Number 17: The Heavenly Man by Brother Yun | 100 Books That Changed The Church

Estimated Reading Time - 2 minutes

Voted #17 by Premier Radio listeners as part of ‘The 100 Books That Changed the Church’ list curated by Premier Christianity magazine and Eden.

This is the book on the list most likely to leave you sitting in silence when you finish it. The Heavenly Man, co-authored by the Chinese house church leader known as Brother Yun and mission writer Paul Hattaway, is one of the most remarkable Christian testimonies of modern times — and Premier Christianity's recognition of its impact on the Church is well deserved.

Yun grew up in rural China during the Cultural Revolution, came to faith through a miraculous encounter with a Bible, and went on to become one of the most significant evangelists of China's underground church movement. The book describes repeated imprisonment, torture, and a 74-day hunger strike during which he claims God sustained him miraculously. It includes his extraordinary escape from a maximum-security prison, which he and his supporters regard as a modern-day miracle. It ends with his eventual exile and ministry across the globe.

The book is not comfortable reading, and it is not meant to be. It holds up a mirror to the Christianity of the comfortable West and asks quietly devastating questions about the gap between what we say we believe and how we actually live.

Want to know more about the full list then read our blog article here.

About the Author: Brother Yun continues to minister globally through Back to Jerusalem, an evangelistic vision of the Chinese church. Paul Hattaway is a New Zealand-born mission writer whose China Chronicles books are essential resources on the persecuted church.

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