COMMENDATIONS
"As soundness in theology and genuine piety wane from the Evangelical tradition, many believers, who feel a profound need for genuine Spirit-worked revival, find great encouragement by reading about past revivals. In this massive biography of George Whitefield, preacher par excellence of the Great Awakening who traveled thousands of miles to preach thousands of sermons to thousands of people, we find immense stimulation to rekindle the psalmist's prayer, 'It is time, Lord, for thee to work.' O that God would raise such men of godly zeal and endurance in our day!"
DR. JOEL BEEKE Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary, Grand Rapids, MI.

"Illuminating and informative, Dr. E. A. Johnston's new biography is an inspiring portrait of the great 18th Century evangelist. The volume is not only an advance for our understanding of Whitefield studies, but provides insight into the context, challenges, and relationships that shaped the Great Awakening Johnston's work is a welcomed addition to the history of revivals. I heartily commend these well written volumes."
DR. DAVID S. DOCKERY President, Union University, Jackson, TN.

"The time is right for a new biography of George Whitefield, the powerful evangelist of the First Great Awakening. That book has arrived. Read it for your profit and inspiration. You will not be disappointed."
DR. DANIEL L. AKIN President, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Wake Forest, NC.

"I am very pleased to recommend this book on the great George Whitefield. E. A. Johnston has done his homework well and has mastered the material, including some invaluable documents only recently discovered. He is to be commended for a job well done in reminding us of one of the greatest preachers the world has ever known. May the Lord use this work to kindle afresh new fires of revival in our generation."
DR. CURT DANIEL, PH.D.
Pastor, Faith Bible Church, Springfield, IL.

"The Christian Church is deeply indebted to Dr. E. A. Johnston for this extremely thorough examination of George Whitefield's life and ministry. Drawing upon so much recorded material he has produced a work of great quality and accuracy. 18th century England was spiritually bankrupt and morally degraded. The young Whitefield burst upon this scene with transcendent eloquence and impassioned pleas. His trumpet call startled the nation and at twenty-one he was England's most popular preacher. Subject to opposition from the clergy he defied ecclesiastical control and preached in the open air. Speaking in the drawing-rooms of the wealthy and to thousands in the open air his vast ministry extended both sides of the Atlantic which he crossed thirteen times. He has been called the greatest preacher ever to have spoken in the English language. He was at the heart of the leadership of a great movement of the Spirit in Britain, Ireland and America. He brought streams of blessing to hundreds of thousands of people and, with others, gave a nation sinking in hopeless moral despair, its soul once again. Thank you Dr. Johnston for your meticulous and painstaking study which brings to life one of the great figures of the Church."
DR. COLIN N. PECKHAM Principal Emeritus of The Faith Mission Bible College, Edinburgh, Scotland.

"I recall spending three days and nights shut up in Room 21 at the International Christian Center in Chateau d' Oex, Switzerland, with my Bible and Arnold Dallimore's recently published biography of George Whitefield. Through this work God reached across the centuries and used the life of one of His chosen servants to minister to me in a life-changing encounter. It is for this reason that I feel privileged and excited to recommend, to a new generation, Dr. E. A. Johnston's fresh look at the life of one of the Church's giants, a life with which every Christian should be acquainted."
REV. RON OWENS
"Dr. Johnston is to be commended for this new biography of George Whitefield whom he pertinently describes as a 'Christ-intoxicated evangelist.' There is much here to challenge, encourage and stir up the contemporary church. Whitefield was a man whose ministry was signally owned and blessed by God with great grace and power and there is much that we can and must learn from his God-glorifying example. Here was a man of God who truly preached Christ and Him crucified; a man with a real burden for souls whose ministry reached millions and transcended denominational and national boundaries. May this new biography be used of God to awaken the church today out of our slumbers that we might witness another great awakening to the praise and glory of God."
REV. DR. A. S. WAYNE PEARCE Associated Presbyterian Church, Scotland

"We owe a debt of gratitude to Dr. E. A. Johnston for this new, inspiring, and solid contribution to the study of George Whitefield. Whitefield's life and ministry are certainly worthy of renewed study in our day, when style and strategy often gets more attention than substance and true spirituality. Dr. Johnston's volume, based on careful and personal research, presents interesting detail and meaningful commentary. I hope that many will read these volumes and be challenged to live with the spiritual priorities and passions that characterized George Whitefield, and are evident in his student, E. A. Johnston."
DR. DAVID L. OLFORD President, Olford Ministries, Intl. Assistant to the President, Union University, Jackson, TN.

