Jesus Freaks Vol. II: Stories of Revolutionaries Who Changed Their World, Fearing God, Not Man

Jesus Freaks #2

by D.C. Talk

Rarely has a book captured the attention of Christians of all ages as Jesus Freaks has with its stories of Christian martyrs. Jesus Freaks, Vol. II, features testimonies of revolutionaries who took a stand for Christ against the culture of their day, along with new stories of martyrs through the centuries. dc Talk again challenges readers to pray for the persecuted church around the world and openly stand for Jesus.

Genres: Christian, Nonfiction, Biography, Religion, Christian Non Fiction, Christianity, History

384 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

Formed in 1987 by Toby McKeehan, Michael Tait, and Kevin Max Smith, DC Talk was one of the most popular bands throughout the 1990's. Together the band has released five studio albums: DC Talk (1989), Nu Thang (1990), Free at Last (1992), Jesus Freak (1995), Supernatural (1998), and Solo (2001). The group unofficially disbanded in 2000, with each member attempting their own solo projects. Ever since, DC Talk has been on hiatus indefinitely, and they have yet to officially break up or reunite.

Reviews

[Jerry (Rebel With a Massive Media Library) · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Good: In the style of the first volume of this series, dc Talk and the Voice of the Martyrs tell the stories of people who revolutionized the world in the name of Jesus. Traveling throughout time, even as far back as before the founding of Jamestown, the stories are both enlightening and challenging. At the end of the book, the message is driven home: Are you willing to do the same for your Savior?

The Bad: As good as the stories are, I felt that the book had a lot of wasted space. While I can understand the necessity for a few Bible verses here and there, the number of quotations in this book is a bit over the top. Some readers may quibble with that.

Conclusion: I've been a fan of dc Talk since the late 1990s; they were the first band I ever liked, and I still listen their music--including both as a group and their solo works--pretty much every day. While this book is good, it could have used a bit more content. I appreciate the message, but the content is a little lacking.

Score: 3/5

[Adrielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This second instalment in the Jesus Freaks books is just as startling and awe inspiring as the first. It is a collection of stories, throughout time and place, of what people have done, in the name of Christ. These stories show that strength can be found in love and faith. What better message is there? None, that's what!

[Nick Orman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very very good. Amazing stories of the faith and sacrifice early Christians, and even Christians now make across the world to share the Gospel. Definitely inspiring.

[Jenna Leigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is very similar in tone and subject matter to volume one. (Jesus Freaks: DC Talk and The Voice of the Martyrs - Stories of Those Who Stood for Jesus, the Ultimate Jesus Freaks)Pretty much everything I said in my review of that one also applies to this book. They're both great books, and I'd really recommend them to anyone who is searching to find out more about the persecuted church and to deepen their conviction in Christ.

[Philip Van Dalen · Rating 5 out of 5]

nice to read about faith and the willingness to step out in that faith. helpful and good read. humbling and inspiring book. include stories about those who suffered persecutions for standing up for their faith in Christ, though the majority of these stories are about those who were killed too.

Pray for the strengthening of the current martyrs and for the persecuted church because they are going through everything that we read about in this book still.

[D.I. Telbat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! I found it to be a quick read and very inspirational for my walk with Christ. How convicting to read of these men and women of faith in comparison to my own efforts for the Cross. This book made me cringe a few times, but I'm glad the people of stoic faith are memorialized like this. Thanks to dc Talk and VOM!

D.I. Telbat

[Library Queen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book a *very* long time ago, and thought it was very impactful and important. I recently found my copy of it, and decided to read it again, and guess what? It's still amazing. Reading all these stories, right now, really comforted me during this, if they can do that, then surely I can handle what's going on in my life. Wonderful book.

[Tami · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was filled with amazing and fearless men and women who feared nothing but God. As I was reading I only hoped that I could be half the person these people were. There love for God was unlike any other. Great book for anyone who believes in something to the point of death.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

True stories of those who changed their world. An inspiring, heartwarming, and heartbreaking read that reminds me just how good I have it in life, and gets me thinking about what I would really be willing to give up for my fellow man or my faith.

[Diana Muresan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this when I was a teenager and then read over and over again-Never gets old. Full of powerful stories of people who loved God with everything they had-literally. Think of this as a modern rendition of Foxes Book of Martyrs.

[Nightinkgale · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this!

