A friend told me her copy of this book arrived yesterday. She said she skipped around looking for names of men she knew, then she decided it was such a well-written, intriguing book that she was going to enjoy reading it from cover to cover. My friend is an adult, and although Brave Heroes and Bold Defenders is a book for kids, the profiles of these daring men of God inspire kids of all ages (as did the earlier published companion book about women, Courageous World Changers.)

One especially redeeming story is about John M. Perkins (1930 to Present) who fled Mississippi as a Black teen with a burden of hate in his heart. He had endured extreme racism, being shot at, and the murder of his brother, a World War ll veteran. He said that after he met Jesus, God changed his heart radically and challenged his hatred toward others. He returned to his home state in the 1960s and became a bold civil rights activist with an agenda of love. Although he still experienced harassment, beatings and imprisonment, he returned good for evil. He persisted to establish the Voice of Calvary Ministries. Later he returned to California and established ministries there, including the Good News Bible Clubs and technology centers. The John and Vera Mae Perkins Foundation continues to transform lives and communities through the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Another touching story is about Joseph de Veuster (1840 to 1889) of Belgium who became known as Father Damien. His ministry was on the island of Molokai, home to seven hundred incurable lepers. He worked alongside the residents to tear down shacks, establish farms and schools, build a church and schools, turning a despondent, isolated community into a thriving one. He served on the island for ten years until he finally contracted the dreaded disease and died young at the age of forty-nine.

This book is a keeper for the whole family to read together and to reread when you need a dose of encouragement and a reminder that for centuries and today, God enables the followers of His Son to influence and change the world.

We absolutely love Shirley Raye Redmond's books, and this one is another gem! The one-page profiles of these 50 men of God are inspiring and so beautifully illustrated! I've enjoyed reading this book with my children and learning new things about some of our favorite Christian heroes. We were also introduced to many others, and inspired to read more about some of these historical figures. What a rewarding experience to hear your children talking about how they would love to impact the world for Christ as these men did!

I no longer have little children. Even my grandchildren are close to being adults. I bought this for a resource for myself. It's a quick read filled with good information. I love reading biographies and autobiographies that are written for young adults. They are easy to understand and I can pass them on.

Brave Heroes and Bold Defenders is the companion book to Courageous World Changers. This book is filled with 50 short biographies and beautifully illustrated drawings on men of faith from all different backgrounds and cultures. My son and I thoroughly enjoyed enjoyed reading and learned so much about these brave defenders of the Christian faith. Even though this book is written for children, it is a beautifuuly written and illustrated book for all ages!

This is a fanastic book, telling the true history about men who shaped our country! Pefect for my grandsons!