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's a husband and father who loves church, good food, and weird stuff. He might be a mythical creature, but he's definitely not a centaur. Read more of his reviews
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