Doug Nichols is the former head of Action International Ministries, and now in his 80s, is still serving the cause of world missions, with a focus on the Philippines. In 2009, Doug read my blog post about Francis Schaeffer, philosopher/theologian/servant of Jesus, and how he sent me a handwritten letter. In my early 20s, I had written to Schaeffer thanking him for his marvelous books and their profound influence on my life, and he kindly replied to me. I still have that letter.
Doug then told me this wonderful story about Francis Schaeffer, that we also posted in a blog. Doug's story about his personal encounter with Schaeffer has now been depicted in a 12-minute video, and I think it’s very moving. To me, it is priceless in showing the humility of a towering intellect, who is one of my great heroes.
You can watch it on the Angel Studios website for free (you’ll need to put in your email address to create a free account). It is well worth your time!
For more perspective on Francis Schaeffer and his impact on the church, I enjoyed listening to these brief words by Chuck Colson, who became my friend as our ministry supported his organization Prison Fellowship with our book royalties, which we continue to do today.
Colson, a great Christ lover, and eloquent intellectual himself, carried on some of the legacy of Francis Schaeffer. I not only miss Schaeffer, I miss Chuck Colson. I wrote of him and his impact in several blogs, including these:
Chuck Colson, Faithful Brother and Servant of Christ
Chuck Colson, the “Untouchables”, and the Great Reunion
When I ponder men like Schaeffer and Colson, I consider how impoverished my life would be without them. I think it is very sad that many younger evangelicals don’t recognize the names of either man. Sometimes we move on to what is new and fresh and contemporary, and tend to forget that many of the best books were written before we were born.
In light of that, let me recommend my favorite four books by Schaeffer and my favorite four by Colson.
Francis Schaeffer:
He Is There and He Is Not Silent (one of my favorite books ever)
Chuck Colson:
Born Again (updated version; tells his conversion story; connected to Lewis’s Mere Christianity)
How Now Shall We Live? (springing two decades later from Schaeffer’s How Should We Then Live?)
Loving God (a masterful and life-changing book)
God and Government (originally titled Kingdoms in Conflict; this book inspired me to understand the history of civil disobedience, and God ultimately used it and Schaeffer’s books to draw me in to civil disobedience to save the lives of unborn children)
