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
by Jim Stier
from YWAM Publishing
for 7th-Adult
in International Adventures (Location: BIO-INTADV)
$14.99
Alexander Mackay
Heroes of the Faith Series
by Sophia L. Fahs
from A Beka Books
Biography for 7th-10th grade
in A Beka Book Report books (Location: REA-ABK)
Amy Carmichael of Donhavur
by Frank L. Houghton
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And the Word Came With Power
by Joanne Shetler, Patricia Purvis
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$8.50 (2 in stock)
Bring Your Eyes and See
International Adventures
by Steve Goode, Mary Goode
from YWAM Publishing
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in International Adventures (Location: BIO-INTADV)
$12.00
Bruchko
by Bruce Olson
Revised from YWAM Publishing
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Cell 58
International Adventures
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Chance to Die
by Elisabeth Elliot
from Revell Publishing
Biography for 8th-12th grade
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Charles Mulli
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$11.99
Cry from the Streets
International Adventures
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from YWAM Publishing
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$9.00
D. L. Moody
by Kevin Belmonte
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$12.00
D. L. Moody
Christian Heroes: Then & Now
by Geoff & Janet Benge
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Daniel Webster
Sowers Series
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David Livingstone
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$11.75
David Livingstone
Heroes of the Faith Series
by Basil Mathews
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Dayuma
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Dietrich Bonhoeffer
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For God and Country
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Gladys Aylward
Heroes of the Faith
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Missionary Biography for 4th-8th grade
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God's Adventurer
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Biography for 5th-8th grade
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God's Smuggler
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Heart Strangely Warmed
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Helen Roseveare
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Heroes of the Holy Life
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Hiding Place
by Corrie Ten Boom
35th Anniversary Edition from Chosen Books
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If I Perish
by Esther Ahn Kim
from Moody Press
Biography for 8th-12th grade
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Torchbearers
by Irene Howat
from Christian Focus Publications
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Jason Lee
Sowers Series
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John Bunyan
by William Deal
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John Flynn
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John Newton
by Janet & Geoff Benge
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Lights in a Dark Place
Hidden Heroes #5
by Rebecca Davis
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Lights in the Northwest
by Richard M. Hannula
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Biographies for 4th-8th grade
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$17.95
Lights in the Northwest - Teacher's Supplement CD-ROM
by Richard M. Hannula
from Sound Summit Books
Biographies for 4th-8th grade
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Living on the Devil's Doorstep
International Adventures
by Floyd McClung
from YWAM Publishing
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Living Water in the Desert
Hidden Heroes #6
by Rebecca Davis
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Lords of the Earth
by Don Richardson
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by Abbe Anderson, John Rush
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Michael Faraday
by Charles Ludwig
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Mildred Cable
by Geoff & Janet Benge
from YWAM Publishing
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Mission to Cathay
by Madeleine Polland
from Sonlight Curriculum, Ltd.
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Norman Grubb
by Janet & Geoff Benge
from YWAM Publishing
Biography for 4th-8th grade
in Christian Heroes: Then and Now (Location: BIO-BENGE)
$11.99
On Call
Jaffray Collection of Missionary Portraits
by David C. Thompson, MD
from Christian Publications, Inc.
Biography for 8th-10th grade
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Passion for the Impossible
by Miriam Huffman Rockness
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Pigtail and Chopsticks Man
by Jim Cromarty
2010 Printing from Evangelical Press
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Return of the White Book
Hidden Heroes #4
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by Janet and Geoff Benge
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Saint Patrick
by Jonathan Rogers
from Thomas Nelson Publishers
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$12.00
Sergeant York and the Great War
by Alvin C. York
from My Father's World
Autobiography for 7th-Adult
in World War I (1914-1919) (Location: HISA-20WW1)
$22.00
Seven Men
by Eric Metaxas
from Thomas Nelson Publishers
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$16.99
Seven Women
by Eric Metaxas
from Thomas Nelson Publishers
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by Ernest Bacon
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Sowers Series
by Charles Ludwig
from Mott Media
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International Adventures
by Jemimah Wright, Terry Snow
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Tales of Persia
by William Miller
from P&R Publishing
Biography for 4th-8th grade
in History of Missions (Location: XCH-MIS)
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Through Gates of Splendor
by Elisabeth Elliot
from Tyndale House
Biography for 8th-Adult
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$16.99
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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
Autobiography for 6th-10th grade
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Totally Surrounded
by Christina Davis
from YWAM Publishing
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$14.99
Walking Miracle
by Art Sanborn
from YWAM Publishing
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Way Beyond Death
International Adventures
by Jemimah Wright
from YWAM Publishing
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$9.00
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by Catherine, Elizabeth, and Matilda Sager
from Ye Galleon Press
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William Bradford
by Gary D. Schmidt
from Eerdmans
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by Rebecca Davis
from Bob Jones University Press
Biography for 5th-8th grade
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Hidden Heroes #1
by Rebecca Davis
from Christian Focus Publications
for 6th-10th grade
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Hidden Heroes #3
by Rebecca Davis
from Christian Focus Publications
for 4th-8th grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
World of William Penn
by Genevieve Foster
from Beautiful Feet Books
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$14.95