Five Who Changed the World

by Daniel L. Akin

BOOK

Genres: Church History

100 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 2008

Reviews

[Chris Huff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too short. Promises much with the title, but only gives a taste of the title. How did each of them change the world? I'm somewhat familiar with some of the missionaries named, but I would have loved to read much more of their lives and legacies. And I understand why the author tied each chapter to a passage of Scripture, since Scripture itself is far more beneficial to our lives than mere biographies, and yet, it felt forced in this book. The author seemed to say, "I like this passage, so I'm going to squeeze it in here and tell you why I think it's relevant." All in all, I did appreciate these short biographical sketches.

[Thomas Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short book, I wanted more of the people’s stories and hear more of their lives. However, I enjoyed the scriptures littered throughout. I’ll summarize my thoughts in two quotes from the book credited to Jim Elliot.

“Forgive me for being so ordinary while claiming to know such an extraordinary God.”

“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.”

[Brandon Vaughan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This short read accomplished exactly what I had hoped, it gave me a view from 30,000 feet of some famous Baptist missionaries (Carey, the Judsons, Elliot, Wallace and Moon). It also supplied ample works for deeper research on each of them. Even this short overview of each of their lives makes me feel so small.

[Kristen Howell · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was under the impression this would actually include stories of their lives instead of a bible study/sermon. Nothing wrong with that, if that’s what I was looking for. I learned basically nothing of the people and everything I already knew about the scripture.

[Georgia Herod · Rating 4 out of 5]

Akin walks believers through five key texts of Scripture, illustrating the truths contained therein by sharing the biographies of five missionaries who changed the world through their dedication to the Great Commission: William Carey, father of modern missions; Adoniram Judson, first Baptist missionary from America (and his wife Anne); Lottie Moon, the influential missionary to China whose legacy has raised millions for the cause of missions; Bill Wallace, the medical missionary to China whose dedication to the people he served cost him his life; and Jim Elliot, missionary to the Auca Indians, whose martyrdom inspired the world—each of these continue to challenge us.

Lively biographies which serve to inspire others to live intentionally for causes greater than themselves.

[Bryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Daniel L. Akinis president of a Baptist seminary. These five mini-biographies made up 5 lectures/sermons he gave espousing the lives of 5 (Baptist?) missionaries. The stories of the Judsons, Bill Wallace and Lottie Moon were particularly inspiring and have prompted further reading. Each of these stories are included in Akin's expanded work--.Ten Who Changed the World

[Jack · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of info. I like book that give you guide lines not story's. This is a story.
Enough said.