Weapons of Peace: The Story of William and Johanna Anderson (Revised 2016)

by Peter S. Anderson

The book is a thrilling adventure, trial, romance, tragedy and faith. William was one of the earliest missionaries sent out by the London Missionary Society, founded in 1795. He has been described as one of the great pioneers of South Africa, a true friend and champion of the coloured and indigenous peoples of the sub-continent.

Johanna his wife, of Dutch and French Huguenot descent, stood with him through all the joys and trauma of their life together - a woman of deep faith and courage.

The author is a great, great, great grandson of William and Johanna Anderson. He was born in Zimbabwe and after studying geography at the University of Cape Town, South Africa, taught in his home town of Bulawayo. Later he studied theology in London and in 1976 he and his late wife Geralyn moved to Taiwan and later Hong Kong and China to serve amongst the Chinese.

...a vivid, moving and sometimes heart-rending but always inspiring picture of pioneer missionary work in South Africa in the first half of the nineteenth century...I commend to one and all this tender but triumphant tale of adventure and high achievement for our Lord Jesus Christ. Read and be inspired. I was."

- Michael Cassidy

From 1976 to 2005, Peter served in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and China. For 15 years he and his late wife served with OMF International and then for almost as long Peter served as International Director of the Jian Hua Foundation (JHF), an NGO working in China in the fields of education, medical and social services, relief and development. Peter’s first wife Geralyn died of cancer in 1998, and Peter married Elizabeth in 2000. From 2006-2016, they pastored Mairangi Bay Community Church, a multi-ethnic church in Auckland, New Zealand, and after retiring, Peter served part-time as an Adjunct lecturer at Carey Baptist College. In 2016, the Second Edition of “Weapons of Peace” was published—a significant improvement on the 1995 edition with added references and an index as well as some new material.

In 2023, Peter completed his book “Africa to China with Love: A Lifelong Missional Adventure”.

To obtain a copy of "Weapons of Peace" or “Africa to China with Love” please email Peter at: peter.anderson@slingshot.co.nz