This is my third local books round-up of 2026, covering 10 recent books from the Christian community.
As always, there is a wide range of topics. The write-ups are primarily from Amazon and publisher / author sites.
- Karl Petersen: Left Unsaid (Staten House)
Coming of age in the 60s, young Gideon has few choices but the ones his father offers. Quaker turned evangelical pastor, Gideon’s father resolves to make a preacher of him, enlisting him to help resurrect a dying church far from home in a small Oregon town.
The expectations and pressure are too much for Gideon. He rebels, seeking refuge among loner friends, music and the arms of a Native American girl, a romance his father firmly rejects.
Gideon journeys back to his old home and unearths hidden truths about his family, painful secrets that leave him shaken. He must eventually make a crucial choice that threatens love and life.
Can love truly survive all else? Left Unsaid confronts questions of sexuality, masculinity, race, faith and war. A compelling, must-read story with profound significance for our times.
Karl Petersen teaches English at Kwantlen Polytechnic University. He has published two poetry collections, a childhood memoir and two young adult novels. Stars Beyond the Veil is his sequel to The Kingdom of What Is. Petersen is passionate about the natural world, social justice and theology. He lives in Vancouver with his wife, two daughters, a dog, 13 fish and the occasional mouse.
- W. Ross Hastings: God and Molecules: Chemical Evolution and Divine Providence (IVP Academic)
God has been present and active in creation from the moment he created it ex nihilo. Few Christians would question this claim, but its implications for ongoing theology and science dialogues have not been fully explored.
In this pathbreaking and field-advancing work, Ross Hastings brings his expertise in both scientific and theological disciplines to bear on the topic of divine providence in chemical evolution.
Based on the latest research in the developing field of chemical evolution and the work of theological giants such as Karl Barth, Hastings shows how God may have been providentially and non-competitively at work in the process by which simple prebiotic molecules gave rise to the complex molecules in the first living organisms.
In God and Molecules, Hastings:
- provides cutting-edge theological engagement with the developing scientific field of chemical evolution;
- advances the discussion in theology and science with this new integrative work; and
- offers a holistic alternative for thinking about chemical evolution that overcomes the binary of theology versus science.
God and Molecules pushes toward new frontiers in theology and science and casts a compelling, integrative and ultimately healing vision for how God has been lovingly involved in the developmental process of the earliest life on earth.
Go here for a podcast with Ross Hastings on the book.
Ross Hastings (PhD theology, St Andrews; PhD chemistry, Queen’s) is the Sangwoo Youtong Chee Professor of Theology at Regent College. Among other books, he is the author of Missional God, Missional Church; Total Atonement and The Resurrection of Jesus Christ. He also serves as an Anglican priest at St. John’s Vancouver and enjoys watching rugby, soccer and cricket.
- Brian Fraser: What the Church Might Learn from Jazz (Resource Publications)
Written with jazz composition in mind and seeking to record his conversations with Family of Creator about reformulating an appreciation for the Trinity and its church, Brian Fraser has written 52 prayers, connected them with 52 quotes from the wit and wisdom of the jazz community as they relate to the re-composing of the church in its unraveling, and provided a provocative glimpse into his own journey of faith.
He has honed his own unique voice for witnessing in with-nessing. Readers may have to listen carefully and consider deeply, but the transformative inspirations and insights of the conversations in this book will be worth it.
“In What the Church Might Learn from Jazz, Brian Fraser weaves together prayer, reflection and the spirit of jazz to offer fresh insights for the life of the church. With wisdom and creativity, he invites us to a faith that is more responsive, collaborative and more alive. This delightful and meditative book encourages the church to embrace rhythm, openness and the art of improvisation.” – Grace Ji-Sun Kim, Professor of Theology, Earlham School of Religion
“I love what Brian has done in this book – his own offering of love and thanksgiving. It is an invitation to ground our prayers and liturgies in the creative world of jazz. As the title suggests, this little book invites you to practice how to be drawn into the mystery of God through the rhythms of jazz. Thanks be to God for this creativity.” – Alan Roxburgh, author of Forming Communities of Hope in the Great Unraveling
Brian Fraser is a minister, writer, teacher, administrator, consultant, coach and jazz enthusiast. In making contributions in all of these networks, he uses the wit, workings and wisdom of jazz to provoke better leadership that generates flourishing communities one conversation after another. He has written widely on these matters. He currently coordinates missioning with Brentwood Presbyterian Church in Burnaby, where they offer jazz evensongs with a different group of musicians each week.
