History of Missions

Christ charged His Church with two things: to disciple believers, and to spread the Gospel to every corner of the globe. The two go hand-in-hand, though we sometimes tend to compartmentalize them. Ultimately, even evangelism is a type of discipleship—it's just the most foundational stage in a process that never ends once it's begun.

The story of those who've taken Christ's message to every tribe and nation is often more exciting than any invented adventure novel. Christians have been driven by their burden to share God's Word to explore continents, challenge ungodly governments, smuggle Bibles, enter Communist countries in disguise, and die so that others could hear of God's redemption.

Missions began when Jesus first sent His disciples in pairs to preach throughout Israel. The Great Commission codified the importance of missionary work, and the Church has rightly practiced it ever since. It's important for Christian parents to tell these stories to their children, both to help them understand the importance of missionaries' work, and to offer examples of godliness and perseverance to the young saints.

Even though the human elements of these stories are usually fascinating, the emphasis ought to be on God's glory and the way He brings good out of even the most dire and hopeless circumstances. This is the greatest source of hope for the Christian: that, even when our own power fails, His is constant and will accomplish what He has determined regardless of our ability.

We offer surveys of the history of missions, as well as specific stories and biographies of well-known, lesser-known and unknown servants of Jesus Christ who have worked faithfully in His name. Whether you've been called to the mission field or devote yourself to prayer and support (all of God's people are missionaries), these are stories that can't be ignored by any who profess the name of Jesus.

Review by C. Hollis Crossman
C. Hollis Crossman used to be a child. Now he is a husband and father, teaches adult Sunday school in his Presbyterian congregation, and likes weird stuff. He might be a mythical creature, but he's definitely not a centaur. Read more of his reviews here.

 

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Against All Odds
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Alexander Mackay
Heroes of the Faith Series
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And the Word Came With Power
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Born Again
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China Cry
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Dayuma Story
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Don't Let the Goats Eat the Loquat Trees
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Men of Faith
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Evidence Not Seen
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Explorers, Missionaries, and Trappers
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Five Pioneer Missionaries
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For Those Who Dare
by John Hudson Tiner
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Forgotten Founding Father
Leaders in Action Series
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Forgotten Spurgeon
by Iain H. Murray
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George Whitefield
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George Whitefield: Wayfaring Witness
by Stuart C. Henry
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Give All to Oregon
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God's Mountain Man
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Great for God
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Hiding Place
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Hiding Place
by Corrie Ten Boom
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If I Perish
by Esther Ahn Kim
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In Search of the Source
by Neil Anderson, Hyatt Moore
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Women of Faith
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Sowers Series
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Jesus Freaks Martyrs
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John Bunyan
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John Newton
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Lone Journey
by Jeanette Eaton, illustrated by Woodi Ishmael
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1945 Newbery Honor Book
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Lords of the Earth
by Don Richardson
Reprint. from Regal Books
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Lords of the Earth
by Don Richardson
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Man Called Peter
by Catherine Marshall
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Man With the Bird on His Head
by Abbe Anderson, John Rush
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Marcus and Narcissa Whitman
by James Daugherty
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Marcus Whitman: The Great Command
by Nard Jones
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Maria
by Maria von Trapp
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Marriage to a Difficult Man
by Elisabeth D. Dodds
from Audobon Press
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Martin Luther
by Sally Stepanek
from Chelsea House Publishing
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Minka & Margaret
by Phyllis Thompson
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Mission to Cathay
by Madeleine Polland
from Sonlight Curriculum, Ltd.
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Missionary Patriarch
by John G. Paton
from Vision Forum
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Never Dies the Dream
by Margaret Landon
from Doubleday & Company
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On Call
Jaffray Collection of Missionary Portraits
by David C. Thompson, MD
from Christian Publications, Inc.
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Passion for the Impossible
by Miriam Huffman Rockness
from Discovery House Publishers
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Pigtail and Chopsticks Man
by Jim Cromarty
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Saint Patrick
by Jonathan Rogers
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Sergeant York and the Great War
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Seven Men
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Seven Men
by Eric Metaxas
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Seven Women
by Eric Metaxas
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$17.99
Shorter Life of D. L. Moody
Moody Colportage Library #83
by A. P. Fitt
from Moody Press
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Skipper of the Sentinel
by May Cole Kuhn
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Splendor of God
by Honore Morrow
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Spurgeon
by Ernest Bacon
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Taking on Giants
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Taking the High Places
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Through Gates of Splendor
by Elisabeth Elliot
from Tyndale House
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Through Gates of Splendor
by Elisabeth Elliot
40th Anniversary from Tyndale House
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$7.99
To Live Again
by Catherine Marshall
from McGraw-Hill
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$4.50 (1 in stock)
To the Golden Shore
from Judson Press
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Tommorow You Die
International Adventures
by Reona Peterson Joly
from YWAM Publishing
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$7.50 (2 in stock)
Tortured for Christ
by Richard Wurmbrand
50th Anniversary Edition from David C. Cook
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Totally Surrounded
by Christina Davis
from YWAM Publishing
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Walking Miracle
by Art Sanborn
from YWAM Publishing
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$14.99
Whitman Massacre of 1847
by Catherine, Elizabeth, and Matilda Sager
from Ye Galleon Press
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Whitman Massacre of 1847
by Catherine, Elizabeth, and Matilda Sager
from Ye Galleon Press
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William Bradford
by Gary D. Schmidt
from Eerdmans
Biography for 7th-10th grade
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William Penn
by Catherine Owens Peare
from University of Michigan Press
for 9th-Adult
in Clearance: History & Geography (Location: ZCLE-HIS)
With Two Hands
Hidden Heroes #1
by Rebecca Davis
from Christian Focus Publications
for 6th-10th grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
Wurmbrand: Tortured for Christ
by Voice of the Martyrs
from David C. Cook
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$14.00 (1 in stock)