Servant of Christ: Robert Jermain Thomas and the Korean Revivals

Sometimes it takes one bold act to launch a revolution. Today, there are 12 million practicing Christians in Korea. How did this come to pass? Mostly through the resolve and ultimate sacrifice made by one man: Robert Jermain Thomas. Born in Wales, Thomas was a product of the Welsh Christian revival during the 19th century, training as a Protestant cleric and going to China as part of the London Missionary Society. The unexpected death of his wife sapped Thomas's will to continue missionary work, and he took a secular job in a Chinese port city across from Korea. A visit to the latter country coupled with tales of martyrdom by Korean converts to Christianity (the country was going to great lengths to block Western influence) gave Thomas a cause to believe in. Servant of Christ tells the story of Thomas's fateful return to Korea on an American vessel, carrying Bibles and dressed in traditional Korean garb—ultimately sowing the seeds for a huge, 20th-century religious movement. Combining archival photos and maps with illuminating interviews, this inspiring true story is recommended. Aud: P. (T. Keogh)