- Paul Chamberlain: The Changing World of Atheism: Coming to Grips with Recent Atheist Strategies and Signs Pointing to God (Cascade Books)
The case for atheism is being vigorously advanced today throughout the world of social media and in a flurry of recent books. But this case is being made differently in ways that are often confusing for Christians who attempt to engage their atheist friends.
It begins with a shift in the definition of atheism. This shift in wording is often unnoticeable in conversation but can be profound in its impact. The modified interpretation of atheism is more ambiguous than the traditional clear definition and eliminates the clear dividing line between atheism and agnosticism.
While this may seem purely theoretical, it sets up a different and confusing strategy used by atheists to promote their view, one that puts Christians on the defensive by shifting the burden of proof entirely onto them. This is the new enviable position that many atheists are carving out for themselves in 21st century discussions.
The Changing World of Atheism is intended to be a map for readers who wish to track with these changes and develop thoughtful responses to them so they can talk with their atheist friends and neighbours more constructively.
Go here for an article about the book on the TWU site.
Paul Chamberlain teaches in the areas of culture and Christianity, leadership, ethics, philosophy of religion and apologetics at Trinity Western University, and is also Director of TWU’s Institute of Christian Apologetics. He holds a MDiv from Trinity International University (1981) and a PhD in Philosophy from Marquette University (1990). He has authored or edited five books including Can We Be Good Without God (1996), Why People Stop Believing (2011) and Everyday Apologetics (2020).
- Ghazaleh Nozamani, as told to Darci Reeves: I Dared to Dream (independently published)
“They tried to break me, but in the end it only strengthened my resolve.”
Growing up in the heart of Tehran, Ghazaleh Nozamani’s childhood was shaped by the 1979 Islamic Revolution that shook Iran and the cultural restrictions that followed.
In this deeply moving memoir, she chronicles her struggle with societal expectations and her rebellion against rigid religious and gender norms. With resilience and courage, she attempted to navigate the shifting political landscape.
At 20 years old, she found herself imprisoned, tortured and nearly broken by the forces determined to silence her. She endured unimaginable suffering and almost lost hope. But each time she was ready to give up, something beyond her intervened, bringing light into the darkest moments and guiding her toward freedom.
I Dared to Dream is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the mysterious ways in which hope and grace can find us, even when we least expect it.
Ghazaleh Nozamani arrived in Chilliwack as a newcomer after a long journey as a refugee. She built her life, and her only son’s, on her trade and got her Red Seal. She swiftly rose through the ranks of society, the labour movement, and Canadian politics. She founded Love Without Borders based on her own experiences. She is currently running for Chilliwack City Council. Her Facebook page features a September 13 interview at Yarrow Alliance Church about her journey.
- Peter Ash: Out of the Ashes (independently published)
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Out of the Ashes is a true story of survival, faith and an unseen human rights crisis. All proceeds from the sale of this book support the vital charitable human rights work of Under the Same Sun.
Born in Montreal with albinism, Peter Ash grows up poor, bullied, and nearly blind – fighting to believe his life has value. Half a world away in Tanzania, people with albinism are hunted and killed for their body parts, victims of deadly superstition and silence. Their stories unfold side by side until Peter risks everything to enter the heart of the crisis himself.
Through firsthand survivor testimonies and Peter’s own journey through trauma, faith and redemption, this powerful narrative reveals the human cost behind the headlines – and how one unlikely life helped spark a movement that challenged corruption, confronted governments and restored dignity to the forgotten.
A gripping memoir and global awakening, Out of the Ashes is a story of courage, justice and light that refuses to be extinguished.
I wrote about Peter Ash, Under the Same Sun and Out of the Ashes here.
Peter Ash is a passionate Canadian philanthropist and entrepreneur who also has albinism. As a result of his disability, Christian faith and business background, Peter is motivated to do whatever he can to provide resources and assistance to people with albinism who have become victims of discrimination in Tanzania, throughout Africa and worldwide. Peter’s educational background includes an undergraduate degree in theology and an MA in counselling / psychology.
- Chun Tse: Tea with Thomas Boston: Devotionals on the Westminster Shorter Catechism (Wipf and Stock)
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Like a well-steeped cup of tea, these devotionals – drawing on Thomas Boston’s commentary on the timeless Westminster Shorter Catechism – infuse the day with Boston’s theological brilliance and pastoral warmth, brewing a rich, Christ-centred journey of faith for individuals, families and churches.
Tea with Thomas Boston has been widely praised, including by Joel R. Beeke, Chancellor, Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary, who writes:
The Scottish Presbyterians of the 17th and 18th centuries – saturated as they were in the doctrine and piety of their Covenanter forefathers – were staunch allies of the English Puritan tradition, and proved, over the course of history, to be more stalwart in their defense and proclamation of the Westminster Standards than even the Puritans of Old and New England.
