Goforth of China: Must-Read or Not?

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

Readability

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Original Sources

Rating: 3 out of 5.

Devotional Quality

Rating: 2 out of 5.

Avoids Hagiography

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Biblical Clarity

FieldChina
MissionaryJonathan Goforth
AuthorRosalind Goforth
Era1880s–1930s

Overview

In Goforth of China, Rosalind Goforth recounts her husband’s life story. She traces his transformation from a humble Ontario farm boy, to a misunderstood Bible college student, to a fruitful missionary, and finally to an impassioned revivalist. The sections about how God worked during their early evangelistic efforts in the Henan province of China are especially encouraging.

Originally written in the months following her husband’s death, Rosalind Goforth’s book understandably has a hagiographic flavor to it. She includes letters of praise for her husband that she received after his funeral. A biography written by a more objective author might avoid this pitfall.

Like with every book, I would recommend discernment as you read. In 1904, Goforth read Charles Finney’s Lectures on Revivals which greatly influenced him and his future ministry. By 1907, Goforth began preaching in revival services in Korea which led to him becoming a sought-after speaker both in China and abroad. In addition, the priority Goforth gave to ministry over family results in some difficult dilemmas in the book.

2 thoughts on “Goforth of China: Must-Read or Not?”

  1. Norman Mayfield

    Thank you for your ministry. I would like to correspond with you. My brother is retired missionary from Ecuador. His son Kevin Mayfield is now in Ecuador and his son Jeff is now in Ecuador. All with Biblical ministries Worldwide.
    I have read your first two books with great profit

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