BookPoint Book Reviews

War and Grace by Don Stephens

Published by Evangelical Press 2005

This book is a collection of 13 short biographies of people who lived during the First or Second World War, and who experienced God’s intervention in their lives from both sides of the conflicts.

There are many questions asked about God and war;

  • How can there be a God of love, when there are such terrible things as war?

  • “Where was God?” in the tragic events of those wars. 

  • “How can anyone possibly forgive those who mistreated them so badly?” 

  • How can anyone experience the presence of God in a prisoner of war camp, or awaiting execution in a dungeon? 

If you have ever wondered such things, or just like true stories of excitement, adventure and heroic daring then this book is for you.  

Some astonishing things happened during the wars, which you will not easily find in the history books.


William Dobbie is one whose name did find its way into the history books, for defending Malta against the Italians and Germans. Here in ‘War and Grace’ we read also of him as a man of prayer who saw remarkable answers to prayer. In this chapter are mentioned two of the official days of prayer, convened at times of great national peril and resulting in turns of events that led to our deliverance.


The first biography is about Louis Zamperini, Olympic runner and American Air Force bombardier, who amazingly survived his plane crashing into the sea and two and a half years of ill treatment in a prisoner of war camp. After the war he became a Christian as a result of Billy Graham’s ministry. He returned to Japan where he met some of the men who had been his guards, and found the grace to forgive them. The video “Zamperini – still carrying the torch” can be borrowed from Hall Green Bookpoint, and is usually shown to visitors at the 1940’s weekend.


Some people experienced remarkable changes to themselves during or after the war. It was a complete surprise to me to discover that the man who led the attack on Pearl Harbour, later became a Christian and evangelistic preacher.


Perhaps the most astonishing chapter of all is the last one, in which an American minister nervously accepted the invitation to become chaplain to Nazi leaders in prison in Germany after WWII. Here, hardened, atheistic war criminals became softened and turned to God for salvation – now that’s grace!. 


What about the James Bond fans? The character ‘Q’, who designed Bond’s ingenious gadgets, was modelled on Charles Fraser-Smith, a Christian whose role was to supply the forces with secret equipment. His story appears in chapter 5 of this book.


Each biography is only about 20 pages, so this book is ideal if you only have a short slot of time for reading. However, each story is so interesting and well written, it leaves you wanting to read the next, and it is hard to put the book down. The book leaves you wondering at the greatness of God. It answers the question, ‘Where was God during the war?’ He was right there, intervening in shattered lives; there with His people, sustaining and encouraging them, using them to point others to Christ. Read it, and get a copy for a friend.