The Rushing on of the Purposes of God: Christian Missions in Shanxi since 1876

Andrew T. Kaiser

Dec 2016 · Wipf and Stock Publishers

About this ebook

This sweeping survey is the first complete account of nearly 150 years of Protestant missions in Shanxi Province, China. Beginning with the arrival of the Protestant missionaries during the 1878 North China Famine and the fiery test of the 1900 Boxer Uprising and subsequent martyrdom of hundreds of Shanxi Christians, this important book brings together the historical accounts of the spread of Christianity in the province all the way up to the present. From the personal papers and contemporary records of the missionaries, Kaiser draws a vivid picture of the women and men who devoted their lives to advancing the cause of the gospel in Shanxi. He weaves the stories of bold local Christians like Pastor Hsi and such notable missionaries as Gladys Aylward, Timothy Richard, Hudson Taylor, and the Cambridge Seven into the broader tapestry of China missions, tracing the birth and development of a thriving and dynamic Shanxi church. Drawing on mission archives, academic studies, and firsthand knowledge, this fusion of scholarly inquiry with missionary biography aims to both inspire and inform, making the lessons of the missionary past available to a new generation of readers.

About the author

Andrew T. Kaiser received his PhD from the University of Edinburgh for his research on the Welsh Baptist missionary to China, Timothy Richard. He and his family have been living in Shanxi since 1997, serving the people of the province through professional work and public benefit projects.