Dr. Gil Stieglitz at Thrive Summit 2020 https://youtu.be/zpZ7AvcYLmw
A great resource on spiritual warfare and how to greater love our spouses and families. Dr Gil Stieglitz was our Anglican Mission in Canada coach for over five years. He had a huge impact on my writing books and newspaper articles, and ultimately on my doing a doctorate on strengthening marriages.
God’s Fire Starters
Jan 23rd 2022
Posted by davidkitz in book review
National Chair, The Word Guild
This compact, 137-page volume delivers a powerful punch.
“God’s Firestarters” is about ordinary people who were ignited with passion for the Lord, and in turn, they set scores—and in some cases millions of others—on fire with the love and power of the gospel message.
The book is a compilation of twenty short biographies of Christian leaders who had an extraordinary impact on their generation and the world. Each chapter is about five pages long, and covers the highs, lows, and transformative moments of these world-changing pastors, leaders and thinkers.
The book is chronologically organized as it moves through history beginning with Katharina Luther (1499-1552) and ending with the theologian J.I. Packer (1926-2020). Between those dates we find the stories of eighteen other remarkable men and women who overcame enormous obstacles as they lived lives that powerfully impacted the church and the world.
Authors Ed and Janice Hird have done their homework. Each biography is well-written and thoroughly researched with dozens of endnotes.
These are stories that will build your faith and stoke your courage. I highly recommend this book. It’s a real fire-starter in the best way imaginable.
Just click to get the ebook or paperback on Amazon.
Three more book reviews of God’s Firestarter. It makes a great Christmas present. You can order the ebook or paperback at Amazon USA or Amazon Canada.
Violet Nesdoly, author & painter
5.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining and Inspirational
Reviewed in Canada on November 10, 2021
Did you know that Katharina was the one who proposed marriage to Martin Luther, that Charles and John Wesley met with scandal and opposition in America, or that John Newton was a bad-tempered, rebellious alcoholic. Ed and Janice Hird reveal these historical bits and many more in their recently released book God’s Firestarters—Preparing Our Families for Coming Revivals.
In twenty fast-paced chapters the Hirds delve into the lives and impact of twenty giants of the Christian faith. These stories span centuries from Katharina Luther (1499-1582) and Susanna Wesley (1669-1742) to the 21st century and Chuck Smith (1927-2013), John Wimber (1934-1997), and J. I. Packer (1926-2020).
The accounts are tightly written with the abundant corroboration of a Wikipedia profile (there are a total of 717 endnotes). This is testimony to the rigorous research that has gone into each story. That’s a good thing too, for some of these accounts are almost unbelievable in the way God worked—through unlikely people, doing unlikely things, in unlikely places.
Though the stories are interesting and many entertaining, the Hirds’ real motivation in writing this book was not merely to relate lively histories, but to spark in readers a desire for more of the same surrender, obedience, faith, and audacity that was present in these revival firestarters. I would say it succeeds.
The book concludes with this prayer expressing the heart of the authors: “Wake us up. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit. Send the fire once again. Revive us, transform us, renew us, refresh us in Jesus’ name. Amen.”
A section of Discussion Questions precedes the Endnotes, making this a great choice for Bible study groups or book clubs.
Marina Ireland
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book worth the read!
Reviewed in Canada on November 8, 2021
This is a wonderful book, well documented and extremely interesting. It is a book that is hard to put down and one that challenges us to aspire for more of Him in our lives and those of our families. Read it – you won’t be disappointed.
Dr. Leonard Sweet, former Dr. E. Stanley Jones Professor of Evangelism
A captivating gift of story-telling wrapped in historical exploration and riveting case-studies that brings out multiple elixirs for revival today and ecclesial empowerment. —Dr. Leonard Sweet, best-selling author (Rings of Fire), professor (George Fox University, Evangelical Seminary, Tabor College), and founder of The Salish Sea Press.
God’s Firestarters Endorsements by Heidi McLauglin, Tom Morrison, Stuart Spani, Gordon Dirks, & Rayna Stone
Amazon book review
5.0 out of 5 stars A Historial Masterpiece
Reviewed in the United States on November 5, 2021
Rarely do I find myself so compelled by research and stories of historical giants that I can’t wait to turn the page. I thought I knew a little about Dr. Livingstone, George Whitefield, John and Charles Wesley, Dr. Stanley Jones and more, but the authors Dr. Ed and Janice Hird have made these heroes of the faith come alive. It’s filled with love and romance, along with pain and suffering, and how it can strengthen marriages. It delves into the lives of how ordinary people changed the slave trade, discovered Africa, impacted India, England and impacted the world to know our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. This book is magnificent, filled with Holy Spirit inspired words that will at times make you gasp with sorrow and other times be astounded with amazement and joy. The authors engage us with stories of people whose shoulders we stand on, to give us fire in our own belly to use our ordinary lives to do extraordinary things. If they can do it, so can we. Well done Dr. Ed and Janice Hird, you’ve written your best book yet.
