"Five Who Changed The World"

One of the best way to refresh your soul and to challenge one's spiritual life is to read a good biography. If one can't make it through an entire biography, a book with a number of short biographies is just as helpful. I recently picked up and read Dr. Daniel Akin's book, "Five Who Changed the World." The offers biographical insight into five important missionaries in recent centuries from William Carey (the father of the modern mission movement) to Lottie Moon.

But this is not just five short biographies. They are biographical sermons. Akin takes an important text of Scripture and shows how it played out in the life of these great believers. So rather than a dry historical sketch full of dates and dead people, Akin writes an insightful and applicable book that all should read. One is drawn closer to God through both the words of Scripture and the examples of these great men and women of faith.

The lives that Akin writes about are fantastic. Whenever I read about such faithful Christians, I am encouraged and humbled. Will I ever have the faith and concern for the lost like Bill Wallace? Will I have the drive of William Carey. Will I be as steadfast as Lottie Moon? Will I be able to withstand such persecution and death like Jim Elliot? Akin calls us to re-evaluate our own lives in light of how God used these great Christians.

I really enjoyed this short book. Though it has not been widely published, I highly recommend it. It is important and helpful for Christians to read such books and be encouraged and challenged by their lives. My wife and I both read it and really enjoyed it. And I encourage you to read it as well.