by: Garth M. Rosell

• Format

  E-Book

  ISBN

  9781441210739

  Pub. Date

  Jul 2008

  SRP

  $19.99

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Endorsements

"This is insider's history at its best. Not only is Garth Rosell a truly first-rate historian, but he has also lived through many of the events he recounts. His front-row seat within the theater of post-war evangelicalism combined with careful work in little-known manuscript materials has yielded an accurate, vivid account of the evangelical movement's twentieth-century revival. This book is real treasure--must reading for all who care about American religion."--Douglas A. Sweeney, associate professor of church history and the history of Christian thought, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School

"Garth Rosell has made one of the most significant contributions to the history of American twentieth-century evangelicalism. Not only does he bring to this project his gifts as a noted historian but he also brings the text to life with insights gleaned from his personal friendships and working relationships with Harold John Ockenga and Billy Graham. This is must reading for anyone who wants to know more about the phenomenon of contemporary American evangelicalism. And it is a fascinating and insightful read for those of us who call ourselves evangelicals and want to know more about the individuals and events that have shaped who we are during the past half century."--John A. Huffman, pastor, St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Newport Beach, California; chairman of the board, Christianity Today International

"The story of post-World War II evangelicalism, and of Harold Ockenga's role in its reconstruction, is here told with an insider's understanding, a historian's eye for detail, and diligence in the use of original sources. Rosell has plowed fresh ground and has given us ways of looking at all of these events that are fresh, authentic, and helpful."--David F. Wells, Andrew Mutch Distinguished Professor of Historical and Systematic Theology, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary

"As I neared the end of this book, I contacted our seminary students and told them that this is a must read. Much more than a history of the evangelical movement in the mid-twentieth century, Garth Rosell's The Surprising Work of God is a compelling charge for today's Christian leaders. Presented as the story of two friends, Harold John Ockenga and Billy Graham, this carefully detailed narrative (don't miss the footnotes!) tells of what happens when a rising generation commits to believe with biblical conviction and to move forward with courage. As I turned each page, I began to believe anew in how the sovereign work of God will once more surprise us as we, the people of God, set our agenda on building bridges, not walls, for his glory. It was a new day for Ockenga, Graham, and their band of brothers as they believed that nothing would be impossible through God. This book will leave you in that same realm of expectations for our generation."--Barry Corey, president, Biola University

"The American evangelical movement today owes its strong cultural presence and evangelistic vigor to a generation of men and women who are in danger of being forgotten. Garth Rosell offers us a family album filled with both panoramic views of a growing movement and intimate snapshots of those who rode the crest of the wave of revival that was about to break on mid-century America. It's an exciting story, and as the son of one of those early revivalists, Rosell is just the person to tell it."--Jennifer Trafton, managing editor, Christian History & Biography

"In this thoroughly researched book, Garth Rosell has put flesh on the dry bones of history. His deep immersion in the rich records left by Harold John Ockenga brings to life the critical developments that forged the modern evangelical movement. The result is a most valuable book."--Mark Noll, Francis A. McAnaney Professor of History, University of Notre Dame

"Evangelicalism is said to be in the midst of an identity crisis. If so, it would be hard to imagine a more inspiring or compelling remedy than that offered by Garth M. Rosell in The Surprising Work of God. Rosell offers a fresh appraisal of the historical context, as well as the driving convictions and passions, that fostered the rebirth of evangelicalism in the mid-twentieth century under the visionary leadership of Harold John Ockenga, Billy Graham, and other likeminded, gifted individuals.
Well-chosen quotations from the writings, speeches, and personal correspondence of Ockenga, Graham, and others reflect Rosell's extensive research and engage the reader with their brilliance, spiritual insight, and enduring relevance. Rosell's convincing admiration for his subjects is balanced, however, by many salutary reminders of how the heroes of his story, like their modern successors, struggled to live up to their convictions. Indeed, if modern evangelicalism is to resolve its identity crisis, it needs to recapture the vibrant and holistic faith of its founding fathers and, wherever possible, go beyond them not by undermining their vision of civility, social transformation, and cultural engagement but by attempting more faithfully to fulfill it."--Gordon P. Hugenberger, senior minister, Park Street Church, Boston; adjunct professor of Old Testament, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary

