Darkest before the Dawn

“Richard Cook reminds Evangelicals and other Christians that church history is really mission history. With illustrative stories, personal observations, and thoughtful questions, he uses the history of Christianity in China to raise important missiological questions and to invite readers—both Chinese and Western—to develop a more nuanced understanding of the work of God in East Asia.”


—Daryl Ireland, Associate Director, Center for Global Christianity and Mission, Boston University





“A badly needed volume with solid scholarship, popular appeal, and personal touch. It should be highly relevant and significant for anyone who cares about the Chinese church and its ministry.”


—Kevin Xiyi Yao, Associate Professor, Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary





“Through meticulous research and engaging personal insights, Richard Cook skillfully weaves together the historical and theological threads that make up the story of Christianity in China, bringing this story to life and inviting the reader into the lives of Chinese Christians through the centuries. His careful, balanced treatment of the perennial issues facing Chinese Christianity provides the background for a thought-provoking look at the role of China’s church in the twenty-first century.”


—Brent Fulton, Founder, ChinaSource