Sorrow & Blood
The conception of the book goes back to the missiological consultation in Iguassu, 1999. The editorial team of William Taylor (USA), Tonica van der Meer (Brazil), and Reg Reimer (Canada) worked over six years to compile this unique Biblical, historical and case study anthology.
This unique book emerges as the editors grappled with challenging questions, including these:
- What do both the Biblical record and church history teach us about these themes?
- What does our contemporary global experience say to us? What case studies will help?
- How should we equip both the church and its leadership as well as the global mission movement in light of today’s growing harassment, persecution and martyrdom?
- Does persecution cause the church to grow or can it kill it?
- What will harassment and persecution look like as it grows in the Global North?
- How can we equip both the churches and our future cross-cultural servants to live in contexts where they will face persecution and possible martyrdom?
- What do we learn for each other, and how can we pray for and serve each other?
Reviews
“This is an essential, impactful, disturbing book: clear and forthright without denying the complexity of the matter. This book is close to my heart because I grew up in the state of Chiapas, southern Mexico, in a context of severe persecution of those who confessed their faith in Jesus Christ and read the Bible for themselves. But we were not alone. The editors are eminently qualified to compile this volume. The authors and case studies provide the reader with breadth of experiential familiarity coupled with depth and sensitivity of understanding. The structure of the book provides the reader with a broad and deep treatment of a very difficult topic, offering theoretical, biblical, historical, and practical reflections. This is essential reading for anyone involved in cross-cultural mission on every continent.”
– Dr. Charles Van Engen, Arthur F. Glasser Professor of Biblical Theology of Mission School of Intercultural Studies, Fuller Theological Seminary, USA
It is with reverence that I touch Sorrow and Blood. The data, reports, witnesses, and biblical reflections open before my eyes allow me and push me to see the faces of people who tell me with their lives that in Jesus Christ they found the meaning of life and of history. The world is not worthy of them (Heb 11:38) nor am I. But in grace they minister to our lives and to our generation, calling us all into a deeper commitment to being agents of God’s Kingdom in the corners of the world in which we live. I feel honored to be ministered by those who tell me, through suffering, that it is good and necessary to serve our Lord Jesus Christ and to live, or even die, for him. It’s an amazing work. Gloria Deo.”
– Dr. Valdir Steuernagel, Theologian-at-Large, World Vision International, Brazil
