Progress Report

 

PROGRESS REPORT

CrossLink Publishing continues to make progress on the publication of “Sunday in New York.”  Pre-sales will begin soon with an official publication date and general availability on October 1, 2021.  Here are the endorsements from those who have already seen the book. I hope you are excited as I am to see this come to fruition.

“Sunday in New York” is a dynamic and riveting story of Billy Sunday, America’s outstanding evangelist of the early 20th Century. His powerful Gospel meetings resulted in a spiritual awakening in New York City in 1917 on the eve of World War I. Don’t miss this insightful portrayal of the most dynamic preacher of his time.

 Dr. Ed Hindson

Dean Emeritus | Distinguished Professor of Religion
Rawlings School of Divinity, Liberty University

 

Put yourself in the shoes of those who walked the famous "sawdust trail" with this engaging and inspiring work of historical fiction. Robert Allen’s novel takes you back in time to experience the impact of Billy Sunday’s life and message as if you were there!

Matthew Morrell

Senior Pastor, Fourth Baptist Church, Minneapolis

President, Central Baptist Theological Seminary

 

Robert Allen didn’t just tell us the story of Billy Sunday and the New York City revival. He put us directly into the history of 1917 in New York, with intrigue, suspense and a satisfying conclusion.”

Dorothy Freerksen

Pastor’s wife and librarian, Virginia

There are few things bigger than New York City. Billy Sunday may be one of them. In this book, Robert Allen gives us a behind-the-scenes glimpse of Sunday’s 1917 New York City revival meetings.  It is a fascinating look at the influence of Billy Sunday.

Bill Higley, PhD

Vice President of Academics

Clarks Summit University, Pennsylvania

 

 “Sunday In New York” by Robert A. Allen is an historical novel worth reading. Not only does it capture the powerful spiritual impact of Billy Sunday’s great 1917 New York City Crusade and all the “behind-the-scenes” efforts that go into such a crusade, but it is written with all of the human interest elements that make for exciting reading. The sinister plots to disrupt the crusade, the fascinating interaction among the characters both for and against the crusade, and the romantic thread throughout the novel  between two seemingly mismatched people all make for reading that once I started, I could not put it down.

Richard Burke

Senior Pastor, First Baptist Church, New York City, retired

Host, “A Voice from Broadway” on WOR Radio, 17 years

 

Robert Allen hits a “home run” with his fictionalized account of baseball player turned evangelist, Billy Sunday. I remember seeing Robert as an actor portraying this dynamic preacher’s oratorical showmanship in a one-man drama he wrote about Sunday’s life and ministry. With this latest offering, you are transported back a century to World War I. The weekend the U.S. becomes involved in the war, Sunday begins his extended New York crusade. Tremendous attention to historical details, great character development and dialogue, and a love story make this a novel I didn’t want to put down. I highly recommend “Sunday in New York”!

 Randy L. Miller

Graduate Research Librarian, Liberty University 

 

“Sunday in New York” is a memorable read into the ministry of Billy Sunday highlighted by unique appearances of distinct individuals who played a role in 1917 America at the beginning of our declaration of war against Germany.  It is an inspirational read with an intriguing story line. I highly recommend it!   

Dr. Alan Potter

Professor, Shepherds Theological Seminary

 

We yearn to see God's power unleashed. Truth be told, we crave something more than seeing it; we would love to be part of it ourselves. Thanks to Robert Allen, we can travel back a century to watch God's saving power bring thousands to Christ through Billy Sunday. The best part of it? We get to see how God used people who were no different, no stronger than we are today. This book makes me thankful for what God did, and it quickens my hope for what he might do -- through someone like me.

Dr. James Lytle, President

Clarks Summit University, Pennsylvania

 

Robert Allen has chosen a beckoning topic for his new novel: Billy Sunday's New York City revival in 1917.  Allen, a life-long student of Sunday, is among the few eminently qualified reviewers to capture the essence of this exponentially influential evangelical exercise for those for whom the then-contemporary coverage is unavailable.  His picturesque prose compares favorably to that of any New York Times reporter who covered Sunday's sizzling salvation sermons in real time. The book is not for everyone on earth, as many reviews claim about a book. However, almost every living evangelical has a root or even many roots in Billy Sunday and will welcome this reader-friendly journey into their own genealogy. I know that I, a spiritual grandson of Sunday, welcome it and I highly recommend it.

 James Lutzweiler

 Archivist (1999-2013), Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary

 

Robert Allen, in his engaging work “Sunday in New York,” has captured the excitement and tensions of the most famous campaign of the athletic evangelist Billy Sunday and his wife and manager Nell, whom he affectionally called “Ma.” This 1917 campaign received no less press in New York than the concurrent U.S. declaration of war against Germany.  An impressive range of people engaged with the event — from dockworkers to the Roosevelts and the Rockefellers.  Much of the success was owed to Nell who leaves with us an appreciation for the planning and oversight required. Woven throughout is the story of Grace, Billy’s young assistant and a confidant to Nell, who singlehandedly thwarted a bombing attempt of the Sunday tabernacle. This is observed by Tom, a youthful investigative reporter, whose love interest in her develops as intrigues in the plot deepen. This work is not only for Sunday fans, but also for those who just like a good fast-paced read.

Mark Marston Norris, Ph.D. Curator, Billy Sunday Museum
Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences
Grace College, Indiana