them’…[Three times he sent his request to the Foreign Ministry in Japan. Each time the answer was no.] With his wife’s full support, he made the decision to write the visas on his own authority: ‘I may have to disobey my government, but if I don’t, I will be disobeying God’…When he returned to Japan in 1946, he was dismissed from his job and left to fend for himself…For the next sixteen years he worked in relative obscurity…The years passed, and it seemed that no one much remembered the lifesaving actions he had taken in Kaunas during those fleeting summer days of 1940…
[Yet,] All told, he issued 2,140 visas (many of which were for entire families). The Simon Wiesenthal Center estimates that six thousand people were saved because of Chiune’s intervention, while another forty thousand descendants are alive today because of his resolve to obey God rather than man” (pp. 167-174).

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this set of short accounts about how the lives of prominent and influential figures and their relationship with Christianity. Of particular interest are the stories of lesser known figures such as Dag Hammarksjold and Chiune Sugihara, of whom I was reading for the first time.

Krusen opens and closes his summary of each person’s life with personal anecdotes that tie the eclectic group of historical figures together. The stronger anecdotes at the beginning of the book relate to the author’s own spiritual journey and conversion. In the latter part of the book, the connections are more trivial, but serve to explain the author’s interest in each subject.

What I would have liked to see in the book was a deeper consideration of the personal faith of the individuals presented. It may be that there simply is not sufficient documentation for those who did not often refer in writing to their personal faith. For some, their individual convictions regarding saving faith are made clear. For others, the author never reaches that far, perhaps wisely.

They Were Christians is a well-written, well-organized book that I would recommend to anyone with an interest in historical figures that wants to brush up on the background of eleven important individuals while considering the role of Christian ideals and, likely, personal faith in their lives.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was very, very, well researched. I appreciated the author's sharing of how he first came to hear of these people's faith (often, before he found his own)--

Florence Nightingale's story was very, very impressive along with the friendship of Dr. Lister and Louis Pasteur, and their understandings that changed. However, there were a few others I never would have assumed were believers without reading some of their writings, their letters, and the statements of other who knew them. Charles Dickens, for one, who wrote the story of Christ for his children and read it to them every Christmas.

All of these stories were moving because they showed God's people, often sacrificing their own happiness, to serve others, while writing of their faith.. often obscured by their very fame.

A must read for pastors and church leaders.

[Bonnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think the title of this book should be something else - maybe They Were Godly People or 12 Interesting, Famous People with Faith or just 12 People of Faith.

I don't think Mr. Krusen did a good job of convincing me that they all were Christians, real followers of Christ. Maybe he did have more information, which he did not share. Some seemed to be believers in God and even quoted Old Testament verses. Some were not even very honorable men (e.g.leaving wife for younger women, fleeing creditors, gambling, heavy drinkers). I read other sources to try to find more information about some of these people .

This very short book was very interesting, and I do recommend it, but not as a book about Christians. The author gave interesting commentary about his own life, which was also interesting.

[Roger Smitter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Author Cristobal Krusen wants to provide readers to know about a number of famous heroes in history (and a few not so well known) who showed what Christianity can do. The theme of the book tells readers that they can follow Jesus.

While the book focuses heavily on Christian interpretations of what Jesus did and wants His followers to do, Some of chapters have engaging examples of what followers of Jesus should do with narratives of Dag Hammarskjold, Frederick Douglas, and Charles Dickens, Abraham Lincoln shows up in the book as a model for doing the right thing. Then there’s the senior John D. Rockefeller, (and his billions0. Only two of chapters have females.

The book can be useful to a group that wants to talk about we should do with others.

[Paige Redwine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book contains profiles of various people from history. Their Christian faith is documented. Pivotal events from their lives are described as well as contributions to society that were made from their efforts. The author begins and ends each profile with how each person from history impacted him. This was inspiring to read, but I wonder if a more thorough review of history would point out some fruit from some figures’ lives that doesn’t support a Christian faith. There were a few people that made me doubt the presence of a life changed by Christ because of other things I have read through the years. But, I know my life has inconsistencies. Also, history can be a little murky. So, I will not give that any more thought. All in all, it’s an inspiring book.

[Alia Serrano · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is beautifully inspirational! There are so many stories of people that I had never known. It is well written to give the reader a familiarity with the characters and their lives. I loved how he emphasized all their christian characteristics while also informing the reader of the other aspects of the person’s life. This is definitely a book I would want to read again! Although it says it took me two weeks, it technically only took me two days. I definitely recommend this book to whoever needs inspiration to live the life God has planned for them with a conviction that everything works together for good.

