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The Axe and the Tree: How bloody persecution sowed the seeds of new life in Zimbabwe
A powerful account of costly mission in Rhodesia/Zimbabwe, this book details how British missionaries Peter and Brenda Griffiths and their team set up a superb secondary school, only for guerrillas to massacre almost all the staff. Peter died prematurely of a brain tumor; Brenda was repeatedly robbed and ultimately fled the country in her seventies, leaving behind the ruins of all they sought to accomplish.
Yet this is not the end of the story. Many students Brenda and Peter taught have kept their faith, though scattered across the country, and many are now in positions of leadership and influence. The strong Christian church in Zimbabwe today continues to honor Peter and Brenda's courage and sacrifice.
Yet this is not the end of the story. Many students Brenda and Peter taught have kept their faith, though scattered across the country, and many are now in positions of leadership and influence. The strong Christian church in Zimbabwe today continues to honor Peter and Brenda's courage and sacrifice.
368 pages, Paperback
Published February 17, 2017
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December 24, 2016
The anticipated release date for this novel isn't until April 2017, but you might be able to get your hands on it through netgalley like I did.
If you do manage to snag a copy, please be prepared for the fact that this book is emotionally heavy. It is difficult to get through at points, especially if you're a particularly sensitive and compassionate person.
The novel is about Peter and Brenda Griffiths, a married couple from the United Kingdom who set out as missionaries to help the devastatingly impoverished country of Zimbabwe, which is located in southern Africa.
Their hope is to build a school, leaving behind a lasting legacy of one of the precious few things in life that cannot be stolen: education. And the freedom of thought that goes along with it.
The series of events that unfold are made even more startling by the author's matter-of-fact prose. In some ways, the stripped down, bare faced writing made the tragedies seem that much more visual and difficult to accept.
Ah, but then we get to see the preciousness and irreplaceability of the ripple effects that can be created through actions born from selfless acts of love. You may never know the beautiful mark that you leave in someone's soul.
But maybe that's the point.
If you do manage to snag a copy, please be prepared for the fact that this book is emotionally heavy. It is difficult to get through at points, especially if you're a particularly sensitive and compassionate person.
The novel is about Peter and Brenda Griffiths, a married couple from the United Kingdom who set out as missionaries to help the devastatingly impoverished country of Zimbabwe, which is located in southern Africa.
Their hope is to build a school, leaving behind a lasting legacy of one of the precious few things in life that cannot be stolen: education. And the freedom of thought that goes along with it.
The series of events that unfold are made even more startling by the author's matter-of-fact prose. In some ways, the stripped down, bare faced writing made the tragedies seem that much more visual and difficult to accept.
Ah, but then we get to see the preciousness and irreplaceability of the ripple effects that can be created through actions born from selfless acts of love. You may never know the beautiful mark that you leave in someone's soul.
But maybe that's the point.
June 29, 2025
Highly Recommended: One of the finest missionary martyr books ever written
The Axe and the Tree is among the finest missionary martyr books I have ever read, in the spirit of Through Gates of Splendor and comparable works about 20th Century missionary martyrs.
Peter and Brenda Griffiths were British Pentecostal missionaries who came to Rhodesia (modern Zimbabwe) in the early sixties and served at the Elim Mission until their deaths at the hands of Marxist guerillas in 1979. The Axe and the Tree (the title is from an African proverb) is their loving and tragic testimony as told by their surviving son, Stephen Griffiths. Their martyrdom, along with the rest of the staff of Elim Mission that perished alongside them, had been somewhat lost in the noise and bustle of Rhodesian independence (and subsequent name change) and the West's early, unquestionably laudatory support of the Communist dictator Robert Mugabe who came to power shortly afterward. White European and American missionaries have sadly been connected to the errors of the white minority rulers of Rhodesia by revisionist academics and Marxist apologists when the main beneficiaries of missionary work in Rhodesia were, in fact, black Africans. There would have been no educated class of black Zimbabweans in the 80s and 90s without the work of people like the Griffiths. And irony of ironies, the subsequent work of Pentecostal evangelism, Christian education, and Church political moderation in Zimbabwe has been largely carried out by those who came to Christ and their education at the hands of ministries like Elim (hence the title which I will leave for the reader to discover without spoiling things here).
Stephen Griffiths has written a wonderful and inspiring testimony, biography, memoir and history of Christian pioneers and servants at their best -- Elim missionaries in mid-20th century Rhodesia, a time of restlessness, independence and turmoil on the African continent that drew only the hardiest (and heartiest) souls for the work of the kingdom. The Griffiths were one such couple. And their story deserved to be told as only their son, Stephen Griffiths, could have told it.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. Please read this important book!
