Singing in the Fire: Christians in Adversity

by Faith Cook

Faith Cook's subject is familiar to Christian literature but these pages have several factors which make them arresting and captivating. Instead of meeting with well-known names, here is a portrait gallery which includes a number who lived far from the public notice. These pages are full of moving records from the old and the modern.

Genres: Biography, Christian, Church History, Nonfiction

208 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 1995

About the author

Faith Cook was born in China, the daughter of OMF missionaries, and now lives in Derbyshire. She is married to Paul, who served as a pastor in churches in Northallerton, Shepshed and Hull. They have five children and ten grandchildren. She is also the author of Lives Turned Upside Down, The Nine-Day Queen of England, Our Hymn-writers and their Hymns, Seeing the Invisible and Under the Scaffold.

Reviews

[Reagan Bon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a series of short biographies written about the lives of various Christian men and women, some better known than others. While each person's life story is unique in terms of the circumstances they faced, every one of them is a testimony to the grace of our immutable God in times of acute and prolonged suffering. Encouraging and inspiring read!

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short biographies of Christians - some martyrs and some not, some well-known and some not. I really like how the author chose the wives of some very famous people (Susanna Spurgeon, Catherine Boston) instead of focusing on their better-known husbands. Very uplifting read. Many of the stories are absolutely amazing. Highly recommend.

[Grant Sexton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short and encouraging stories. I was particularly impacted by how many people in these chapters faced the realities of death so often. I’m so thankful for modern medicine, but I think we’d be better off if the reality of impending death was more present with us.

[Chris Butler · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent little book on many of the more ‘unsung’ hero’s of the Christian faith. I was so encouraged to read of their everyday faithfulness in the face of tremendous personal trials and persecution. I was grateful that the author also used many opportunities to reinforce the biblical truths of the doctrines of grace in and through their lives...
Highly recommended....you’ll be encouraged and edified!

[Danielw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent series of short biographies of Christian men and women. It's encouraging and humbling seeing the trials that these people went through and all the time the glory went to God. It's also convicting if you are not a true Christian. In a way it's a great mirror to look into. This is a book that ministers and glorifies God.

[Rachel Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a blessing this book is. Faith Cook is such a great story teller. Some of these faithful believers I’ve never even heard of.
I particularly enjoyed the chapter about Catherine Boston, what amazing faith, that can only ever be attributed to the true work of Christ in her life. The same can be said for each person written about in this book.

[Seth Meyers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short stories of suffering Christians, many lesser known.
Because so many of the best have suffered in the past and are now fully recompensed in the light of history and with God in Heaven, let us be strong in our hardships.

[Chola Mukanga · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book that deserves to be read and appreciated. A classic!

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fourteen short vignettes of Christians who suffered well. Some chapters are more engaging than others, but Faith Cook is an excellent writer and the whole book is edifying and well worth reading.

[Caleb Meyers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super interesting. I loved most of her choices with the exception of a few. She talked about unknown men in a way that stirred my heart.

[Dear April · Rating 5 out of 5]

An eye opening and heart wrenching masterpiece.

[Amy Meyers · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Uneven in quality of inspiration and amount of overspeak in writing style. I was very touched by a few of the stories. Big take away is the importance of prayer.

[Gwendolyn Harmon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an inspiring look at the lives of 14 Christians whose faith shone strong through adversity. Each chapter is fairly short, and it works well to read just a chapter at a time.

[John-Mark Echols · Rating 5 out of 5]

All I can say is wow! The stories of faith and joy in Christ in the face of such suffering are tremendously challenging and encouraging. A must read, especially for anyone who is suffering.

[Kevin L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a wonderful book to read, delightfully edifying.

[Hannah Lofthus · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is full of mini-biographies about Christians in all different times in the past - which is good, because it's nice to get an account of these peoples' lives without having to read a terribly boring 355 page biography about everything and anything a particular person ever said, and did, and wrote in a random letter to his great uncle bobby and - you get the point. These kind of books are nice, and this one is particularly good.

Faith Cook is definitly one of my favorite authors in the biography genre. The people she writes about aren't just meaningless names in history, but real men and women and children who we can relate to in so many things. This book is well-written and both convicted and inspired me. Looking forward to reading more Faith Cook biographies!

[Timothy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very much enjoyed this.
Faith provides an account of lesser known Christians throughout history who suffered much and in the eyes of the world, were not successful and lived painful lives.
Each chapter is quite short but makes easy reading, and through the insight in these "ordinary" lives, it inspires us in the 21st century to have that same faith of those in days gone by.

[Vivian Bernasek · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another brief look into the lives of martyrs for Christ. Well written.