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Footprints Across Quebec: The Autobiography of Murray Heron
The autobiography of Murray Heron-pioneer missionary to Quebec By Murray Heron. Edited by Ginette Cotnoir Footprints across Quebec is an engaging account of the progress of the gospel in Quebec over the last 50 years. It recounts turbulent days of overwhelming opposition to evangelism and preaching as the province faced enormous spiritual and social upheaval. Murray Heron was powerfully used to open up television, radio and camp ministries to bring the message of Jesus Christ. This book communicates his steadfast commitment to his calling and offers a shining testimony to God's power throughout a long and fruitful ministry. 126 pages, 5-7/8" x 9" softcover. Illustrations / photographs / maps / newspaper clippings
128 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2001
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
June 19, 2019
2023 Review:
I picked this up again after working on a brief history of the Fellowship Baptist churches in Quebec. It's a punchy little book with a fast-moving narrative. What struck me most this time around is the graphic depictions of straight-up mob violence in the streets of northern Quebec in opposition to simple hymn-singing and preaching. When I read it 12 years ago, that kind of thing felt strange and remote. But today, it doesn't feel nearly so remote.
In the 50's it was the result of a deeply homogeneous culture having an allergic reaction to a foreign contaminant - English Baptist missionaries. They were often slandered as communists. They were arrested, thrown in jail, beaten in the streets, threatened; their mail was intercepted and burned. I was shocked to read of an esteemed professor from Toronto Baptist Seminary being tackled, shoved, and having firecrackers thrown in his face. Mayors and police chiefs worked together to oppose and prevent them from holding outdoor meetings, and they often stood by while the crowds mistreated the missionaries. That is, until reporters from the rest of Canada heard about their treatment and wrote front page articles denouncing it in major newspapers like the Toronto Daily Star.
The ensuing media coverage and outrage from Canadians concerned about religious liberty shamed and pressured these municipal leaders into changing their policies. Reading about that was heartening. The only thing is, I'm not sure that would happen again. The trajectory seems rather to be the media slanting its coverage of evangelicals more and more brazenly, rebranding anyone who holds to historic orthodoxy as 'fundamentalists'. If in ten years we have mobs forming against churches and Christians unwilling to go with the new moral revolution, I'm not holding my breath that the national media would come to our aid.
These are sobering thoughts, but the book itself gives us more than a few reasons not to give in to despair or even pessimism. Rather, one comes away with a keen sense of God's gracious intervention to preserve and multiply his faithful and praying church.
2011 Review:
Well my Mom helped to write this book so consider my review to be accordingly biased.
I thought it was great! A compelling and encouraging read about the courageous missionary work of Murray Heron and others during a tumultuous time in Quebec. This history is little-known outside of French Baptist circles.
I picked this up again after working on a brief history of the Fellowship Baptist churches in Quebec. It's a punchy little book with a fast-moving narrative. What struck me most this time around is the graphic depictions of straight-up mob violence in the streets of northern Quebec in opposition to simple hymn-singing and preaching. When I read it 12 years ago, that kind of thing felt strange and remote. But today, it doesn't feel nearly so remote.
In the 50's it was the result of a deeply homogeneous culture having an allergic reaction to a foreign contaminant - English Baptist missionaries. They were often slandered as communists. They were arrested, thrown in jail, beaten in the streets, threatened; their mail was intercepted and burned. I was shocked to read of an esteemed professor from Toronto Baptist Seminary being tackled, shoved, and having firecrackers thrown in his face. Mayors and police chiefs worked together to oppose and prevent them from holding outdoor meetings, and they often stood by while the crowds mistreated the missionaries. That is, until reporters from the rest of Canada heard about their treatment and wrote front page articles denouncing it in major newspapers like the Toronto Daily Star.
The ensuing media coverage and outrage from Canadians concerned about religious liberty shamed and pressured these municipal leaders into changing their policies. Reading about that was heartening. The only thing is, I'm not sure that would happen again. The trajectory seems rather to be the media slanting its coverage of evangelicals more and more brazenly, rebranding anyone who holds to historic orthodoxy as 'fundamentalists'. If in ten years we have mobs forming against churches and Christians unwilling to go with the new moral revolution, I'm not holding my breath that the national media would come to our aid.
These are sobering thoughts, but the book itself gives us more than a few reasons not to give in to despair or even pessimism. Rather, one comes away with a keen sense of God's gracious intervention to preserve and multiply his faithful and praying church.
2011 Review:
Well my Mom helped to write this book so consider my review to be accordingly biased.
I thought it was great! A compelling and encouraging read about the courageous missionary work of Murray Heron and others during a tumultuous time in Quebec. This history is little-known outside of French Baptist circles.
July 28, 2011
This is an amazing and inspiring story. Since Murray Heron is my grandfather, I can attest that he has been one of the most Godly people I have ever known. His faith in God is astounding and has been a wonderful example for me and for all the people around him. In his mid-eighties now, God continues to bless him and use him to bring others to Christ.
April 19, 2019
Epic account of what Jesus has done / is doing in Quebec. Ended up reading it in one sitting, highly recommend.
May 3, 2020
Ce livre est inspirant. De voir l'oeuvre de Dieu dans le Nord-ouest du Québec et l'amour qu'Il a donné à Murray Heron pour ce peuple est simplement motivant. Nous devons continuer d'oeuvrer et prier pour cette grande région pour que l'Église de Dieu grandisse et brille pour Sa gloire dans ce lieu qui demeure hostile à l'Évangile.
December 28, 2022
This was a great biography of a man that most Canadian evangelicals today would be unaware of. Heron was a wonderful man of God, who was used mightily in the 20th century to reach Quebec with the gospel. He spent time in prison for open-air preaching, he was had regular radio and television shows for the gospel, he pastored two congregations (at the same time) for about two decades, he travelled the continent to share of his experiences and garner support for gospel work in Quebec, and he oversaw the building of a Christian camp from the ground up. I love the story of Murray Heron because he was, in many respects, an ordinary man doing extraordinary work for God. He is, as mentioned earlier, unknown, but that is unfortunate, since his story is a remarkable one. Furthermore, for Canadian Christians, I think it would serve us well to be aware of this recent and local church history, within our own nation and within the past few decades (the book was published in 1999). If you want to be encouraged and challenged in your walk with Christ, and learn a bit of Canadian-Quebec church history, this is a great read.
September 9, 2025
I think everyone should read this book! Really encouraging to see what God has done here in Quebec Canada of all places!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews