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Far from Cold
This is the extraordinary story of God using ordinary people. Follow Mark and Gillian Newham as they leave Britain for Outer Mongolia, sharing God and discovering ever more of Him along the way.
208 pages, Paperback
Published June 21, 2016
5 people want to read
About the author
Gillian Newham
4 books3 followersGillian Newham lives and works in the Mongolian capital of Ulaanbaatar. She and her husband, Mark, have lived in Asia for more than twenty years, most of which have been spent in Mongolia. For fifteen years they lived in rural Mongolia, in a small town some 300 miles west of the capital. There they worked alongside the local Christian church as well as running a guesthouse, café and bakery. Today they encourage pastors and other local Christian leaders in Ulaanbaatar.
Far from Cold is Gillian’s first book.
Far from Cold is Gillian’s first book.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
April 18, 2018
As you read you not only learn about life in Mongolia but some relevant spiritual lessons as well. This book is an account of the missional experiences the Newhams had as they strived to bring the light of the gospel into a spiritually thirsty land recovering from Communist control. I had a personal connection with this book. Many of the thought processes, questions, and feelings the author had I could relate to. The tone was warm and informative and the events described encouraged me to think hard about what it means to relate to God and do His work in the world as a believer. Themes within include God’s use of the weak to make foolish the wisdom of the world, as the Newhams were not qualified in any way by human standards for serious missionary work. Many times they stepped out in faith when they lacked the experience or resources. A point that struck me was how this story was just as much about God working through the mundane things of life as through the miraculous, though there was plenty of the latter as well. Life can be boring. Unexciting. Oftentimes it will appear like you’re not making any progress and you inevitably clash with people. But life isn’t so much about pursuing the big and exciting as it is about living the ordinary extraordinarily. The interaction between the Bible and Mongolian culture was very interesting; what will applying biblical principles look like with a Mongolian mindset? In the book we see how the churches of Ulaanbaatar and Arhangai wrestle with issues like misconceptions of leadership and the giving up of old shamanistic traditions. God meets us where we are at even when our thinking is wrong in so many ways. There were also issues of sin touched in the book like some believers’ struggle with alcoholism and bitterness towards others. It’s refreshing to see how God is faithful in helping us be delivered from our sin. Proper church function as defined by the Bible is also emphasized in the book, which I very much appreciated; how we do church is a topic most Christians in the western world neglect. The Mongolians of Ulaanbaatar and Arhangai learn the importance of shared leadership, initiative, digging deep into the Bible, and working through problems together rather than leaving, being passive aggressive, or bitter. Overall this book is a very worthwhile read and I highly recommend it!
I received an e-copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
I received an e-copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
December 7, 2018
This is the second book in the foreign missionary genre I have read for the first time in my life recently…and I have enjoyed them both immensely. I suppose that tells me that there are still good things to surprisingly discover as I get older.
Far From Cold is a superb book…on the surface simply written as a memoir of Mark and Gillian Newham’s years as Christian missionaries in the city of Ulaanbaatar and in the country town of Arhangai in Mongolia…as recounted by Gillian in the first person…which can be said to cover all of the basics for this genre…interesting people with their personal struggles and triumphs…a good sense of the foreign country having a different culture and the challenge for new converts to Christianity to work through the huge changes and adjustments in thinking that are in addition to the massive changes that come with becoming new Christians in our western cultures…and the personal character growth that is the product of divinely “called-out” missions…but this book also intentionally or unintentionally manages to touch upon some very important issues that apply to all Christians.
For example, on pages 142-143 there is an excellent discussion on the importance of delegating authority and spreading leadership judiciously around in a small group Bible study to help get people involved and motivated as first-hand participants…rather than being a one-man show with idle spectators. On pages 170-172 there is again an excellent discussion on letting go…in placing faith in other people and in God…when we have to give up power and control when change occurs in our lives and we need to move on.
These…and several other interesting and applicable life questions…are honestly addressed in this very readable and well-written book. I now feel like I know a little about life in Mongolia…and a lot more about the patient spiritual battles being waged for lost souls by foreign missionaries every day around the globe.
I would highly recommend this book.
Far From Cold is a superb book…on the surface simply written as a memoir of Mark and Gillian Newham’s years as Christian missionaries in the city of Ulaanbaatar and in the country town of Arhangai in Mongolia…as recounted by Gillian in the first person…which can be said to cover all of the basics for this genre…interesting people with their personal struggles and triumphs…a good sense of the foreign country having a different culture and the challenge for new converts to Christianity to work through the huge changes and adjustments in thinking that are in addition to the massive changes that come with becoming new Christians in our western cultures…and the personal character growth that is the product of divinely “called-out” missions…but this book also intentionally or unintentionally manages to touch upon some very important issues that apply to all Christians.
For example, on pages 142-143 there is an excellent discussion on the importance of delegating authority and spreading leadership judiciously around in a small group Bible study to help get people involved and motivated as first-hand participants…rather than being a one-man show with idle spectators. On pages 170-172 there is again an excellent discussion on letting go…in placing faith in other people and in God…when we have to give up power and control when change occurs in our lives and we need to move on.