Reviews

"[An] engaging study. . . . Surprising Work offers a new angle on the awakenings, for although Graham emerged as the champion of the mid-century revivalists, he was far from alone. . . . Most illuminating are Garth Rosell's well-documented accounts of his father, Merv Rosell. . . . As for Ockenga, parts of Surprising Work offer a straightforward biography. . . . Rosell includes a helpful account of Ockenga's influential vision for evangelicalism during the 1940s and '50s. . . . Readers will likely appreciate Rosell's decision to make the new evangelical movement of the 1950s the dominant story."--George M. Marsden, Christianity Today

"It is the strength of this book by Garth Rosell that he gets to the heart of the matter insofar as the term [Evangelicalism] has taken on a certain normative definition in American religious and cultural life. . . . Precisely because of Evangelicalism's many faces, this book must be background reading toward understanding religious personalities as divergent as Jim Wallis or John Hagee. . . . A really touching aspect of Rosell's book is its intimate relation to his own biography."--Rodney L. Petersen, Bulletin of the Boston Theological Institute

"Rosell offers an engaging portrayal of the emergence of the worldwide evangelical movement. . . . Highlighting in particular the pivotal influence of the mid-twentieth century American spiritual awakening, Rosell provides a well-researched account of the events leading up to the national revival, the influential leaders in the movement, and the lasting influence which the revivals had upon the emerging evangelicalism. . . . Rosell presents a balanced yet intimate look at the journey of the mid-twentieth century pastors, evangelists, and leaders who witnessed God's amazing work within their churches and nation. . . . More than just an articulate historical account of the emergence of American neo-evangelicalism, Rosell manages to capture the heartfelt passion and excitement of the movement and its leaders. As the son of Merv Rosell, one of the foremost evangelists of the time, the author's insider perspective gives the events surrounding the mid-century spiritual awakening a vibrancy and poignancy that both challenges and encourages its readers. . . . Rosell proves that many lessons are yet to be learned from these godly men."--Sarita D. Gallagher, Evangelical Missions Quarterly

"One of the most dramatic ecumenical facts of the twentieth century was the mid-century emergence of an irenic, culturally engaged, intellectually respectable orthodoxy from the American white fundamentalist Protestant subculture. . . . This volume fills out the story with [Harold John] Ockenga's contribution, demonstrating his initiative and genius as one of the great ecclesial statespersons of the era. . . . The author skillfully mines the Ockenga archives to document this history against the broad sweep of twentieth-century American cultural history and Protestant theology. . . . Ockenga's theological acumen, organizational ability, and diplomatic networking skills as outlined here are the glue that held the movement together and made it a nationwide phenomenon. The author skillfully organizes the narrative around the life of his subject and the priorities of the movement. . . . The data here is rich, the narrative compelling. . . . We can be grateful to this account for filling out for the general reader and for documenting for the specialist the monumental contribution of this singular figure to the transformation of United States Protestantism in the last half of the twentieth century."--Jeffrey Gros, FSC, Journal of Ecumenical Studies

"[A] stimulating account of the 'remarkable individuals' who revitalized American evangelicalism between the 1930s and 1950s. . . . To read Rosell's rich, descriptive prose . . . is to gain direct access to the thoughts, emotions, expectations, and frustrations that evangelical leaders encountered in this formative period. This is where the insider's perspective translates into powerful storytelling. As history designed to instruct, The Surprising Work of God proceeds with scholarly diligence and care. . . . Rosell's impressive command of American religious history further strengthens his work and allows him to draw important connections between Ockenga's life and key developments in modern American Protestantism. . . . Rosell's book should . . . excite scholars about fresh possibilities for the study of evangelicalism in the modern era."--Darren Dochuk, Church History

