Endorsements
Reading about God’s Spirit in action is always an encouragement. Tom Lennie delves into Scotland’s rich history and assesses the numerous accounts of revival that set people on fire for the gospel in the second half of the 19th century. These stories embolden us to live out our faith with the assurance that the same God is at work today. Read and be inspired!
R. T. Kendall, Previous minister of Westminster Chapel, London
Scotland was deeply affected by revival during the two decades following 1858. Many people turned from nominal Christianity or even outright scoffing to deep personal faith. In this carefully documented book, Tom Lennie shows that the revival movement of 1859–61 broke out in every Scottish county and that the Americans Dwight L. Moody and Ira D. Sankey roused Edinburgh and Glasgow to a high pitch of spiritual enthusiasm. Scotland was far more ablaze than we have previously known.
David Bebbington, Professor of History, University of Stirling, Stirling
The Living God is not done with revealing His revival glory to those who walk in repentance and faith, so it is also my prayer that this extraordinary book will not be read merely as an historical document, but that it will set hearts on fire for God and invigorate the people of God to seek Him once again for showers of blessing on a dry and thirsty land.
Paul Hattaway, Founder and Director, Asia Harvest & Author of many books
On reading this book, on the back of his two earlier volumes, I am left with a deep impression of the overwhelming vastness of the grace, mercy and favour of God towards our land in times past; but also with a deep sense of sadness at the way in which, as a nation and as churches within it, we have squandered and neglected these abundant mercies. Lord, have mercy upon us!
Hector Morrison, Principal, Highland Theological College, Dingwall
Lennie’s historical grasp of the national and local context of the mid–Victorian era provides an insightful and scholarly grasp on what God was achieving during those years. In covering areas as geographically and culturally diverse as rural Aberdeenshire, industrial Lanarkshire, the borders and the north of Scotland Lennie has provided not only a scholar’s understanding of the times, but he also describes the significance and importance of: passionate prayer, the role of the local church, itinerant preachers, and the impact of the Spirit on entire communities. Lennie’s writing, however, should come with a ‘health warning’; it is difficult to put it down once you begin to flick through its pages.
Richard Gibbons, Senior Pastor, First Presbyterian Church, Greenville, South Carolina
What I love about Tom’s writing is the scholarly research that he puts into them, and yet he has an ability to relay that material so that it becomes a story that you want to read … and keep reading. … My prayer is that through reading this book, many will say ‘I am waiting and longing for Scotland to be Ablaze again with revival fires’!
Gordon Pettie, CEO Revelation TV & Author of ‘Do It Again, Lord’, ‘Hey Howie’ and ‘Not If, But When’
They say that history is boring – but what makes it interesting is when you get to the details. If that’s the case then Tom Lennie’s Scotland Ablaze must be one of the most interesting books on Scotland ever written. It is packed full of well–researched and evidenced detail. This is a book that will be used for decades to come as a source on the state of Christianity in Scotland in the 19th Century. You can dip in and out of it, but most of all it reminds us of a glorious time in Scottish history. Scotland Ablaze leads us to cry ‘Lord, do it again!’
David Robertson, Well–known pastor and apologist
As we read what God did in our past, I pray this book will do the same for a new generation, and stir us to cry to God to do a similar mighty work again. May Scotland be set ablaze for His glory once more!
David Strain, Senior Minister, First Presbyterian Church, Jackson, Mississippi
You will find that this is a book you will be reluctant to put down. … Tom Lennie’s latest book is candid about the difficulties and controversies which arise in revival but the overall effect is to challenge us to pray for the valley of dry bones to come alive again as a great army.