Makes you hungry to be more like those who have walked the path of Jesus with such conviction and grace.

[Nadia's Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartwrenching and sobering to read, and a very humbling experience to read. These people are truly martyrs and selfless warriors.

[Kylee Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book! i recommend everybody reading it. These stories about martyrs made me think about how i am living for Jesus

[Pam Herrera López · Rating 5 out of 5]

Es un libro que nos ayuda a cuestionar que tanto estamos dispuestos a defender nuestra fe, que tanto amamos su verdad y el evangelio como para dar nuestras vidas y las de los míos por El. Además, que se nos cuentan historias acerca los hombres y mujeres que dieron su vida por causa de sus convicciones cristianas, esto nos ayuda y nos hace valorar lo que se nos ha dado por la valentía de estos personajes "Locos por Jesús", ya que gracias a muchos de ellos tenemos los privilegios y materiales que hoy en día tenemos (no todos en todos los países por cierto...). También se nos anima y nos ayuda a ver cómo podemos contribuir a qué el mensaje del evangelio sea exparsido.

[Arnold hamilton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shows how people who will continue to serve Jesus and tell others about Him regardless. Whether they were beaten, tortured, burnt, or put into prison they never gave up or deny Jesus as their savior. It shows over the years and centuries how people would never deny his name in the face of prosecution or jail or death. The question here is are we strong enough and have enough faith to do the same. It is easy to say yes when we are not faced with the same thing in our country.

[JDennis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Authors' controversies and apostasies aside, this is a good introduction to the lives and sacrifices of individuals throughout church history. Will only grow your appreciation of "the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints."

[Gary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great stories from Christian history by Toby Mac and Michael Tait of DC Talk.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a good inspirational collection of stories from Christian revolutionaries throughout history. I just felt it was a bit choppy with no clear transition from story to story.

[Marc · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this one first and then the first. Must read by anyone

[Suzanne Manning · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting stories - St. Gregory's story impacted me greatest.

[Ava Alm · Rating 3 out of 5]

Found it a bit uneven compared to the other books of theirs I’ve read so far.

[Andreina Lovera · Rating 5 out of 5]

Es un libro interesante porque cuenta la.historias de los mártires de la edad apostólica y de la actualidad, cuenta las cosas importantes que te aseguro te harán cuestionar tu fe

[Skylar · Rating 4 out of 5]

not as good as the first book but still good.

[Helen Pugsley · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ann Miner collection.

It's just not for me. There's nothing wrong with it. Just, I really hate performative religion.

[DD · Rating 5 out of 5]

Testimonios cortos de 2 o 3 páginas. Personas de todas las edades, países y tiempos que murieron o sufrieron por Cristo.

[Jess Day · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very empowering and inspiring!

[justusgirlsreading · Rating 5 out of 5]

So inspiring!

[Elisabeth Dudziak · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book will definitely impact people in different ways, but for me, I felt like I would have gotten a lot more out of it had it looked into fewer stories more deeply, rather than the quantity that we were given.

The stories ranged from about a page to five pages per story, and I just felt like that didn’t really do a lot of the stories justice. I wanted full length novels or novellas or at least a few more pages out of most, if not all of the stories shared. And yes, I know that it would be fairly impossible to tell all these stories at length in their own novel, so I get why the book did that... I just don’t necessarily like the super short story style I guess.

While reading this, I continuously thought that this would be perfect for a newer Christian who wants to get a glimpse at the history and persecution of Christians going as far back as the time of Jesus’ death and resurrection.

Overall though, I still enjoyed hearing about all of these different time periods, and names that I’m familiar with like corrie ten boom mixed with random names more recently.

Happy reading! :))

[Liz Colibrí · Rating 5 out of 5]

Miles de hombres y mujeres en los siglos pasado han entregado hasta el último aliento de sus vidas, con tal de llevar el Evangelio a aquellos que no lo han escuchado. En la actualidad, aun veo a hombres y mujeres, viviendo de tal manera que cada día cuente, luchando por la verdad, siendo humildes de corazón y sobre todo, amando a las personas. Libros como estos y sobre todo, vidas de las personas a mi alrededor son las que me llevan a cuestionar qué es lo que estamos haciendo; me inspiran y me retan a vivir y declarar: "Yo soy un loco por Jesús".
Excelente libro

[Eleisha Luck · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing book. It is amazing what some Christians will endure for Christ.