"To understand a past still so near that some of those involved are still alive, the best we may hope for is an 'insider historian' who lived through the events, knew the players personally, and breathed in the mentalité, but also has the technical mastery and interpretive prudence to tell the story in a thorough, evenhanded way. In Rosell, twentieth-century evangelicalism has just such a historian. His book narrates reliably and compellingly the emergence during the 1940s and 1950s of fundamentalism's more irenic and culturally-informed child. . . . Rosell draws many insights on the meanings of the evangelical movement in America. . . . [This book is] a model of critical history: meticulously researched, judiciously told, and fully footnoted. The generous bibliography only adds to its value for scholars and students of evangelicalism. An appropriate text for any course that deals with twentieth-century evangelicalism."--Chris R. Armstrong, Religious Studies Review

"Rosell's superbly written story is grounded in thorough research. . . . Rosell's personal acquaintance with the people at the center of the story enables him to provide valuable insight into the personalities, relationships, and events that gave rise to the rebirth of the evangelical movement. In spite of Rosell's familiarity with the people and events at the center of the story, he remains objective throughout the story. If the result of serious scholarship can be delightful to read, Rosell has achieved this end. At least everyone who has an interest in the history of Christianity in North America or the history of the evangelical movement should read this book. . . . However, if our past defines who we are in the present, Rosell's work deserves broader attention. Anyone who identifies as an evangelical would benefit from reading it. Ockenga and Graham's commitment to scholarship, biblical preaching, unity, and global mission is deserving of emulation by the current generation of evangelicals. The story Rosell tells is one that younger evangelicals need to know."--Roy Williams, Calvin Theological Journal

"An excellent and much-needed introduction to the life and work of an important historical figure. . . . Rosell's text explores sources previously unavailable to scholars, such as scores of personal letters previously held by Ockenga's family. The result is an intimate biography that recognizes his inner, family, and public lives. . . . One of the greatest contributions of the book is the way it helps account for the far-reaching impact of the movement made possible by its open evangelical ecumenism. . . . The Surprising Work of God is well researched, well written, and an important contribution to the study of American religious history. Scholars, pastors, and lay people will all benefit from reading it in order to understand how American evangelicalism was shaped during the middle years of the twentieth century."--Kurt Peterson, Covenant Companion

"Rosell's examination of Ockenga's life and influence on the evangelical movement's growth and worldwide advancement is both insightful and engaging. His use of notes, letters, and other materials left behind by Ockenga brings an insider's perspective to the mid-century evangelicals that could not be gained otherwise. Rosell clearly demonstrates that Ockenga was a pivotal player in the resurgence of the neo-evangelicals, and his use of Ockenga as the window through which he views the twentieth-century awakening is commendable. . . . An excellent book for the classroom and a must-read for anyone interested in twentieth-century evangelical Protestantism."--Richard J. Cherok, Stone-Campbell Journal

"An invigorating tour through the banner years of the first evangelicals. . . . The Surprising Work of God comes highly recommended. It is essential reading for those who wish to understand what happened in the mid-twentieth century to so dramatically reposition conservative American Christianity in the academy, the culture, and the broader society. Due to his access to the Ockenga archives, the author has tapped a wide array of sources, including untouched sermons, letters, addresses, interviews, and more. The book reads less like a work of historical drudgery and more like a movie script. This is perhaps the text's greatest strength. . . . Rosell deftly maneuvers between snapshot biographies, enlightening anecdotes, historical theology, and spiritual commentary in the text, making for a work that is unapologetically evangelical but undeniably profitable. . . . Because of the rich sourcing and the skill with which the history is told, the book stands as a work of academic history while simultaneously edifying and challenging the reader."--Owen Strachan, Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society

"The Surprising Work of God is an important book because Rosell had access to the personal papers and files of Ockenga. . . . Rosell does not write critically but as an Evangelical who truly admires these two men [Ockenga and Graham] who helped give birth to this modern phenomenon. Careful readers can gain much insight into the nature and history of Evangelicalism from this book. Such insight will help them understand the world of Evangelicalism that exists all around us in contemporary America."--John M. Brenner, Wisconsin Lutheran Quarterly