These…and several other interesting and applicable life questions…are honestly addressed in this very readable and well-written book. I now feel like I know a little about life in Mongolia…and a lot more about the patient spiritual battles being waged for lost souls by foreign missionaries every day around the globe.
I would highly recommend this book.
August 7, 2017
A very inspiring account of a family's journey, geographically, and with God. This book is written in an easy to read format with down to earth stories and anecdotes of a tough call. A must read for those who are considering a missionary call from God.
September 16, 2016
“Far from Cold” tells the story of two ordinary people, Mark & Gillian Newham, who God used to fan the flames of the Mongolian Christian Church in the formative years following the transition of the country from communism to democracy.
The book is a beautiful testimony to their ministry, to the beauty and depth of the Mongolian people, and to the power and the purposes of God, whose methods are usually deeper and truer than we ever imagine.
Gillian’s writing unlocks their story, taking the reader along with her as she recalls and relates their journey, their mistakes, their failures, and yet God’s overarching victory.
Her writing is easy to follow, at times reading more like a story and at others more like a narrative, yet it is interspersed with wisdom and insight on ministry, people, the Christian life, and more.
Gillian lays bare her frustrations as she and Mark encounter obstacle after obstacle in their daily struggle to minister in Mongolia, she reveals her perception of her own shortcomings & failures in the process, and she takes the reader with her as she evaluates and re-evaluates how each circumstance accomplished God’s overarching plan and purpose for His church.
Through her story, Gillian reveals some profound insights, such as her revelation that God doesn’t need supermen or women, but simply ordinary people to accomplish His will. Another of my favorites was the confession of one of her earliest Mongolian Christians who declared, “God’s blessings are sticky… Once God gets hold of you and you are committed to Him, He never lets go”.
As I read of Mark & Gillian’s decision to serve in Mongolia, I was reminded of Isaiah’s decision recorded in Isaiah 6:8 where he declared “Here I am, send me!” at the Lord’s musing on whom to send.
This book is an insightful read for all Christians. It provides special satisfaction & support for those who have served in the mission field, it offers invaluable insights to those who wish to serve on long- or short-term missions, and it ignites understanding of the challenges surrounding Christian ministry & missionary work for those who have yet to fling themselves into this crucible of God’s shaping on our lives.
The book is a must-read especially for those who have entered the mission field and those who are contemplating doing so.
Take a moment, take a journey, live Gillian & Mark’s ministry with them. You will not regret the investment of time.
The book is a beautiful testimony to their ministry, to the beauty and depth of the Mongolian people, and to the power and the purposes of God, whose methods are usually deeper and truer than we ever imagine.
Gillian’s writing unlocks their story, taking the reader along with her as she recalls and relates their journey, their mistakes, their failures, and yet God’s overarching victory.
Her writing is easy to follow, at times reading more like a story and at others more like a narrative, yet it is interspersed with wisdom and insight on ministry, people, the Christian life, and more.
Gillian lays bare her frustrations as she and Mark encounter obstacle after obstacle in their daily struggle to minister in Mongolia, she reveals her perception of her own shortcomings & failures in the process, and she takes the reader with her as she evaluates and re-evaluates how each circumstance accomplished God’s overarching plan and purpose for His church.
Through her story, Gillian reveals some profound insights, such as her revelation that God doesn’t need supermen or women, but simply ordinary people to accomplish His will. Another of my favorites was the confession of one of her earliest Mongolian Christians who declared, “God’s blessings are sticky… Once God gets hold of you and you are committed to Him, He never lets go”.
As I read of Mark & Gillian’s decision to serve in Mongolia, I was reminded of Isaiah’s decision recorded in Isaiah 6:8 where he declared “Here I am, send me!” at the Lord’s musing on whom to send.
This book is an insightful read for all Christians. It provides special satisfaction & support for those who have served in the mission field, it offers invaluable insights to those who wish to serve on long- or short-term missions, and it ignites understanding of the challenges surrounding Christian ministry & missionary work for those who have yet to fling themselves into this crucible of God’s shaping on our lives.
The book is a must-read especially for those who have entered the mission field and those who are contemplating doing so.
Take a moment, take a journey, live Gillian & Mark’s ministry with them. You will not regret the investment of time.
August 8, 2016
Ordinary people. This is the phrase that sticks with me in the wake of reading Far From Cold. This missionary biography doesn’t feature seemingly outlandish tales of miracles, of ministries accomplished by Christian superheroes. Rather, we find the story of a British couple, Mark & Gill, faithfully laboring for nearly two decades in the remote cold of outer Mongolia (1993-2011).
We are invited to enter into their relationships, to meet some of the key people that God brought across their paths in that time, people like Ideree, Batchimeg, DJ, Batjargal, and Sara. Their stories are Mark & Gill’s stories, as God brought these people together in a journey of life in an environment that was a frontier of faith as much as anything.