The Axe and the Tree is among the finest missionary martyr books I have ever read, in the spirit of Through Gates of Splendor and comparable works about 20th Century missionary martyrs.
Peter and Brenda Griffiths were British Pentecostal missionaries who came to Rhodesia (modern Zimbabwe) in the early sixties and served at the Elim Mission until their deaths at the hands of Marxist guerillas in 1979. The Axe and the Tree (the title is from an African proverb) is their loving and tragic testimony as told by their surviving son, Stephen Griffiths. Their martyrdom, along with the rest of the staff of Elim Mission that perished alongside them, had been somewhat lost in the noise and bustle of Rhodesian independence (and subsequent name change) and the West's early, unquestionably laudatory support of the Communist dictator Robert Mugabe who came to power shortly afterward. White European and American missionaries have sadly been connected to the errors of the white minority rulers of Rhodesia by revisionist academics and Marxist apologists when the main beneficiaries of missionary work in Rhodesia were, in fact, black Africans. There would have been no educated class of black Zimbabweans in the 80s and 90s without the work of people like the Griffiths. And irony of ironies, the subsequent work of Pentecostal evangelism, Christian education, and Church political moderation in Zimbabwe has been largely carried out by those who came to Christ and their education at the hands of ministries like Elim (hence the title which I will leave for the reader to discover without spoiling things here).
Stephen Griffiths has written a wonderful and inspiring testimony, biography, memoir and history of Christian pioneers and servants at their best -- Elim missionaries in mid-20th century Rhodesia, a time of restlessness, independence and turmoil on the African continent that drew only the hardiest (and heartiest) souls for the work of the kingdom. The Griffiths were one such couple. And their story deserved to be told as only their son, Stephen Griffiths, could have told it.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. Please read this important book!
May 25, 2019
It's more of a 3.5 stars. This is a book about an awful tragedy I knew nothing about, made even more powerful by the fact that I bought the book in Zimbabwe. I knew a few things about the atrocities committed against civilians during the war for independence, but this story is barely known. Even as I googled it later, I did not find much (be careful when you research the Elim missionaries massacre though as there are a lot of graphic images).
This book however is a celebration of the lives of those who died, spending just one chapter on the dark night when they died. Everyone is fleshed out lovingly, so that the sense of impending doom becomes stronger and stronger, together with the hope that at least some of them made it. But the story unfolds.
I must say here that my life vision is very different from that of the author and the people presented in the book. I could not possibly reach the same conclusions the author of the book reached regarding the outcome of the massacre. I would have probably spent my life filled with hate and vengeful thoughts, as well as the desire to see everyone punished.
The people in the book chose to forgive and find meaning in the tragedy, which is probably the healthier approach. I'm glad I've read this book to both find out about a forgotten tragedy and to see another perspective on life. A well written, but also very sad book.
This book however is a celebration of the lives of those who died, spending just one chapter on the dark night when they died. Everyone is fleshed out lovingly, so that the sense of impending doom becomes stronger and stronger, together with the hope that at least some of them made it. But the story unfolds.
I must say here that my life vision is very different from that of the author and the people presented in the book. I could not possibly reach the same conclusions the author of the book reached regarding the outcome of the massacre. I would have probably spent my life filled with hate and vengeful thoughts, as well as the desire to see everyone punished.
The people in the book chose to forgive and find meaning in the tragedy, which is probably the healthier approach. I'm glad I've read this book to both find out about a forgotten tragedy and to see another perspective on life. A well written, but also very sad book.
November 18, 2019
This book has been very cathartic for me. We lived in Umtali and the Honde Valley for many years during the bush war and the Elim massacre was a shocking incident for us all, even in the face of the atrocities all around us. As a brand new Christian I remember the call for forgiveness at the funeral and it was a bitter pill to try and swallow. 40 years later, and, hopefully, more mature in my faith, I still struggled with the idea of forgiveness for the perpetrators. It was, therefore, with not a little trepidation that I read this book. It has affected me in a way I wasn't expecting. All the memories of the war years came crowding back into my mind and I began to realise that I have been holding on to unforgiveness over many incidents in my life, and not only those that occurred during the war. Thank you Stephen for your courage in writing this book, which must have opened many old wounds for you. I have been so touched by your story which has in turn led me down my own path of facing giants and beginning to forgive. I praise God for your book and that He will bless you and your family superabundantly in the years to come
September 14, 2017
I wanted to read this book because I knew one of the young women, Mary Fisher, who had been massacred. This made it a very difficult read for me, but I wanted to know a little about the work she had gone to do.
