Books by Olea Nel

A true story of battles, blessings, betrayal, and breakthroughTwenty-two year old Andrew Murray has just completed his first year of ministry to over 20 000 Boers beyond the borders of the Cape. With new-found confidence, he soon finds himself acting in a statesman-like capacity on behalf of both Boer and Brit. But with every victory gained, he finds himself not only showered with accolades, but also having to battle outbreaks of self and pride that he is unable to conquer.After a heartbreaking betrayal, he realizes that he is in need of a wife-someone who is able to partner with him in the ministry. But where to find such a girl? And when found, will his bloated ego and self-focus get in the way of winning her hand?

For lovers of historical fiction about Christian heroes of the faithA boyish and fun-loving Andrew Murray arrives back in South Africa after being ordained at the Hague on his twentieth birthday in 1848. He soon discovers that his preaching lacks the power displayed by his heroes of the faith. He therefore decides to embark on a quest to become a powerful preacher filled with the Holy Spirit. But not long after his appointment as pastor to the Dutch emigrants beyond the borders of the Cape, he finds that he is being shunted off course by a frenetic round of preaching tours that sap his energy and leave him little time to spend with God.Feeling overwhelmed by the task, and knowing that he was pressed into taking it, he starts to doubt his calling. It does not take him long to realize that he has to either man-up or bow out.

Although the Great Awakening at the Cape in 1860 was as powerful as its precursors in America, Ireland and Wales, its story has never been fully told until now. Dr. Olea Nel has succeeded in filling a much needed gap in the literature by describing these events through the lives of three key players: Andrew Murray, Nicolaas Hofmeyr and Gottlieb van der Lingen. As the story unfolds, you will learn: . About the crisis in the Dutch Reformed Church prior to revival when semi-literate stock farmers believed that God had called them to subdue the African tribes, not evangelize them. . How virtually overnight the revival demolished this outlook so that awakened Christians became people of prayer and mission enthusiasts. . How Andrew Murray defended the Church against the onslaught of liberalism through legal battles in the Cape High Court as well as the Privy Council, London. Dr. Olea Nel was born in Cape Town, South Africa. After completing her training as a teacher in Andrew Murray's heartland of Wellington, she relocated to Australia to further her studies. Besides attaining a Ph.D. in Linguistics, she also has qualifications in Information Studies and Theology. She has taught at several tertiary institutions and presently supports her husband who is Senior Pastor of the Austral-Asian Church in Canberra, Australia.