"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy". Proverbs 31:8-9.

The people chosen for this book are ordinary people who have made a significant contribution to the improving the lives of other people, or who have had the courage to speak out and draw people's attention to injustice in the world. They are not perfect Christians but we can learn from thier examples and even from their failings.

There are fact pages at the end of each chapter intended for group discussion.

As you read this book, you will be challenged to think about how you Christian faith relates to the world around us. These stories can be uncomfortable to read and will provoke discussion on moral and social issues. Often there are no easy answers to the social challenges that Christians face.

Injustice is still around us. Where societies lose their moral moorings they need people of courage and conviction to set a radical and just, perspective. Our hope is that through this book young people will face these challenges and prayerfully seek a Biblical response to them.

Catherine House is an educational writer who specialises in writing books for African schools. She lived and worked in Kenya, Sudan, Eritrea and Zimbabwe before moving to her home near Oxford. Inspired by her two daughters, Catherine also writes books that explain how the Christian faith can make a difference in their lives and in the world they live in.