I don't think it's a spoiler, because of the blurb, to say this book began and ended with hope, changed lives, and forgiveness.
So - is it a challenging read? Absolutely. Not sure whether that last sentence would count as a spoiler of not, so I've hidden it.
I don't think it's a spoiler, because of the blurb, to say this book began and ended with hope, changed lives, and forgiveness.
So - is it a challenging read? Absolutely. Not sure whether that last sentence would count as a spoiler of not, so I've hidden it.
September 5, 2023
A superbly written, moving account of missionary endeavour in Zimbabwe during the civil war of the 1970s. A massacre at the school where the author’s father was headmaster revealed the faith and courage of the missionaries and the astonishing grace of God - who forgave some if the perpetrators, giving them new life in Christ. I’m so glad I read this.
December 27, 2016
Haunting – no, that’s not the right word. Inspiring, that’s better. Encouraging, that’s good too. Comforting, that works too. But none is adequate by itself. This book did all of those things to me.
This is a very rare book. Griffiths has written one of the most comprehensive biographies I’ve ever read. It doesn’t just focus on the lives of his parents or even just the mission group they worked with. The politics, culture, factions, military forces, and even international pressures that affected their lives and played into the (I won’t call it a tragedy for they wouldn’t) climax are explained very carefully. The dark history of Colonialism and Revolution that lead to the war are covered as well. Don’t be put off by that. It’s vital to the point of this book.
There are so many lessons to take away from this book. Christianity is hard. God’s will can be hard. God is strong. God is Sovereign. Men are evil. Forgiveness is hard. Evil is real. Life is complex. The rewards God gives are not always immediate or evident. God moves through the deepest tragedy to give His followers glory and victory. Perhaps, the best way to sum up the ultimate impact of this book is to quote He who orchestrated it all. “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.” (Romans 8:37)
One this that made this biography even better is Griffiths didn’t stop just after the deaths of the missionaries. He carried the story on through the next thirty years. You can see the struggles they still had to endure to forgive the perpetrators, to carry despite their grief, and the comfort God gave them. At the end, he tackles the question, "Why do bad things happen to good people?" It's a wonderful section full of Biblical wisdom and comfort.
You should read it. Don’t get bogged down. The beginning is a little slow, but be sure to keep reading. If you are saved it will encourage you. If you aren’t, I’m sure the author’s prayer, and mine, is that you will see Jesus as the hero of this story and the Savior who offers you forgiveness for your sins.
It’s written by and about Pentecostals; though, their particular distinctives aren’t emphasized. There are also overtones of ecumenism in the beginning. I’m not sure how much that was the author’s perspective or his parents.
I received this as a free ARC copy from NetGalley and Lion Hudson Plc. and Monarch. No review was required, but it was my pleasure to write it.
This is a very rare book. Griffiths has written one of the most comprehensive biographies I’ve ever read. It doesn’t just focus on the lives of his parents or even just the mission group they worked with. The politics, culture, factions, military forces, and even international pressures that affected their lives and played into the (I won’t call it a tragedy for they wouldn’t) climax are explained very carefully. The dark history of Colonialism and Revolution that lead to the war are covered as well. Don’t be put off by that. It’s vital to the point of this book.
There are so many lessons to take away from this book. Christianity is hard. God’s will can be hard. God is strong. God is Sovereign. Men are evil. Forgiveness is hard. Evil is real. Life is complex. The rewards God gives are not always immediate or evident. God moves through the deepest tragedy to give His followers glory and victory. Perhaps, the best way to sum up the ultimate impact of this book is to quote He who orchestrated it all. “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.” (Romans 8:37)
One this that made this biography even better is Griffiths didn’t stop just after the deaths of the missionaries. He carried the story on through the next thirty years. You can see the struggles they still had to endure to forgive the perpetrators, to carry despite their grief, and the comfort God gave them. At the end, he tackles the question, "Why do bad things happen to good people?" It's a wonderful section full of Biblical wisdom and comfort.
You should read it. Don’t get bogged down. The beginning is a little slow, but be sure to keep reading. If you are saved it will encourage you. If you aren’t, I’m sure the author’s prayer, and mine, is that you will see Jesus as the hero of this story and the Savior who offers you forgiveness for your sins.