Thomas Boston was no exception. A central figure in the Marrow Controversy, he defended Christian assurance and the free offer of the gospel with a passion.
Combining rich biblical doctrine and warm, experiential piety, Dr. Chun Tse provides a taste of Boston’s commentaries and sermons on the Westminster Shorter Catechism that is ideal for personal devotions, small group studies and Sunday school lessons. Here is a treasure trove of Reformed catechesis, repackaged most delightfully for a fresh church audience.
Chun Tse has a PhD from the University of Edinburgh and is Assistant Professor of Biblical Studies at Carey Theological College in Vancouver. He is the author of The Marrow of Certainty: Thomas Boston’s Theology of Assurance (2023) and Assurance of Adoption: A New Paradigm for Assurance of Salvation (2020).
- Beth Carson: Ancient and Brilliant: What is it? (independently published)
What sort of ancient glory could possibly be enjoyed by all sorts of people, all over the world, even today? In an exploration of why this ancient, brilliant thing is so brilliant, Beth Carson looks back to her years as a student of English literature and applies the tools of investigation she learned back then to this most famous work.
With a gentle, questioning approach, she finds it unusual and wildly impressive, ancient yet strangely modern. You may be surprised what a lot of variety there is here – something for every taste. Whatever you think about Ancient and Brilliant: What is it?, you will enjoy her honest dissection of it and maybe want to discover it for yourself.
Beth Carson grew up treasuring books. Born in England, she spent her childhood reading Rudyard Kipling and writing her own stories. English language and literature became her degree subject at London University. After a career writing training materials for industry, she continued to write short stories for herself and also published two biographies for friends. Now retired in Metro Vancouver, she still enjoys the wonder of words.
- Darrell Johnson: It is Finished: Meditations on the Death of Jesus (The Pastorate Ministries Canada)
Nearly 2,000 years ago, a young Jewish rabbi known as Jesus of Nazareth was nailed to wooden beams and hoisted above the skyline of the city of Jerusalem.
Christians ever since have proclaimed that this event, symbolized by the cross, lies at the very centre of their faith. Indeed, they have claimed that in the cross event God has actually ‘saved the world.’
But how could a single man’s execution centuries ago have anything to do with us in the 21st century? In these meditations, Darrell Johnson probes the mystery and majesty of the cross, exploring it from various angles and illuminating this core belief of Christian faith in its multiple dimensions.
“Filled with deep reflection and life-changing truth, It is Finished will increase your wonder at the beauty and power of the Cross.” – Stephen Foster, Rector, St Aldates Church, Oxford
Darrell Johnson has been preaching Jesus Christ and His gospel for over 50 years. He has served a number of Presbyterian congregations in California, Union Church of Manila in the Philippines, and First Baptist Church in Vancouver. He has also taught preaching at Fuller Theological Seminary in California, and at Regent College and Carey Theological College in Vancouver. He is now part of pastoral team at The Way Church in Vancouver. He and his wife Sharon have been married over 50 years. Together they have raised four children adopted from four different countries of the world, and now enjoy loving 11 active grandchildren!
- J.I. Packer: Knowing Christianity: The Foundations of the Christian Faith and How They Shape Daily Life (IVP)
This is a new edition of a book originally published in 1995, with a Foreword by Gavin Ortlund.
In a culture that grasps at the latest self-improvement plan or trendy spiritual experiences, J.I. Packer, author of Knowing God, turns our attention to realities far better than anything our self-absorbed society can offer.
In Knowing Christianity, Packer lays out his grand panorama of the magnificent landscape we call the Christian faith. This book centres on the bedrock truths of Christianity, aiming to help ordinary believers deepen their devotion into discipleship.
Knowing Christianity covers key elements of spiritual life, Christian living and our ultimate end, laying out the doctrines of:
- God, Christ and the Holy Spirit;
- spiritual growth;
- prayer and worship;
- fellowship and renewal in the church;
- citizenship as a Christian; and
- the afterlife, God’s judgment and Christ’s ascension.
As the currents of culture shift, Packer’s wise insights help believers lay a solid foundation on which to build the Christian life. Though spiritual fads fade from the scene as quickly as they arise, Knowing Christianity explores the lasting, unchanging truth of the God who has been our help in ages past and will be our hope for years to come.
J.I. Packer (1926 – 2020) is regarded as one of the most well known theologians of our time. Once named to Time magazine’s list of the 25 Most Influential Evangelicals in America, Packer served as Board of Governors’ Professor of Theology at Regent College. His books include Knowing God, Praying, A Quest for Godliness, Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God and Rediscovering Holiness.
Go here for links to earlier ‘Local books’ articles.