Having personally visited several of the places the author mentions, this book presents a satisfying taste of a land that is foreign to most, and yet oh so familiar in terms of being populated by people who struggle, who are in desperate need of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Glossary at the end provides valuable snippets of Mongolian life and worldview.
One of the most striking patterns of God’s ministry through Mark & Gill was the frequency with which He brought them to pray for the resources—especially people—that were needed to do the work that He had given them to do. Whether it was engineers, architects, accountants, or business managers, at each step, this couple with no business-background sought the Lord to supply the right people at the right time. And He did. They turned to God again and again, and their model challenges all believers to do the same.
Although we’re never offered a specific meaning to the title, Far From Cold, I take it to depict for us the surprise that any of us may encounter: as we venture into a new place and work amongst unknown people, although we may expect coldness, harshness, and much labor for little fruit, the testimony of these two ordinary people is that, with the presence of God active in your life, no matter where you go, you are always far from cold.
Recommended to encourage you in your Christian journey of faith and living for God, from a place of simply being who you are and continually looking to God for His leading and provision.
We are invited to enter into their relationships, to meet some of the key people that God brought across their paths in that time, people like Ideree, Batchimeg, DJ, Batjargal, and Sara. Their stories are Mark & Gill’s stories, as God brought these people together in a journey of life in an environment that was a frontier of faith as much as anything.
Having personally visited several of the places the author mentions, this book presents a satisfying taste of a land that is foreign to most, and yet oh so familiar in terms of being populated by people who struggle, who are in desperate need of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Glossary at the end provides valuable snippets of Mongolian life and worldview.
One of the most striking patterns of God’s ministry through Mark & Gill was the frequency with which He brought them to pray for the resources—especially people—that were needed to do the work that He had given them to do. Whether it was engineers, architects, accountants, or business managers, at each step, this couple with no business-background sought the Lord to supply the right people at the right time. And He did. They turned to God again and again, and their model challenges all believers to do the same.
Although we’re never offered a specific meaning to the title, Far From Cold, I take it to depict for us the surprise that any of us may encounter: as we venture into a new place and work amongst unknown people, although we may expect coldness, harshness, and much labor for little fruit, the testimony of these two ordinary people is that, with the presence of God active in your life, no matter where you go, you are always far from cold.
Recommended to encourage you in your Christian journey of faith and living for God, from a place of simply being who you are and continually looking to God for His leading and provision.
August 22, 2016
Far From Cold is a modern day missionary biography. If you aren't familiar with the genre, the goal is not to tell a person's entire life story as a general biography would do or to give the intimate details of a life as you would find in a memoir, but instead it is a testimony of what it looked for that person to follow God into foreign lands. It is a biography of a calling.
Far From Cold highlights the story of two British citizens who leave their home for the wilds of outer Mongolia. Author Gillian tells lots of little stories about the place and people, stories that intersected with the tale of what God was doing in her own life and the life of her husband. In fact, I found myself relating it to testimony night at church where one person stands up and tells about the work of God in their life, followed by another person and another. In the book Gillian invites us into twenty years of testimonies complied in one overarching story of the work of God in the land of Mongolia.
It is an encouraging story that reminds us how God uses everyday people, just like you and me. I would especially recommend this book for people considering following God into cross cultural missions work as it gives a clear portrayal of the challenges that come with such a calling. The book is honest about the joys and heartaches of the journey making it clear that Mark and Gillian were just ordinary people who had the privilege of walking with God as He reached out to a people that were far from cold.
Far From Cold highlights the story of two British citizens who leave their home for the wilds of outer Mongolia. Author Gillian tells lots of little stories about the place and people, stories that intersected with the tale of what God was doing in her own life and the life of her husband. In fact, I found myself relating it to testimony night at church where one person stands up and tells about the work of God in their life, followed by another person and another. In the book Gillian invites us into twenty years of testimonies complied in one overarching story of the work of God in the land of Mongolia.
It is an encouraging story that reminds us how God uses everyday people, just like you and me. I would especially recommend this book for people considering following God into cross cultural missions work as it gives a clear portrayal of the challenges that come with such a calling. The book is honest about the joys and heartaches of the journey making it clear that Mark and Gillian were just ordinary people who had the privilege of walking with God as He reached out to a people that were far from cold.
July 29, 2016
This memoir tells the story of Mark and Gillian’s journey from Britain to Mongolia where they were part of the amazing early decades of the modern Mongolian church. The first-generation believers and churches the Newhams serve with frequently struggle greatly and sometimes fall away and come back as they move from early enthusiasm to seasoned faith and maturity. This book does a good job illustrating what many experience as frontier church planters: a ministry that can be amazingly rewarding but also humbling, frustrating, and seem to go two steps forward, then three steps back.
Note that this book comes from the new, small publishing group that brought us "Forged on the Field, Letters from Global Mission Leaders," It's expected to be first in “a series of books sharing authentic stories of honest Christian pilgrims” and it’s well worth reading.
Note that this book comes from the new, small publishing group that brought us "Forged on the Field, Letters from Global Mission Leaders," It's expected to be first in “a series of books sharing authentic stories of honest Christian pilgrims” and it’s well worth reading.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews