Against the backdrop of advancing secularism and rampant atheism, we see churches closing on all sides, particularly in the West, where Christianity is often regarded as old hat, quaint and irrelevant. Yet, strangely, at the same time it is evident that new churches are springing up everywhere. Why? Because God's purposes for His Church will not be thwarted.

However, Terry Virgo maintains that we need visionaries, tough fighters and tenacious builders if we are going to see the Gospel succeed in our generation and build strong churches that engage with our contemporary culture and bring in the kingdom of God.

By examining the lives of Jospeh, Gideon and Nehemiah, the author inspires us afresh and shows us that the tide is turning against secularism and we are increasingly seeing God's great plan being fulfilled to glorify His Son in the earth.

Nehemiah and other biblical characters who rose above the trends of their age, proved that God is well able to revolutionise situations if we take Him seriously and respond obediently to His initiatives.

Terry Virgo is based at Church of Christ the King, Brighton, UK and is the founder of Newfrontiers, a worldwide family of nearly 500 churches. A well-known Bible teacher, Terry speaks at conferences around the world and hosts the international conference Together on a Mission, which draws thousands of delegates to Brighton each year.