Chasing the Dragon - Jackie Pullinger

With Andrew Quicke.
Published by Hodder and Stoughton: Great Britain, 1981 (1980).

This is another one of those incredibly challenging faith biographies that Elise and I seem to enjoy. Although not as well structured as some of the books (I would call it more of a 'memoirs' than a traditional 'biography'), the life story of Jackie Pullinger and her work in the Walled City of Hong Kong is both fascinating and immensely challenging.

Jackie felt a call to missions from a young age, but after being rejected by a number of mission organisations, had some unexpected but inspiring advice from a friend who was also a minister: "If God is telling to you go - you had better go...If you had a job, a ticket, accommodation, a sick fund and a pension, you wouldn't need to trust Him...Anyone can go that way whether they are Christians or not. If I were you I would go out and buy a ticket for a boat going on the longest journey you can find and pray to know where to get off." (page 31). Jackie takes this advice, and ends up in Hong Kong, eventually beginning to work reaching the triads and drug addicts.

Although the advice given to Jackie seems quite extreme, her eventual breakthroughs begin to come as she learns again and again to trust the prompting of God. Story after story in the book outline people in the worst possible life-conditions encountering the living God in a mighty and life-altering way as Jackie and her fellow-workers simply walk the streets praying in tongues and asking for God to take the lead.

Yes, tongues. 

Reading someone's life story is so often challenging, and a faith biography can really stretch your understanding of God. For me, Chasing the Dragon did this particularly in the area of tongues. Although it is a gift I believe in (and have occasionally practiced), Jackie herself is challenged by friends to grow in the gifting, and begins seeing results that blow me away. Although I would caution against reading this book and saying 'tongues is the answer to everything' it is incredible how much that particular gifting is used in Jackie's ministry, and does stir me to dig in to God in ways I have let slip, including in that area.

God definitely seems to have some say in the books I read and when I read them. Having read Why Revival Tarries while also reading this book, may faith has been stretched. I really recommend this book if you are interested in stretching your own.

Completed, with Elise, 4 May 2021.



(Elise Books)



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