B. R. Aychi and Dave Coles. Living Fire: Advancing God’s Kingdom in Challenging Places. Beyond, 2024.

I have mentioned before about a friend who would share articles he had copied and then highlighted in yellow the parts he thought were especially important. Occasionally he would share one that he said he wanted to dunk the whole piece into a bucket of yellow ink. Living Fire is like that.

Over the years, we have shared a number of books on the spread of the gospel in places that traditionally have resisted followers of Jesus. That includes such books as Bhojpuri Breakthrough, A Wind in the House of Islam, and Cabbages in the Desert. This book, though having some of the same themes, is different. The other books tend to be mostly testimonies, telling the reader what has been happening. This book tells more about how they did it.

As in the last two books mentioned above, the authors have to be somewhat circumspect about the locations where the work has been taking place. It clearly is somewhere in East Africa and involves connections with people practicing any of three religions: Christianity, Islam, and tribal animism. While some specifics may differ depending on which group is being encountered, the method is similar in each instance. And, to no one surprise, it is based on the biblical pattern we see Jesus employ.

Because of the tribalism and ethnic identities with different religions, many times people find themselves going into areas inhabited by traditional enemies. The Christian workers often confess that they have to overcome prejudice and other barriers. One admitted:

I realized I had been wrong in my prejudice toward them—that they all had hard hearts. Instead, I saw softness and welcoming attitudes, and I deeply felt God’s love for them. I realized, “These people don’t belong outside God’s kingdom. God loves them, and they need to come into his kingdom.” (163)

Unlike what had become almost a standard in the Western church,

We never used a monologue strategy with an eloquent preacher delivering sermons. Instead, the authority of God’s word and the working of the Holy Spirit, through the group discovery process, proved very powerful…[we] had a pattern of group discussion in Bible study rather than relying on one person as the teacher or “answer man.” (221)

One key strategy, one which commonly appears in the Book of Acts, is that they try to minister to families rather than individuals. Yes, sometimes there is persecution, but even here the workers keep a positive outlook—“God often uses persecution to weed out nominal believers” (348).

When people embrace Jesus, and especially if they have been baptized, “We help them understand that their identity has changed, so their lifestyle has to change as well” (443). From my observation, the main reason here in the West that people are reluctant to follow Jesus is that they know they would have to change. Of course, that is precisely what repentance means.

They also recognize the importance of Acts 15:1-38, the “Jerusalem Council.” The early Christians, who were all Jewish, were not always sure how to handle Gentile converts. This passage describes how they settled the matter. So it is with converts from non-Christian cultures today. Some behavior like fornication and idolatry is non-negotiable, they must go. But other customs and traditions may not have to be completely discarded but simply modified to align with God’s will. Romans 12 also provides some valuable instructions and guidelines for living the Christian life with others.

Many cultural elements can be redeemed and continue. The essential change takes place in a person’s heart and allegiance. (658)

A disciples’ central motivation is the love of Jesus. This love motivates obedience, not law, obligation or a change in religion.” (747)

One movement leader notes, “When we don’t pray, we’re just working. But when we pray, God works” (576) In the specific network author Aychi works with there are over 700 groups of intercessors.

“When we share the good news with families, we don’t ask them to join a new religion. We invite them to start a new relationship—a relationship with Jesus.” (622)

So it goes.

In other words, this book is not so much a “what” but a “how to.” This is what they have seen that works. Because it is based on biblical instructions and patterns, the basic approach could work for anyone. I suspect that Western believers working in Western countries could adapt this with very minor modifications. Indeed, from what I have read of the Alpha Course in some European countries, a similar approach to spreading the gospel and church life is already working in less exotic places.

We don’t say much about other peoples’ prophets or their beliefs. We speak only about Christ, salvation, and the Bible. Through this strategy, God has given us many new disciples. (650)

A key scripture is Matthew 28:18-20:

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Notice what one of the leaders says about that:

If we don’t teach them to obey everything Jesus commanded, their group can function as a club, but not as an ekklesia—a biblical church…Jesus didn’t say “Teach them everything I have taught you,” but “teach them to obey everything I have commanded you.” The disciple making process must include teaching believers to obey all the Lord’s commands. They don’t know all his commands at first, but they make a faith commitment to follow Jesus wherever he leads, obeying each of his commands as they learn them. Knowledge without obedience is useless. (1021)

Making disciples means an obedience-based approach opposed to a knowledge-based approach.

For some groups they have what they call a “Saul to Paul” strategy. They intentionlly focus on devout religious leaders. They are respected, and many times when they learn about Jesus, they follow. They already understand a supernatural commitment.

They say they see miracles and deliverance ministry about sixty percent of the time when they begin to minister in a new location. Signs can get people’s attention, but studying the Bible shows more about the nature and truth of God.

Disciple making is not an individualistic goal; we do this together. When we cultivate relationships, we see much better outcomes. (1653)

People need to feel, “This is our Jesus, who has come to save us,” not, “this is their Jesus whom they’re trying to coerce me to accept.” (1276)

Living Fire repeatedly notes that Jesus’ method was not so much formal training for a ministerial position, but observation and study in order to make disciples who themselves become disciple makers. God sets apart leaders not based so much on education but how they live the Christian life, share the word, and are willing to do so. “The word of God is our central authority, and obedience to Scripture shapes everything we do” (1384).

There is a lot more to learn here. This review barely touched on leadership, but finding and making leaders is important for any church to grow. They also emphasize “a plurality of leaders,” not just a single pastor serving alone.

The steps enumerated in this book are relatively simple. Anyone can work from such an outline. Indeed, in the context of an oral culture which is typical of many of the places here, listening and sharing can be as effective as reading.

I would encourage anyone interested in church growth to check out this book. It is practical, biblical, and experience shows that it works.

N.B. We have received a pre-publication review copy of this book. Its release date is January 15, 2025. Parenthetical references are Kindle locations, not page numbers.