Tom Morrison, Engineer
“Life is difficult,” wrote M. Scott Peck in The Road Less Travelled, (Simon & Schuster, New York, 1978). Nothing could more abundantly express this fact than Ed and Janice Hird’s God’s Firestarters, whose 150 pages trace the biographies of twenty leaders who collectively formed the backbone of the Protestant faith for nearly five hundred years. These twenty heroes – they could not be described in lesser terms – overcame a more complete array of hardships and setbacks than can possibly be imagined – physical and mental illness and injury, hostility, slander, betrayal, persecution, captivity, material loss, bereavement and, not least, those enemies from within — disillusionment, temptation, self-doubt and sheer exhaustion. Challenge in good times, comfort in bad times, it is a privilege to share Ed and Janice’s God’s Firestarters.
Stuart Spani, Film Producer
I finished reading your book last night and it is the most enjoyable book I have ever read!!!!
Ever since becoming a Christian, my greatest thrill is hearing of Christ changing lives. A favorite saying of mine, for many years, has been, “if there were half as many sermons and twice as many testimonies, there would be four times as many Christians”. Testimonies make Christians, sermons mature believers.
The two of you have done a superb job of telling the stories of twenty real fire starters. Twenty people who God has used to take literally millions from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light.
While almost all of your twenty were great preachers, I believe most of the growth came as the masses saw friends and neighbours lives being transformed. I will be promoting it.
God bless both of you and your work.
Gordon Dirks, minister, politician, educator
“This incredibly inspiring volume on God’s “Firestarters” powerfully reminds us that God has never stopped doing a new thing on his mission of redemption for the world. Authors Ed and Janice Hird take you behind the scenes and reveal intimate details of the lives of twenty remarkable Christ-followers who changed the world for God and for good. The vignettes of their life stories are replete with remarkable Christian devotion, courage, sacrifice and innovations in ministry which will whet your appetite to seek God for new expressions of Spirit-inspired activity in your own life.
Rayna Stone
I thoroughly enjoyed reading your latest book ”God’s Firestarters”. It gave me a fresh appreciation for the many godly men and women that God has used to revive the church and bring many into a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Your stories of these faithful saints will inspire and encourage many.
Well done, good and faithful servants!
Tiny Marais, Area Co-ordinator, Greater Vancouver Healing Rooms
“In a time where this world has been in turmoil and nothing makes sense, this book comes as a reminder of the Power and Love of Almighty God. As you thumb through the history of these ordinary people’s lives, allow the Holy Spirit to Baptise you with the same Pentecostal Fire that each one of them
Amazon book reviews of our new book God’s Firestarters
5.0 out of 5 stars
The incredible history of God using people in His Church!!
Reviewed in Canada on October 22, 2021
10 years ago I was diagnosed with a terminal blood cancer diagnosis and it was people like Ed and Janice Hird that anointed me with oil and prayed healing in Jesus name over me. To the Glory of God I am now a marathon runner. Reading these stories of incredible miracles it gives me courage that God did heal, can heal and still will today! Well done Dr. Hird on this book! It is a page turner… —Denise
5.0 out of 5 stars
Remarkable People
Reviewed in Canada on October 21, 2021
All of these people are shown to be ordinary people who God used in remarkable ways.
Very easy to read. And very interesting. Makes the reader ask…”How is the Lord using me in His ongoing mission to the World He loves so much! —Don
5.0 out of 5 stars
Delightful and Succinct Portraits
Reviewed in Canada on October 22, 2021
These delightful and succinct portraits of inspired Christian leadership give a window into their private lives and into how they were shaped by the challenges of their times.
Bishop Ron Ferris, Assisting Bishop, Anglican Network in Canada

Here is a new endorsement of our book God’s Firestarters from author Angela Greenig:
“Dr. Ed and Janice Hird have heard the heartbeat of many parents and other people struggling. In this book, you’re given tools with a lifeline that will give hope. This book will bring the Fires and Winds of the Lord into your families’ revival! You will learn to never give up. This is a must-read for everyone. Thank you, Dr. Ed and Janice, for listening to the Father’s heart and being a voice.
This book God’s Firestarters is a game-changer. The family has never been under such attack.
Right now, parents need to be able to rise up in the next hour but they need to be equipped. That’s what this book is all about: ‘releasing Revival into yourself, your family, and the world.’ Thank you for listening to the Father’s heartbeat in the cry to be restored and set free.
I Pray that God’s Firestarters book becomes explosive.”
Angela Greenig
Angela Greenig Ministries
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