25 Surprising Marriages: How Great Christians Struggled to Make Their Marriages Work

While I studied the accomplishments of great Christian leaders during Church History and Theology classes in seminary, I knew very little about their personal and private lives. But through this fascinating book, I now know much more about the personalities and marriages of people like John Newton, William Carey, Francis Schaeffer, and John Calvin. The pioneers of our faith struggled with their calls to ministry, those they should marry, mistakes and misjudgments, and unrelenting criticism - just like most Christian leaders do today. But most of these impactful leaders would have accomplished little without the support and encouragement of their loving and faithful partners. Most Christians today know little about heroes like former slave owner John Newton, or ex-major league ballplayer Billy Sunday, or African explorer David Livingstone, or American missionary pioneer Adoniram Judson - but all of their stories are instructive, and most are inspiring. In fact, I had two dominant thoughts as I read these stories. First, many are so engrossing that they should be considered as large-screen films. Second, Christians today owe a debt of gratitude to these leaders and their spouses who persevered in carrying out divine assignments despite often-agonizing suffering. The work of author William J. Petersen lives on through this and other works, and we are much the better for it. Highly recommended - and makes a great gift!

Wow is all I can say. As a Christian woman, this book was profound in shedding light on my role as a wife and as a woman of God. My husband was equally moved by the stories of these heroes of the faith, who are human just like us, who struggled just like us. Faith and trust in God does not equal a perfect life, and it is comforting to see that these faithful people had their share of marital struggles as well, but ultimately faith and love won.

An excellent book for anyone considering marriage, especially those who follow Jesus Christ, the only "begotten" son of God. Case histories are very helpful in dealing with lifes problems in human relationships. All marriages have their problems, as a Christian psychologist and brother in Christ once told me; "marriage is a continual series of adjustments". I found this to be very true and so reading about other relationships gives me more perspective in the fine art of being a better peacemaker in all relationships. Jesus and Saint Paul said many very important things about familial relationships: Mat 10:36, & 1Cor 7th chapter esp. verse 33, KJV or NIV. I got married at 19 and have been married for over 52 years to the same woman.

Those who love honest biographies (which don't sugar-coat our heroes)will be delighted with this selection of 25 biographies focusing on the marriages of notable Christian couples. Included are such diverse couples as Charles and Susie Spurgeon, C.S and Joy Lewis, Martin and Katie Luther, Billy and Nell Sunday, Calvin and Harriet Beecher Stowe, and Jonathan and Sarah Edwards.The biographies are grouped into different categories reflecting the style and success of the marriages, such as "Romancing the Rough Diamonds" (John Newton was a rough diamond, as were Dwight Moody and Charles Spurgeon.), and "What Went Wrong?," which details a few of the not-so-successful marriages. John Wesley, for example, wrote to his brother Charles four years after his marriage, "Love is rot." Molly Wesley is remembered as the wife who was seen dragging her husband around the room by his hair!The book is well-written, and you will enjoy every minute of it!

This book has been a very informative and realistic look into the lives of well known "Godly" men of the past. Their struggles and weaknesses are freely made known and yet in spite of their "human-ness", God used them in mighty ways. An encouragement to all of us as we travel through the years of being married and face our own struggles.

We have bought many copies of this book when it was first published. It was given to me as a birthday gift. It is worth giving to those in early years of ministry for them to learn from the past of other godly men and women who did not always have perfect marriages. It is a real worthwhile book for any believer to read.

Excellent! Sometimes we don't think that certain theologians had a life beyond whatever great thing God used them to do. But this book puts a different spin on remembering the fact that theologians are human beings too!

This book is a great read. Though he doesn't do a great job with providing citations, the stories do check out. Well composed book.

If you are a Man of God and you have mot read this book, you should probably take a break from your family to read it.you will certainly come back a better family man!great examples, great faith

Good book to have...

Great Book .