Twelve Books to Encourage Sending Churches
A sending church might want to learn more about missions, whether to recommend for those going to the field, or for their own enlightenment. An easy way to grow in missional knowledge is through reading solid books related to missions, whether ones that were foundational to the development of modern missions or a history of missions in a country. These tools are useful to help guide our convictions on missions, and to encourage others as they think about what God has called us to. We have compiled a list of books relating to various topics in missions to aid sending churches as they strive to follow the Great Commission.
An Enquiry
William Carey
Why did this little document send so many thousands to the mission field all the way up to today, and how did its author become known as the “father of modern missions”? This groundbreaking document gives the Biblical rationale and marries it well with the practical. You can purchase it here.
A Brief Guide to DMM
Chad Vegas
What are Disciple Making Movements and why are they (and its close cousins: Church Planting Movements, Insider Movements, T4T, Rapid Cycle Church Planting, and Four Fields) so popular in our time? A deep dive into this methodology is a must for pastors that send out missionaries from their churches. Download it for free here.
Revival and Revivalism
Iain Murray
Scripture tells us there is nothing new under the sun. The lessons of authentic revival and men trying to manufacture those results through revivalism is too close a parallel to missions in our time. Iain Murray explains the difference and warns us of the dangers in seeking results rather than leaving them to God. The book is available for purchase here.
Selected Writings of John Leighton Wilson
John Leighton Wilson
A Presbyterian minister in the 1800s, John Leighton Wilson was influential in missions, first as a missionary in Africa, and then as part of the Presbyterian Board of Missions. Read various pieces he wrote, and gain a deeper understanding of missions. Wilson's writings are purchasable here.
The Korean Pentecost
William Blair, Bruce Hunt
Who would know that the beating heart of the Korean church in earlier days was Pyongyang? This book is a marvelous testimony to the Korean church through WWII, Communism and the King holding them fast through all of it. You can find the book here.
Filling Up the Afflictions
John Piper
Piper is masterful in highlighting the salient facts of a man’s life. His overview of Judson, Paton, and Tyndale reminds us that the cost of the gospel advancing to new lands and languages is almost always accompanied by suffering. It can be found here.
The Screwtape Letters
CS Lewis
Though a work of fiction, Lewis’ epistolary novel provokes reflection on how demons and the spiritual influence our daily lives. Well-written, and philosophically intriguing, The Screwtape Letters encourages readers to be aware of outside influences, and how God’s enemies weaken us. It can be purchased here.
The Diary and Journal of David Brainerd
Jonathan Edwards
A missionary to Native Americans in the 1700s, Brainerd lived a short life but one devoted to following the Great Commission. His friend, Jonathan Edwards later compiled Brainerd’s journals into one book, one that is still an encouragement today to Christians. The journals are available here.
Letters from the South Seas
Margaret Paton
Wife to missionary John Paton, Margaret Paton’s letters provide an intimate look into life in New Hebrides as she and her husband labored to share the gospel with those who had not heard. You can find her letters here.
Let the Nations be Glad
John Piper
This book focuses on God’s supremacy as a foundation for missions, and how the church’s goal is worship. Drawing on biblical passages as proof, Piper looks at Christ-centered missions and what it is. Let the Nation be Glad can be purchased here.
No Shortcut to Success
Matt Rhodes
Missions takes time, months, years, sometimes even decades. Rhodes looks at the common short-term approach to modern missions and entreats Christians to take theologically solid and historically proven approaches to missions. This book is purchasable here.
Missions by the Book
Chad Vegas and Alex Kocman
Theology and missions are often wrongly separated, but they must go together. How must we handle the relationship between missions and theology? Vegas and Kocman discuss the importance of having both and how they walk together. You can buy it here.