It’s written by and about Pentecostals; though, their particular distinctives aren’t emphasized. There are also overtones of ecumenism in the beginning. I’m not sure how much that was the author’s perspective or his parents.
I received this as a free ARC copy from NetGalley and Lion Hudson Plc. and Monarch. No review was required, but it was my pleasure to write it.
April 27, 2017
This was one of those books that I simultaneously wanted to hurry through to see what was happening and yet, wanted to slow down to savor and ponder. At the same time, while I knew what was coming (it’s in the subtitle of the book!) and wanted to push the book away because of that, it drew me in, taking care to prepare and usher me into the grisly reality of the evil of man on the most personal level as well as the macro level of the socio-political realm. Also in the subtitle but a pleasant surprise nonetheless was the redemptive hope revealed. A gruesome act does not define the story; it unfolds into a hope realized on so many levels.
This book touches on so many areas in a meaningful way: God and humanity and evil and good purposes, injustice/anger, marriage, the “ministry life”, life by the Spirit of God, sorrow, suffering, joy, privilege, hatred/forgiveness and especially, deep and profound friendship. There was “CSI” (Crime Scene Investigations), politics and political machinations, the role of missionaries in society, and a good wrestling through social activism and evangelism, with the fruitfulness of a holistic approach to life and ministry on display.
Highly recommended.
This book touches on so many areas in a meaningful way: God and humanity and evil and good purposes, injustice/anger, marriage, the “ministry life”, life by the Spirit of God, sorrow, suffering, joy, privilege, hatred/forgiveness and especially, deep and profound friendship. There was “CSI” (Crime Scene Investigations), politics and political machinations, the role of missionaries in society, and a good wrestling through social activism and evangelism, with the fruitfulness of a holistic approach to life and ministry on display.
Highly recommended.
January 25, 2017
Epic, long, horrifying and inspiring at the same time, this story is about forgiveness. It details the work of Peter and Brenda Griffith in Southern Africa. This couple invested so much blood, sweat and tears into the land of Zimbabwe just to see it almost destroyed by the hand of some guerrillas. However, those big sacrifices made a big difference.
This book is so rich in facts, interesting life stories, local history and world history, it has so many different characters that it took me a long time to finish it. It is a good candidate for a movie or even a TV show with many episodes to put all the puzzle pieces together. It would be much easier if there was a visual reference, except for the sad part where they were slaughtered.. So many innocent sincere people lost their lives. But the world needs to know about them because they are true heroes.
This book is so rich in facts, interesting life stories, local history and world history, it has so many different characters that it took me a long time to finish it. It is a good candidate for a movie or even a TV show with many episodes to put all the puzzle pieces together. It would be much easier if there was a visual reference, except for the sad part where they were slaughtered.. So many innocent sincere people lost their lives. But the world needs to know about them because they are true heroes.
March 17, 2019
Having spent over three years teaching in Manicaland, the Eastern province of Zimbabwe, this book caught my attention when it came out a couple of years ago. It is the story of the Elim mission in Eastern Zimbabwe and in particular of the murder of 8 Elim Pentecostal missionaries and 4 children in the Vumba region near Mutare in June 1978 during the War of Independence. It was harrowing to read at times but presented also is ample evidence that God has brought good out of the awful killings. Recommended.
March 12, 2024
A Christian book but an interesting account of the lives of missionaries working on the 'frontline' of the Rhodesian civil war and the tightrope they walked between the warring factions. They were in the same position as the villagers - damned if they did and damned if they didn't. The terrible Elim Mission massacre is a part of Zimbabwean history that is not written much about and this book is well researched and whatever one might think about religion, it is hard to not be impressed by the strong faith that drove these hard working people and also by the power of forgiveness.
November 7, 2022
Very difficult book to describe and review.
Completely devastating and shocking, but also incredibly moving, powerful, and challenging. The author, and the author's friends and family demonstrate again and again a profound and breathtaking faith, a wonderful love for Christ and trust in his word that had me in tears many times.
A troublingly beautiful juxtaposition of tragedy and victory. I've not read anything quite like it.
Completely devastating and shocking, but also incredibly moving, powerful, and challenging. The author, and the author's friends and family demonstrate again and again a profound and breathtaking faith, a wonderful love for Christ and trust in his word that had me in tears many times.
A troublingly beautiful juxtaposition of tragedy and victory. I've not read anything quite like it.
November 13, 2020
The Missionaries and the war.