[Kenneth Avery · Rating 5 out of 5]

How would the world be made a better place if everyday Christians lived out their faith? This book, cataloging the lives of a dozen believers, should encouage us to live out faith, by responding to God's leading. These individuals, along with their shortcomings, failures and doubts lived out the gospel. The implications of the gospel compelled them to carry the love of Christ into their world and should encourage us to do likewise. Thanks, Matt Avery, for giving this goodread to me for a Christmas gift.

[Randy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this as part of a men's group. An interesting and well researched account of various historical or literary figures and their views and personal developments in Christianity. Accounts of Dag Hamarskjold, Frederick Douglass, Florence Nightingale, Frank Pais,Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Jean-Henri Dunant, Abraham Lincoln, Joseph Lister, Louis Pasteur, Chiune Sugihara, Charles Dickens, and a final surprise John D. Rockefeller Sr. were included. Some were more obvious, some not. An informative and enjoyable read.

[Douglas Lanzo · Rating 5 out of 5]

An inspiring biographical compilation of the faith, courage and compassion of some of the greatest leaders, thinkers and pioneers of the last two centuries, from Abraham Lincoln to Charles Dickens, Frederick Douglass, Florence Nightingale, Louis Pasteur and John D. Rockefeller, Sr. The 5 stars is for Krusen's ability to humanize and distill the faith-lives of these famous subjects, screening out common misconceptions and endeavoring only to present the essence of their beliefs and how they shaped their lives.

[KatieK · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! a Christmas gift from a friend because of my love of history and testimony. Well written and easy to read short accounts of some interesting, well known and more obscure characters from all over the world who achieved all sorts of things but happened to be strong in their faith in Jesus. Well worth reading.

[Cedric Dukes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Frederick Douglass, Abraham Lincoln, Florence Nightingale and the founder of Red Cross. Great audio listen on hoopla. Helps you understand why they had a burden to help people. Their legacy was not for them but others.

[Don Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

This compilation of short biographies is a great way to understand how some great people influenced history and had a strong faith in God.
I enjoyed this book and learning a little more about these interesting historical people.

[Cora Mabry · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting, quick read. I learned a lot but felt that some of the biographies were too short and barely touched on the subject's faith. In particular I would've liked to see Lister and Pasteur's biographies expanded, but this book has inspired me to do more research of my own :)

[Sandi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Several of these people are familiar names, but I most enjoyed the ones I did not know: Chiune Sugihara, who saved thousands of Jews in Lithuania, and is honored in Israel as "Righteous Among the Nations" and Jen-Henri Dunant who founded the Red Cross after witnessing the horrors of war.

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good read

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I was aware of the Christian faith of the more famous individuals whose lives were examined but did not know, let alone had even heard of many others. The book is entertaining and inspiring. I heartily recommend it.

[Brit · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an enjoyable and quick book to read. It introduced me to a few historic figures that were less known, at least to me.

[Frank Deardurff · Rating 5 out of 5]

An enjoyable read! It was interesting to read about well known as well as unsung hero’s and how their faith shaped who they were.

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very inspiring. Well written and fascinating.

[Paul Black · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was gratified to read about men and women who were motivated by their faith in Jesus Christ and did so much for the world.

[A · Rating 3 out of 5]

A light easy to read biographical summary of how people can make a difference in the world.

[Natalie Dokter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting snapshot of the faith of various historical figures like Florence Nightingale, Abraham Lincoln, Louis Pasteur, and Charles Dickens.

[Maryann Hartmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting History lesson

Not what I was expecting. Thoroughly enjoyed every section of this book, and learned a lot of facts that I did not know.

[Bud Russell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brief and simply written, but wonderfully told biographies. Some stories I had known, but others were new. I hope to read about some of these notables in greater depth.

[Ryan Blanchette · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting perspective of lives of historical Christians. It would have been more interesting and impactful if the author could have analyzed key points of their lives through a Christian lens.

[Kelly Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent brief summaries of famous people and their faith.

[Sarah Tummey · Rating 3 out of 5]

My favourite were the stories about Lister and Pasteur, and the Japanese man in World War 2. I originally bought the book because I wanted to learn more about Abraham Lincoln, but I also learnt about others I'd never even heard of. You only have to look at the notes to see how much research it took to put this little book together.