Back to Jerusalem

Back to Jerusalem chronicles the vision and movement of Chinese Christians who aim to spread Christianity westward from China through Buddhist, Hindu, and Muslim lands along the ancient Silk Road. The book documents their mission to bring the gospel "back" to Jerusalem, completing what they see as a full circle of Christian evangelism around the globe. Paul Hattaway presents interviews and firsthand accounts from Chinese church leaders and believers involved in this missionary movement. The text explores their training methods, the challenges they face, and their strategies for reaching different cultural groups across Asia. The narrative traces the historical roots of the Back to Jerusalem movement from its origins in the 1940s through its revival in modern times. It examines how Chinese Christians prepare for work in hostile environments and details their perspective on their role in global Christianity. The book underscores themes of sacrifice, cultural adaptation, and the shift of Christianity's center of gravity from West to East. It presents a window into how non-Western Christians view their place in global missions and religious history.

Readers highlight the book's insights into the Chinese house church movement and its vision for evangelism along the Silk Road. Most reviews focus on the persecution stories and dedication of Chinese Christians described in the narrative. Liked: - First-hand accounts from Chinese believers - Historical context of Christianity in China - Clear explanation of the Back to Jerusalem movement - Personal testimonies of faith under pressure Disliked: - Some found the writing style basic and repetitive - Questions about accuracy of certain historical claims - Limited depth on current mission activities - Lack of critical analysis of the movement's challenges Ratings: Goodreads: 4.16/5 (386 ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (108 ratings) "Eye-opening look at Chinese Christians' commitment" - Amazon reviewer "Could have provided more concrete details about ongoing work" - Goodreads reviewer "Powerful testimonies but sometimes feels oversimplified" - Christian Book reviewer

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🌏 The "Back to Jerusalem" movement began in the 1920s when Chinese Christians received a vision to bring the gospel westward from China, through the Buddhist, Hindu, and Muslim worlds, all the way back to Jerusalem. 🙏 The Chinese house church leaders featured in the book aim to send 100,000 missionaries along the ancient Silk Road, through some of the world's most challenging and unreached regions. 📖 Author Paul Hattaway conducted extensive interviews with Chinese church leaders while they were in prison or hiding, documenting their stories at great personal risk. 🌟 The book reveals how the Chinese church grew from 1 million believers in 1949 to over 100 million today, despite intense persecution during the Cultural Revolution. 🔄 The movement's name "Back to Jerusalem" represents a full circle of Christianity's spread - from Jerusalem to the West, then to China, and now Chinese Christians carrying it back to where it began.