Church Connections

Recommended Books on Missions

In addition to the many great books available through ABWE Publications, below are some helpful books for those interested in exploring missions more in depth. These would be useful for pastors, missions committees, lay leaders in local churches, students, teachers and all who are eager to learn more about reaching the unreached worldwide.

Although ABWE does not fully endorse every author or the entire content of these books, we do believe they will be instructive and inspiring. Read carefully and critically. Test everything by the Scriptures. But read!

	End of the Spear Saint, Steve Saltriver (December 5, 2005) Steve Saint spent his childhood in the jungles of Ecuador among the Waodani tribe. They were his friends. They were his family. They were also the people who had speared and killed his father. Decades later, having learned to walk God’s trail, the Waodani held Steve to a binding family custom. They insisted that he return from the United States with his own family to live among them in the jungle and teach them how to interact with the outside world. A great example of cross cultural missions. Find out more
	Won by One Bible Study Course Lacock, Melvin Dye Printing; (2004) *Won by One* is a Biblical method of evangelism and discipleship- bringing individuals from the place of no faith in Jesus Christ to that of complete obedience. The lost are brought to salvation, and the saved are led to service. The command of Christ is to go and teach all nations- make disciples of all nations. This is accomplished through (1) conversion with the outward testimony of baptism (Matthew 28:19), and (2) obedience with the outward evidence of observing His commands (Matthew 28:20). Discipleship, properly defined, is a combination of evangelism and follow-up of new converts: teaching individuals to follow Christ. www.wonbyonebiblestudy.com
	Don't Waste Your Life Piper, John. Crossway Books; (May 2003) This book is a passionate call for the youth of this generation to make their lives count for eternity. John Piper acknowledges that the risks for those who seek to accomplish something in life - risks in relationships for the sake of righteousness and authenticity, risks with money for the cause of the gospel, and risks in witnessing to the truth and beauty of Christ. Readers will find their passion for the cross of Christ enlarged as a result of reading this book. Find out more
	Scaling The Wall Hicks, Kathy. Gabriel Pub; (August 2003) Discusses the responses to the question "What is holding you back from missions involvement?" raised at the Urbana Student Missions Conference. Responds with stories of real missionaries who overcame those same obstacles with God's help. Purpose is to encourage those who are considering missions by showing how God has overcome personal obstacles for people in the past, and give them hope and confidence that He can and will help them overcome the obstacles they are facing now. Find out more
	On Mission With God Blackaby, Henry and Willis, Avery T. Broadman & Holman Publishers; (January 2002) Experiencing God introduced readers to the seven realities of experiencing God. But if a person wants to continue to experience God, he or she must join Him on mission. On Mission with God will show readers how God uses the seven realities in their lives. They will experience God at work at all time - initiating a personal, loving relationship with them to join Him in His work. Then they become a part of God's mission. Find out more
	MISSIONS - Biblical Foundations & Contemporary Strategies Van Rheenan, Gailyn. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1996. A popular textbook in colleges and seminaries, this treatise offers fascinating insights on "the missionary cycle", cross-cultural issues, church maturation, selecting mission fields, and other vital topics. Find out more
	EVANGLISM & MISSIONS - Strategies For Outreach in the 21st Century Blue, Ron. Nashville: Word Publishing, 2001. Blue has written a practical and scriptural volume that can be a useful handbook to guide both the individual's evangelistic efforts and the missionary outreaches of local churches in fulfilling the missionary mandate. Find out more
	ON BEING A MISSIONARY Hale, Thomas. Pasadena: William Carey Library, 1995. Written for everyone who has an interest in missions, this volume will minister to praying and giving supporters back home, missionaries on the field, prospective missionaries, and all involved in the missions enterprise. Find out more
	GLOBAL MISSIOLOGY FOR THE 21ST CENTURY Taylor, William. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 2000. Readers will find in this book fascinating reflections on the state of evangelical world missions today, excellent Bible studies on Trinitarian mission, and interesting presentations of different models in missions that will stimulate creative thinking for the local church's international ministry. Find out more
	MISSIOLOGY - An Introduction to the Foundations, History... Terry, John Mark with Smith, Ebbie and Anderson, Justice, eds. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1998. This large volume explores the biblical mandate for world evangelization, reviews the history of missions, and describes the current state of world religions. It presents fascinating information from today's leading missiologists. The contributing writers provide an extensive overview of church growth, church planting, church development, mission strategy, and urban and humanitarian ministries. Find out more
	LET THE NATIONS BE GLAD Piper, John. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1993. Piper draws on key biblical texts to show that worship is the ultimate goal of the church, and that proper worship fuels missions. The author addresses the role of prayer and the issues of universalism and annihilation, then reviews the incentives of sovereign grace for world evangelism, and the urgency of reaching unreached peoples. Find out more
	MISSIONS IN A NEW MILLENNIUM - Changes and Challenges in World... Glenny, W. Edward and Smallman, William H., eds. Grand Rapids: Kregel Publications, 2000. Here is a collection of essays from independent Baptist missions leaders dealing with the changes and challenges in world missions. It is broken into three sections dealing with biblical studies, theological studies, and strategy studies. Find out more
	OVERCOMING THE WORLD MISSIONS CRISIS. Grand Penney, Russell. Rapids: Kregel Publications, 2001. Penney calls for a return to the biblical model of missions, presenting a practical guide to issues in career and short-term missionary service. Find out more
	PERSPECTIVES ON THE WORLD CHRISTIAN MOVEMENT-A Reader Winter, Ralph D. and Hawthorne, Steven C., eds. Pasadena: William Carey Library, 1999. The editors have gathered a multi-faceted collection of readings exploring the biblical, historical, cultural, and strategic dimensions of world evangelization. Find out more
	VITAL MISSIONS ISSUES Zuck, Roy, ed. Grand Rapids: Kregel Publications, 1998. This author examines challenges and changes in world evangelism, drawing upon the insights and studies of numerous evangelical scholars and writers to address crucial issues in world missions. Find out more