John Pollock

We shouldn't be surprised when we have the examples in the Bible of David and Saul of Tarsus! John Pollock's deft, biographical pen sweeps over great reformers, liberators and evangelists of the 18th and 19th centuries. He shows their spiritual development, often from unpromising beginnings, and encourages us to believe that God can use us too. Characters include:John Newton, William Wilberforce, James Ramsey, Sir Charles MiddletonSir George Williams, The 7th Earl of Shaftsbury, Robert Raikes, Elizabeth FryThomas "Stonewall" Jackson, Sir Henry Havelock, Sir Herbert EdwardesD L Moody, Brownlow North, R A Torrey, Bramwell Booth, Lord RadstockHudson Taylor, Adoniram Judson, Mildred Cable, Stanley Smith, Rosalie Harvey, James Chalmers, Ernest Presswood, John and Betty Stam, Sir Wilfred Grenfell, Mary Slessor and Rowland Bingham.

Harold Schofield, a brilliant Oxford doctor who had laboured as a missionary in China for many years, was on his knees praying, ‘Lord, give me missionaries from British Universities to help in China’. The day he died, D. E. Hoste applied to Hudson Taylor for mission work in the China Inland Mission (Now Overseas Missionary Fellowship). Schofield’s prayer was answered as seven Cambridge students volunteered to leave behind cosy lives of wealth and privilege to serve God in whatever way they were led. These seven inspired thousands of others to think seriously of missionary service. Included among them was C. T. Studd, captain of England and the finest cricketer of his day – if he could give all that up, then so could anyone! The story of these seven are an inspiration that God can take people and use them in incredible ways – if they are willing to serve. As Pollock says in his book ‘Theirs is the story of ordinary men, and thus may be repeated’. Will it be repeated in your life?

The drama of a novel meets scholarship in leading Christian biographer John Pollock's classic work about one of the most transforming persons in history: the apostle Paul." The Apostle" masterfully combines careful adherence to biblical text, detailed research, and a storyteller's gift to create a book equally relevant for both casual readers fascinated by Paul's life and serious biblical scholars. Pollock begins his fast-movig narrative with Stephen's death and follows Paul through his conversion, missionary journeys, and eventual execution. Many will enjoy it simply as a satisfying and insightful true-life story, although maps and a study guide allow for deeper exploration. "The Apostle" was originally published in 1969, and this new edition marks the first significant revision in many years.

Charles George Gordon gained universal respect and affection in the slums of urban Victorian Britain fighting on spiritual battlegrounds. Later, he obtained the same reputation as he commanded in battle Chinese, Egyptian, and African (but never British) troops, to become a British military hero. General Gordon died while trying to save Khartoum from fire and sword in 1885, the mourning from a grateful nation was only surpassed by the death's of Henry Havelock at Lucknow and Nelson at Trafalgar. Gladstone, Britain's Prime Minister at the time feared it would bring down his government. He is now known as one of Britain's greatest military heroes in the line of Wellington, Nelson, Havelock, Harris and Montgomery. There are 4 parts to this well researched and exciting biography: Part One: 'Yellow Jacket', 1833-1864. Part Two: 'The Liberator' 1865-1879. Part Three: 'The Pillar of Cloud' 1880-1883. Part Four: 'Too Late' 1884-1885. John Pollock, author of other highly praised biographies (including Havelock's), draws on extensive, but little used, manuscript sources to vividly retell a fascinating and colourful true story of an extraordinary figure.