Living Water, by Chinese evangelist Brother Yun and editor Paul Hattaway, collects in one volume 28 messages, in English translation, which Yun has preached to audiences around the world since his emigration from China in 1997.

For readers familiar with Yun’s previous, autobiographical work The Heavenly Man, the newer book provides a welcome and valuable opportunity to learn more from a man who has experienced God’s faithfulness and mighty power in the midst of intense persecution. Those who meet Brother Yun for the first time in these pages can still appreciate and benefit from Yun’s thoughts, but they may face a stronger sense of culture shock as they read. The author’s favorite themes of repentance, revival, and faithful endurance of persecution and suffering are as foreign to most American Christians as stir-fried tofu in hot pepper sauce would be to our palates.

As to the composition of the book, the editor has arranged the messages in three parts by theme, as explained in the introduction. Each sermon stands complete in itself, so this book works well as a chapter-a-day devotional book or even as a topical resource, with the chapters read out of order according to thematic interest. The style also is distinctively sermonic, full of Scripture, personal illustration, prayers, and exhortations to the reader to take action. Rather than a systematic development of a central thesis, it is continuity of theme and narrative voice which give unity to this book. The English translation is nicely done and makes for smooth reading, although the author’s personality seemed veiled, less vibrant somehow, making me wish I could read and understand his messages in his native tongue. I would not necessarily view these qualities as stylistic weaknesses, but they could prove distracting or disorienting from full appreciation of Yun’s passion for building the kingdom of God.

Truly, Living Water offers great insights to the American Christian struggling with a sense that all is not well with the church here, but uncertain of how to respond. Coming as Brother Yun does from a rapidly growing, strongly evangelistic church undaunted by poverty and persecution, he presents a big God—still willing and able to do the sorts of miracles in the Acts of the Apostles—and a humbling perspective on the church in Europe and North America. The messages’ saturation with Bible passages reminds me of much older books, such as Puritan writings and Augustine’s Confessions. His bold exhortations to repentance, obedience, surrender to God, and joyful trust in the midst of suffering bring to mind missionary writers such as Amy Carmichael, Andrew Murray, and Elisabeth Elliot. These are powerful, invigorating, challenging truths, but not for the faint of heart. The emphasis on the power of the Holy Spirit will push some American evangelicals out of their comfort zones, but Yun’s thoughts on forgiveness and enduring suffering are well worth a bit of unease.

In conclusion, those who are satisfied with the status quo in the church and their own lives, who go to the bookstore seeking a cozy sip of comfort, should stay away from this book.  For others, ready for a strong cup of coffee to jolt them awake, Living Water should prove just the refreshment they desire.

Review by Christina Moore