Ten Who Changed the World Daniel L. Akin | Reviewed by Brian Daniels Dr. Akin’s recent volume “Ten Who Changed the World” is much more than just a printed collection of sermons by a gifted preacher and teacher of the Word. It is a manifesto of sorts, a statement of the vision that Dr. Akin has sought to place at the center of Southeastern’s work and a written embodiment of his heart for the salvation of the nations. I can remember what he said when I was part of the seminary’s team of student ambassadors: as promoters of the school, our message was simple—Southeastern is, first and foremost, a Great Commission seminary. This book captures that idea in its focus on biblical exposition and missionary biographies. As a strong supporter of expositional preaching, Dr. Akin builds each chapter around a central Scripture text that he uses to drive the discussion of a significant figure in the history of Christian missions. The book strives to showcase biblical truth as well as the grace of God manifested in the lives of his servants. The stories of these missionaries are a testimony to God’s grand plan of worldwide deliverance from sin as well as a means of promoting the cause of missions within the church. As he says, “There are no Lone Rangers in this race. . . . [In Hebrews 11] we find men and women who have already run the race and crossed the finished line. Their lives are recorded to help us so that we ‘won’t grow weary and lose heart (12:3 HCSB). God gives us heroes of the faith to encourage and inspire us as we run. This is one of the reasons I so love missionary biographies. They always encourage me” (125). The first chapter explores the life and ministry of William Carey—who in Akin’s words “rightly deserves the honor of being known as ‘the father of the modern missions movement’” (1)—alongside what is without a doubt the foundational biblical missions statement, the Great Commission of Matthew 28. Also present in this work are notable missionary heroes Adoniram and Ann Judson (discussed with Romans 8:28–39), Bill Wallace (Philippians 1:21), Lottie Moon (Romans 12:1), Jim Elliot (Psalm 96), George Leile (Galatians 6:11–18), David Brainerd (2 Timothy 1:8–12), Eric Liddell (Hebrews 12:1–3), John and Betty Stam (Psalm 67), and James Fraser (Revelation 5:8–10). “Ten Who Changed the World” has both encouraged and convicted me, and I hope it has the same effect on others. Dr. Akin’s passion for the proclamation of the gospel to all people is evident to anyone who has spent much time under his teaching, and this volume spreads that vision. I pray the Spirit uses it in all our lives as he sanctifies us and molds us to do his will. May we all be as Jesus-saturated, Jesus-loving and Jesus-proclaiming as the godly individuals in these pages.
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