"As I have sat reading the manuscript, I have been caught up in the very life and spirit of George Whitefield. In my own soul I have sensed the thunder in his preaching, the timber in his voice and the passion in his pleas as hot tears have filled my own eyes time and time again. So caught up was I that at times I felt I was the one standing in a field in the cool of an evening breeze wholly subdued and overcome by the Spirit of God, gripped by the awesome holiness of God's manifest presence. Standing there broken, melted, speechless and trembling along with the thousands so intently listening to the heartbeat of the Almighty and riveted to the lips and passion of God's choice servant, George Whitefield. Oh, how I have fallen to my own knees in repentance.
I now know why it is so humbling to pray with the author, Dr. E. A. Johnston. When I want to know the heart of men, I talk with men; but when I want to hear the heart of God, I pray with my dear brother. I can only imagine that to pray with him is like listening to Whitefield preaching or praying as he so ably did with the power and passion of Jesus kneeling in the Garden. Jesus prayed with strong crying and tears; Whitefield preached with strong crying and tears. In a day when many want to dialogue, where, or where are the preachers?
In this book lies the secret to usefulness in service so I warmly commend the reading of these volumes by Dr. Johnston. I pray for it's transforming, humbling and thankful reception. May God richly 'renew our days as of old' (Lamentations 5 :21) and may that same Spirit of agonizing, prevailing prayer permeate everything we do and say for Christ's kingdom, in particular, our preaching."
REV. DAVID FORD President, Globe For Christ International, Inc.

"I heartily commend this fresh study of the life and ministry of George Whitefield to my fellow Christians, especially to preachers of the Word. I do so for the following reasons:
First, this is an independent study. Others have written biographies of the herald of the 18th century revival, but Johnston has done his homework and presents new information and insights about Whitefield not included even in Dallimore's massive work.
Second, this is an instructive study. It is popular to explain Whitefield's success on grounds other than the Spirit's power, but such efforts do not satisfy. Johnston presents Whitefield as a holy man of God, preaching and teaching with the Spirit's unction.
Third, this is truly an inspirational study. Wrote C. H. Spurgeon: 'Often as I have read his life, I am conscious of distinct quickening whenever I turn to it.' Bishop J. C. Ryle thought so highly of Whitefield that he called him 'the prince of English evangelists.'''
DR. TED S. RENDALL Professor in Residence, Olford Ministries International at Union and Chancellor Emeritus, Prairie Bible Institute
"In a wonderful blending of scholarship, passion, and careful research Dr. Johnston sets forth nugget after nugget of insight and information in this remarkable 'exposition' of the man/preacher called George Whitefield. Few will be able to meditate through the pages of this book without being taken afresh to that place of glad surrender to our worthy Lord Jesus Christ. Especially preachers! For those of us who long to see God-honoring, Bible-based, Heaven-sent revival in our day and who have prayed for God to do a fresh work in His church, reading this book will be like standing beside a warm fireplace of strong encouragement. What an arresting reminder of what God can and will do through a life that is truly surrendered to Him. May God use these marvelous volumes to inwardly provoke and stir hearts to deeper surrender to our worthy Lord. 'Oh God, let us preach thy Word in such a like manner.' May we mark well the life of George Whitefield and be moved, as Paul has exhorted us, to faithfully follow in the footsteps of one of God's men who was such a visible 'example of the cross'. May we, like Mr. Whitefield, also become living epistles of God's grace, swept along by that holy passion to honor the Lord in all things and to see precious souls come to know Him as their very life."
DR. AL WHITTINGHILL President, Ambassadors For Christ, Intl., USA.

"Dr. E. A. Johnston has traced George Whitefield's footsteps in ways no one else has. Following these footsteps will inspire you, deepen your faith, and remind you of the power of God and what God can do through a life solely surrendered to His will.
Dr. Johnston has given the Church a gift. It is a gift that will inspire you and bring you to your knees, praying, 'Gracious Lord, do it again.' We are overdue for another servant of the Lord of the likes of George Whitefield."
REV. ROB JOHN Pastor, Old South First Presbyterian Church, Newburyport, MA.

For over 268 years our institution has flourished based primarily upon the foundational spirit, values, and beliefs first inculcated by Reverend George Whitefield. George Whitefield is clearly one of Christianity's seminal preachers and evangelists. His faith and his ministry continues to impact the work of Bethesda, and with Dr. E. A. Johnston's newest look at one of America's spiritual founders, Whitefield's life of faith, his preaching, and his witness can be shared afresh with all those who will be moved and motivated by this influential disciple of Christ.
T. DAVID TRIBBLE, D.MIN. President, Bethesda Home for Boys

It is good to see another biography of George Whitefield. He has many lessons to teach us about evangelism which have been neglected by contemporary evangelicalism. We have a great deal to learn from him, specifically on the whole issue of conversion and assurance.
DON MACAULAY Pastor and evangelist, Glasgow