Lords of the Earth [Paperback]

Don Richardson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1977

Engulfed in the darkness of Irian Jaya's Snow Mountains live the Yali-naked cannibals who call themselves "lords of the earth". Yet in terror and bondage they serve women-hating, child-despising gods. Missionary Stan Dale dared to enter their domain. LORDS OF THE EARTH is the story of Dale, his wife, his companions, and thousands of Yali tribesmen-all swept together in a maelstromof agony and blood that climaxes in a dramatic, unexpected ending.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

In Papua’s remote Snow Mountains lived the Yali, a tribe of cannibalistic warriors who called themselves “lords of the earth.” In their remote mountain-walled valleys, no one dared challenge their authority, yet they lived in perpetual terror and bondage to the kembu spirits they served. When Stanley Dale and Bruno de Leeuw, two remarkably different men with a single heart for the Yali people, dared enter this rugged and unforgiving land, they little knew what chilling hazards awaited them. As they and their companions engaged in a bloody life-or-death struggle to bring the light of the gospel to this people filled with aggression and fear, they learned at what cost the Yali would at last know the love of their Redeemer.

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

About the Author

DON RICHARDSON, author of Peace Child, Eternity in Their Hearts and Secrets of the Koran, has been studying the Muslim world for more than 30 years. He and his wife, Carol, spent 15 years among the Sawi, a Stone Age tribe of Irian Jaya. Don designed an alphabet suited to the Sawi language, authored 19 primers, taught the tribesmen to read in their native tongue and translated the entire New Testament. More than half of the Sawi accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Since 1977, Don has served as ambassador-at-large for World Team, a mission organization. Don holds an honorary doctorate of literature from Biola University in La Mirada, California, is an ordained pastor and speaks at more than 40 church conferences each year.

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Regal Books (October 1977)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0830705295
• ISBN-13: 978-0830705290
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,076,524 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Don Richardson is one of the most read authors on Christian missions alive today. Peace Child, a book about his missions work with the Sawi people in Irian Jaya. He is also the author of Eternity in Their Hearts. All of Richardson's books focus on what he calls his "redemptive analogy" thesis: the idea that each culture has some story, ritual, or tradition that can be used to illustrate and apply the Christian gospel message.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cause for Worship and Praise!, June 14, 2009

By 

Jediah P. Logiodice - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Lords of the Earth: An Incredible but True Story from the Stone-Age Hell of Papua's Jungle (Kindle Edition)

A riveting page turner full of surprise after surprise, that evokes emotions that swell to the very core of humanity and Christianity.

The amazing story of Stan and Pat Dale among the Yali people, the battle on the front line over the lives and souls of men and women and children all made in the image of God, but having lost view of what the image means.

In the end, like Don's other books: Eternity in their Hearts and Peace Child; this book brings about a humble recognition that God is God and there is no other, second only to the recognition and appreciation for people like Stan and Don and their families that risk life, health and comfort for their love and desire to spread the good news of the gospel of peace!

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Entralling Book, March 14, 2003

By 

Rachelle Ayala (USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Lords of the Earth (Paperback)

If this book won't give you a heart for missions, nothing will. This book tells the story of Stan Dale and the Yali tribe as cultures clash and the Gospel wins over the hearts of fierce and cruel warriors, whose enjoyment is to shoot so many arrows into a victim to porcupine him or her, and then eat with relish the corpse of a victim. These people are so entralled to their spirits that any violation of taboo was punished by death. Women were also excluded from all rituals and religion and deemed unclean. Into this walks Stan Dale charging forward with fortitude determination and a total reliance on God. Winning a few young converts coupled with tortuous hard labor to construct a basic airstrip, Dale and a friend were martyred. Then through a total act of Providence, God intervened miraculously and revival swept the Yali people at the same spot where the two missionaries were killed and dismembered by the appearance of a little missionary boy and his protection by a wise old man. You must read this book to find out what happens. After all is revealed, you will see the Hand of God, protecting Stan Dale and his family in a very humourous manner based on mistaken identity.

This book will give you a taste of the challenges in reaching a lost world. It is still going on today with organizations such as the New Tribes Mission whose missionaries were recently martyred in the Philippines. Truly amazing real-life stories.

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exotic location for exciting adventures, March 17, 1998

By 

David Graham (Shell, Ecuador) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Lords of the Earth (Paperback)

This was an exciting book to read, not just for the exotic setting in remote Irian Jaya, not just for the odd social Yali customs, not just for the bravery and determination of the missionaries who lived among these cannibalistic people, but because Richardson is a superb storyteller who knows how to blend fascinating tales with a good dash of suspense. It took very little effort to read this book as I was so caught up in the story that it was hard to put down. Recommended reading.