Reviewed by Daniel Cunningham

This is surely one of the most unusual books ever written concerning the whole area of popular culture. The book sets out to spiritually map Nashville and the country music industry. Spiritual mapping is a relatively new concept in British churches but in America such books as Taking Our Cities For God and Breaking Strongholds In Your City have awoken many of the church to the concept that "the god of this age has blinded the minds of those who are perishing lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ should shine on them" (II Cor 4:4) and that Christians need to do battle against the strongholds - the moral and intellectual forces which are reinforced by demonic powers - which hold communities in their grip. This workbook attempts to mobilise those who read it to become prayer warriors ready to pray for Nashville. After a potted history on the history of Nashville, it identifies possible strongholds within the city - false religion, Greek thinking, Freemasonry, the injustice meeted out to African Americans, prostitution, the American Indians, drunkenness and contemporary paganism. The book then moves to chapters on repenting for the sins of a nation or city, and a 'Praying On Location' checklist naming key sites where prayer warriors could visit. Then we get to the country music. An excellent thumbnail history brings together a great deal of data (admittedly mostly previously published in country music's huge bibliography) before concluding with a chapter 'Praying For Country Music: Releasing Destiny' and a lengthy section 'Biblical Foundations For Spiritual Warfare'. Not all the sections are as comprehensive as I'd have liked and some of the jumps from one chapter to the next are too sudden but there's much here to stimulate not only those wanting to see Spirit-blown country music take the message of hope to the millions but those wanting to investigate what we can apply to our particular corner of the vineyard. For surely Christians need to be doing far, far more as intercessor warriors in effecting the cultural life of Britain's cities.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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