There's a Sheep in my Bathtub: Birth of a Mongolian Church Planting Movement [Paperback]

Brian Hogan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 2008

What happens when you drop an American family with three small children into the post-Communist chaos of Outer Mongolia? There's a Sheep in my Bathtub chronicles the adventures of the Hogan family as they try to follow God's leading into one of the world's most remote and mysterious enclaves. Disarmingly honest and charmingly humorous, their tale will thrill you and bring tears to your eyes. An intensely personal memoir, this book still manages to pack a powerful dose of missionary insight and Biblical principles for seeing the Church explode into life among peoples that have never even heard of Jesus. Get comfortable. You will not be able to put it down.

Editorial Reviews

Review

From the very first page this book jerks you irretrievably into the outrageous, the uproarious and the impossible to imagine. It has got to be one of the most absolutely fascinating tales to ever prove that the truth is stranger than fiction. Nevertheless, it throbs with a sobering and relentless sense of calling and purpose that is truly inspiring. -Dr. Ralph D. Winter, Founder, U.S. Center for World Mission

Hogan has written a personal account of church planting in Erdenet, Mongolia's third city, which occurred over a three year period in the 1990s. While emphasizing that he and his family were part of a church-planting team, his narrative is deeply personal. At points the story is heart-wrenching and poignant; at other times it is uplifting and motivating. From the despair of having to bury his only son on the steppes of Mongolia to the birth of a church-planting movement, Hogan offers a deeply spiritual memoir, peppered with humor and inspirational insight, and informed by solid biblical missiology. I recommend this book to all Christians in the hope that they will see what God in Christ can do when a man and his family are willing to pay the ultimate price in discipleship. -Hugh P. Kemp, author of Steppe by Step

I wept, laughed and was stirred by this book. I love a good story, and this is a really good one! You won't be able to put it down! -Floyd McClung., author of Living on the Devil's Doorstep

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 274 pages
• Publisher: Asteroidea Books; 1st edition (August 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0979905605
• ISBN-13: 978-0979905605
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (55 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #110,673 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #5 in Books > History > Asia > Mongolia
  • #47 in Books > History > Asia > Central Asia

More About the Author

BRIAN HOGAN earned his Master's in Intercultural Studies/Ministry from Hope International University (Fullerton, CA) specializing in World Christian Foundations. He is a sought after speaker, trainer and coach. Brian serves full time with Church Planting Coaches, a global ministry of Youth With A Mission. He serves YWAM on the Frontier Mission Leadership Team. He enjoys being a catalyst, hanging out, reading books, traveling and trying anything new, novel, and different.
Brian has participated in, led, and started organic expressions of Jesus' Body in the USA, Malta, and Mongolia both inside and outside the traditional wineskin. He coaches those involved in these movements on five continents, especially focusing on where the church isn't.
He is the author of "Distant Thunder: Mongols Follow the Khan of Khans" which is featured as a case study in Perspectives on the World Christian Movement: a Reader (2009; William Carey Library). Brian's training course "Keys to Church Planting Movements" is available through Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0026S9OBU?ie=UTF8&seller=A3UL84UKNL3BDY&sn=Asteroidea%20Books)as a DVD workshop.
Brian and his wife Louise have four children: Melody Stone (married to Luke), Molly, Alice, and Peter Magnus. Brian, Louise and whatever kids are still at home make their home among the redwoods on California's remote northern coast.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Uncomfortable, apostolic, weird - you will love it!, December 21, 2007

By 

Tony T. Sheng (Columbia, MD, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: There's a Sheep in my Bathtub: Birth of a Mongolian Church Planting Movement (Paperback)

Brian Hogan, the author of "There's a Sheep in My Bathtub", contacted me to see if I would be interested in reviewing his book. He sent me a copy and the book is certainly a lively narrative of one American family's journey around the world in an effort of reaching those that are literally unreached.

Those of you that enjoy this blog would likely enjoy Brian's book as well. As you learn about the Hogan's story, fundamental cross cultural concepts such as partnership, contextualization, leadership, and team dynamics are all illustrated. Theirs is a story that is inspirational, challenging, and at times, totally heartbreaking. It details the crazy things some people do when they are compelled by a love for others and is a total example of ordinary people doing extraordinary things.

When I train new church planters headed for unreached people groups, I tell then that if they are successful, the churches that result will make the church planters uncomfortable. If a church takes on an indigenous character, then it will be outside the comfort zone of the apostolic messengers. It will seem weird to the missionaries.

Uncomfortable, apostolic, weird - yup, you would like this book too.

- tony sheng
student ministry global catalyst
http://tonytsheng.blogspot.com

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Down to earth, relatable and eye-opening, May 4, 2008

By 

D. Hebert "a bear" (Central WI, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: There's a Sheep in my Bathtub: Birth of a Mongolian Church Planting Movement (Paperback)

From the odd premise depicted on the cover (with a very practical purpose) to the poignant and heart-rending personal story near the end, "There's a Sheep in My Bathtub" is a great read for those who are curious about life for a missionary family in a remote outpost or intrigued by cross-cultural living among an isolated people group or just fascinated by the mysterious and austere world of the legendary Genghis Kahn and the Mongolian Empire.

This story is very well written, highly interesting and inspiring. Hogan treats the divine and the mundane with the same honesty and straightforward tone. The Hogans' experiences preparing for careers in cross-cultural missions among the Navajo, their serial frustration dealing with the Chinese government on their way into Mongolia (all accepted with rare patience and wit), strange tales of Californians adjusting, "on the fly," to the Mongolian culture and climate (which, being from Central Wisconsin I can understand), and the mix of disappointment and triumph in personal relationships kept me reading past my bedtime most nights.

Buy it! Read it! Enjoy it! Pass it On (or keep it and buy another to pass on!)

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A church planting movement case study as compelling story, April 8, 2011

By 

Bettina McQ (Orlando, FL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: There's a Sheep in my Bathtub: Birth of a Mongolian Church Planting Movement (Paperback)

What I do in training church missions strategists and church planting movements have something in common; both are difficult to explain succinctly. Brian Hogan's autobiographical account of his family's adventures in moving to East Asia and planting multiplying churches there now provide me a reference to point to for CP movements.

No dry, textbook explanations here. In fact, the beginnings of the movement, as described by Hogan, defied church planting theory initially. But the Hogans and their team of expatriate and local workers persevered and saw great fruit. Inspirational - and sad, in parts (Hogan's baby died shortly after being born in Mongolia)- THERE'S A SHEEP IN MY BATHTUB is a real modern-day, pioneering missions story that entertains as well as educates.