The following student report was submitted by Ambassador League Agent Shaina D. during the 2008-2009 League.
Mission: Read - Book Report on God's Politician by Garth Lean
God's Politician was written by Garth Lean. It is a book about William Wilberforce's struggle to end the repression of the slave trade and his struggle to begin the reformation of the manners. The book tells of his spiritual journey, his domestic life, and his political accomplishments.
William Wilberforce was born August 24, 1759. He began attending St. John's collage in 1776 when he was seventeen. He soon decided to pursue a career in politics, and won his first election with 1,126 votes. From there Wilberforce continued to climb the ranks in the political world. Later Wilberforce introduced a motion to abolish the slave trade. It took faith in God, help from many men who shared his dream, and twenty years to accomplish this victory. Wilberforce went on to fight for many other virtuous causes until his death in July of 1833. Wilberforce followed God in everything he did and was very successful.
The author of this book made two statements that stood out to me in the last chapter of the book. The statements are: "Wilberforce lived that higher statesmanship which consist in serving not his own interest but his God's." "Wilberforce, by his persistence, but above all by the spiritual element at the root of everything he did, again and again made possible in the future what seemed impossible when he first tackled it. Such is a statesman needed in his and every age."
I think the story of Wilberforce's life is very interesting and something all Christians should know. Wilberforce's audacity to stand up for what he believed in was inspiring. However, I was not impressed with the flow of the book. It, I feel, was written sporadically and was sometimes hard to follow. For these reasons I would have preferred to read another documentary of Wilberforce's life. Even still, reading about Wilberforce's bravery has encouraged me to share my faith when I have the opportunity. Like many people I sometimes find it difficult, when I'm not in Christian company, to do so.
This book has great spiritual value.
