Darkest before the Dawn: A Brief History of the Rise of Christianity in China
Ebook
The Christian church was always destined to find its way to China. Long before the birth of the church, China existed, coalescing around profound philosophical concepts and powerful cultural symbols. It developed into a dynamic and enduring civilization. In time, Christian missionaries arrived on its shores, driven to bring the gospel to this people. This book starts with the story of that journey: the arrival of the missionaries who planted the seeds of the gospel in Chinese soil. As the seeds sprouted and grew, a new story of a unique and distinct Chinese church began. The epic narrative opens from uncertain beginnings in darkness, passes through intense hardship and years of struggle, and culminates with the triumphal emergence of the Chinese church from the shadows into the light of the global stage.
“Richard Cook reminds Evangelicals and other Christians that
church history is really mission history. With illustrative
stories, personal observations, and thoughtful questions, he uses
the history of Christianity in China to raise important
missiological questions and to invite readers—both Chinese and
Western—to develop a more nuanced understanding of the work of God
in East Asia.”
—Daryl Ireland, Associate Director, Center for Global Christianity
and Mission, Boston University
“A badly needed volume with solid scholarship, popular appeal, and
personal touch. It should be highly relevant and significant for
anyone who cares about the Chinese church and its ministry.”
—Kevin Xiyi Yao, Associate Professor, Gordon Conwell Theological
Seminary
“Through meticulous research and engaging personal insights,
Richard Cook skillfully weaves together the historical and
theological threads that make up the story of Christianity in
China, bringing this story to life and inviting the reader into the
lives of Chinese Christians through the centuries. His careful,
balanced treatment of the perennial issues facing Chinese
Christianity provides the background for a thought-provoking look
at the role of China’s church in the twenty-first century.”
—Brent Fulton, Founder, ChinaSource
- Title: Darkest before the Dawn: A Brief History of the Rise of Christianity in China
- Author: Richard Cook
- Publisher: Pickwick Publications
- Print Publication Date: 2021
- Logos Release Date: 2021
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Ebook
- ISBNs: 9781725297173, 9781725297166, 9781725297159, 1725297175, 1725297167, 1725297159
- Resource ID: LLS:9781725297173
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2022-09-29T20:30:28Z
Richard R. Cook is Associate Professor of Church History and Missions at Logos Evangelical Seminary, a Mandarin-language seminary in the Los Angeles area. He has a PhD in modern Chinese history from the University of Iowa.