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'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 here.
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'But Now I See': The Life of John Newton
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Amy Carmichael
Christian Heroes: Then & Now
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And the Word Came With Power
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Ann of Ava
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Between Worlds
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Born Again
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Bruchko and the Motilone Miracle
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California Missions Activity Book
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Cameron Townsend
Christian Heroes: Then & Now
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China Cry
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Christians With Courage
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The Swans Are Not Silent Book 4
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Christian Heroes: Then & Now
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David Livingstone
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Dayuma
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Dayuma Story
by Ethel Emily Wallis
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Eternity in Their Hearts
by Don Richardson
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Explorers, Missionaries, and Trappers
by Kieran Doherty
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Father to Nobody's Children
by David E. Fessenden
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Five Pioneer Missionaries
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For God and Country
by John Riddle
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For Those Who Dare
by John Hudson Tiner
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Forgotten Founding Father
Leaders in Action Series
by Stephen Mansfield
from Cumberland House
Biography for 9th-12th grade
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From Akebu to Zapotec
by June Hathersmith
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From Jerusalem to Irian Jaya
by Ruth Tucker
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History of missions for 11th-Adult
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George Muller
Christian Heroes: Then & Now
by Geoff & Janet Benge
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Biography for 4th-7th grade
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George Whitefield
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George Whitefield: Wayfaring Witness
by Stuart C. Henry
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Christian Heroes: Then & Now
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God's Adventurer
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Granny Han's Breakfast
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Great Waters
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Greatest Century of Missions
by Peter Hammond, introduction by George Grant
from Christian Liberty Press
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Heart Strangely Warmed
by Louise A. Vernon
from Herald Press
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Hearts of Fire
by The Voice of the Martyrs
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Heavenly Man
by Brother Yun, Paul Hattaway
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Hero Tales Volume I
by Dave & Neta Jackson
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Heroes of the Holy Life
by Wesley L. Duewel
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History of the World: The Transforming Influence of Jesus Christ
from Master Books
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$15.00 (1 in stock)
Horseman of the King
by Cyril J. Davey
1970 printing from Christian Literature Crusade
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Hudson Taylor
by Ben Alex,
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Hudson Taylor
Men of Faith
by J Hudson Taylor
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I Dared to Call Him Father
by Bilquis Sheikh & Richard H. Schneider
25th Anniversary from Chosen Books
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In Search of the Source
by Neil Anderson, Hyatt Moore
from Wycliffe Bible Translators
Missionary Biography for 9th-Adult
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Jason Lee
Sowers Series
by Charles Ludwig
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Jesus Freaks Martyrs
by DC Talk
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Jim Elliot
Christian Heroes: Then & Now
by Geoff & Janet Benge
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Biography for 4th-7th grade
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Jim Elliot - Unit Study Curriculum Guide
by Janet Benge, Geoff Benge
Study Guide from Emerald Books
Biography for 3rd-6th grade
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John Bunyan
by William Deal
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John Charles Ryle
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John Wesley
Heroes of the Faith
by Sam Wellman
from Barbour Publishing
Biography for 4th-8th grade
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Johnny Appleseed
Sowers Series
by David Collins
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Johnny Appleseed
by Eva Moore
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Jonathan and Sarah
by Edna Gerstner
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Biography for 9th-Adult
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Joni Eareckson Tada: Her Story
by Joni Eareckson Tada, Joe Musser, Steve Estes
from Inspirational Press
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Jungle Calls
Rani Adventures #3
by Ron Snell
from Hannibal Books
Evangelism & Missions for 4th-8th grade
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$4.00 (1 in stock)
Junipero Serra
Fact Finders
by Tyler Schumacher
from Capstone Press
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Kisses from Katie
by Katie J. Davis
from Howard Books
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Life and Diary of David Brainerd
by David Brainerd
from Baker Books
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$17.00 $9.00 (1 in stock)
Life and Diary of David Brainerd
by David Brainerd
from Moody Press
Biography for 10th-Adult
in Vintage History & Biographies (Location: VIN-HIS)
$24.00 (1 in stock)
Light Force
by Brother Andrew
from Revell Publishing
for 10th-Adult
in History of Missions (Location: XCH-MIS)
$6.50 (2 in stock)
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
from Christian Focus Publications
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$6.00 (1 in stock)
Livingstone and his African Journeys
by Elspeth Huxley
from Saturday Review Press
for 10th-Adult
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$12.00 (1 in stock)
Lords of the Earth
by Don Richardson
Reprint. from Regal Books
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$6.00 (1 in stock)
Lords of the Earth
by Don Richardson
from YWAM Publishing
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in International Adventures (Location: BIO-INTADV)
$9.50 (1 in stock)
Man Called Peter
by Catherine Marshall
from Evergreen Farm
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in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA)
$7.00 (1 in stock)
Man With the Bird on His Head
by Abbe Anderson, John Rush
from YWAM Publishing
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Maria
by Maria von Trapp
from Creation House
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Marriage to a Difficult Man
by Elisabeth D. Dodds
from Audobon Press
Biography for 9th-Adult
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$10.00 (1 in stock)
Martin Luther
by Sally Stepanek
from Chelsea House Publishing
Biography for 5th-9th grade
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Martyn Lloyd-Jones: From Wales to Westminster
by Christopher Catherwood
from Christian Focus Publications
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Mary Slessor
Women of Faith
by Basil Miller
from Bethany House
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Michael Faraday
by Charles Ludwig
from Herald Press
Biography for 5th-8th grade
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Minka & Margaret
by Phyllis Thompson
3rd Printing from Hodder & Stoughton
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$4.00 (1 in stock)
Mission to Cathay
by Madeleine Polland
from Sonlight Curriculum, Ltd.
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$7.50 (4 in stock)
Missionary Patriarch
by John G. Paton
from Vision Forum
Biography for 9th-Adult
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$16.00 (1 in stock)
Moro Sheeba
by Beatrice Tannehill King
from Moody Press
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$10.00 (1 in stock)
My Heart in His Hands
by Sharon L. James
from Evangelical Press
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$11.00 (1 in stock)
Narrow Road
by Brother Andrew, Elizabeth Sherrill, Jars of Clay, John Sherrill
from YWAM Publishing
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$14.99 $9.00 (1 in stock)
Nate Saint
Christian Heroes: Then & Now
by Geoff & Janet Benge
from YWAM Publishing
Biography for 4th-7th grade
in Christian Heroes: Then and Now (Location: BIO-BENGE)
$11.99 $6.00 (1 in stock)
Never Dies the Dream
by Margaret Landon
from Doubleday & Company
for 7th-12th grade
in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
Never Say Die
by Cyril Davey
1972 Printing from Lutterworth Press
for 4th-8th grade
in Vintage History & Biographies (Location: VIN-HIS)
$8.00 (1 in stock)
On Call
Jaffray Collection of Missionary Portraits
by David C. Thompson, MD
from Christian Publications, Inc.
Biography for 8th-10th grade
in Biographies (Location: BIO)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Peace Child
by Don Richardson
from Regal Books
Biography for 10th-Adult
in History of Missions (Location: XCH-MIS)
$7.50 (1 in stock)
Pigtail and Chopsticks Man
by Jim Cromarty
2010 Printing from Evangelical Press
for 8th-Adult
in Biographies (Location: BIO)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Question of Yams
by Gloria Repp
2nd edition from Bob Jones University Press
Realistic Fiction for 2nd-4th grade
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$8.99 $4.50 (1 in stock)
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