Having been born in Rhodesia this book brought many emotions in me. Absolute tragedies that occurred. Many many tears were shed whilst reading this book. How do you forgive such atrocities? These people did through the Power of God. Such a well written book too.
Having been born in Rhodesia this book brought many emotions in me. Absolute tragedies that occurred. Many many tears were shed whilst reading this book. How do you forgive such atrocities? These people did through the Power of God. Such a well written book too.
March 22, 2017
Not an easy read but worth it. I find it's difficult to get through the book. The beginning is a little slow to start but after a few chapters I found myself wanting to know what was going to happen next.
April 16, 2019
4.5 stars
Challenging, moving, informative. This book was hard to put down. The author has done an excellent job of the wider story - including the politics of the time. I loved hearing of the ongoing story and impact. Be prepared for tears.
Challenging, moving, informative. This book was hard to put down. The author has done an excellent job of the wider story - including the politics of the time. I loved hearing of the ongoing story and impact. Be prepared for tears.
August 27, 2017
Moving.
November 25, 2017
Heart-breaking and heart-making, this had me crying quietly on trains, in cafes and last thing at night. The spare prose leaves ample room for the glory of God to shine bright.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 23, 2024
Very intense and detailed account of missionaries working in a battle zone in Rhodesia. This country is now divided into two different countries.
The book covers the lives of these families as they worked and ministered to the locals. They built communities with hospitals and schools. The daily struggle to commute to get food and medical supplies while dodging land mines places near or in the roads.
I liked how the author also followed up with how the lives of the people in this book progressed and ended when he knew the details.
True story written by son who lived through the events leading up to the slaughter of teachers and missionaries because they were in the way of the battling armies of
guerrillas. Years after there were many of these young men who were tormented by the memories of what they did. Some died horrific deaths, but some came to a saving grace through Jesus Christ. Fascinating account that I read slowly as it was hard to understand the hatred and horrible things that happened. I was given an ARC from NetGalley and not required to leave a review. This is my honest reaction to this book.
The book covers the lives of these families as they worked and ministered to the locals. They built communities with hospitals and schools. The daily struggle to commute to get food and medical supplies while dodging land mines places near or in the roads.
I liked how the author also followed up with how the lives of the people in this book progressed and ended when he knew the details.
True story written by son who lived through the events leading up to the slaughter of teachers and missionaries because they were in the way of the battling armies of
guerrillas. Years after there were many of these young men who were tormented by the memories of what they did. Some died horrific deaths, but some came to a saving grace through Jesus Christ. Fascinating account that I read slowly as it was hard to understand the hatred and horrible things that happened. I was given an ARC from NetGalley and not required to leave a review. This is my honest reaction to this book.
August 29, 2019
Having lived in Rhodesia through the bloody civil war and been in the Air Force in its later stages there were countless accounts of atrocities and brutality committed by the communist backed guerrilla forces to coerce and intimidate peace loving people.
The atrocity committed by ZANLA against missionaries whose purpose was to assist the black population grow in knowledge and faith was deliberate persist of the Maoist doctrine to cause fear and the breakdown of civilised society.
This book outlines the purpose of those at Elim Mission and the brutal atrocity committed against them by these insurgents that brought disbelief and condemnation.
The book will challenge your emotion.
The atrocity committed by ZANLA against missionaries whose purpose was to assist the black population grow in knowledge and faith was deliberate persist of the Maoist doctrine to cause fear and the breakdown of civilised society.
This book outlines the purpose of those at Elim Mission and the brutal atrocity committed against them by these insurgents that brought disbelief and condemnation.
The book will challenge your emotion.
June 28, 2025
The level of research and investigation behind the development and writing of this book is remarkable. As Steve Griffiths is so close to the people, times and places of the events described, it must have been tempting at many times to abandon the painstaking verification of facts and substitute his own thoughts and ideas of what might be true. Having known of the killings of the missionaries from the time it happened, I have been keen to know the full story. Believing it would never be told, and hearing or seeing a few inadequate references, I thought that would be it. Finding this book is a revelation. As the comments and opinions over the years have in some ways been more hurtful than helpful, I checked nearly every reference and footnote as I read this book. Thank you for the years of work and striving for accuracy. Your manifest and unashamed bias to take forward God’s kingdom on earth have informed rather than hidden the truth. In such a fractured and emotive world, you have managed to speak kindly of most of those who were against you and your family of missionaries. I am looking forward to the hardback edition with copies of maps and documents. (No illustrations of the horrors, thank you. Your words are already more than enough.)
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