Ever since I was a little girl I loved reading missionary biographies! My mom always had a good stack for us to choose from but even as I’ve gotten older I realize I still love to read them.
Here is a list of some of my favorites.
But the two of the very best Christian missionary biographies are these two:
The first is by a favorite author of mine: Elisabeth Elliot. Mrs. Elliot’s story is fascinating, but her biography of her hero, Amy Carmichael, is one of the best biographies I’ve ever read. If you want to read how Amy’s life impacted mine after reading this biography, check out this article.
In the epilogue, Mrs. Elliot writes this about Amy:
“So she finished her house – Amy Carmichael, one of the tens of thousands of lovers of the Lord who staked everything in His faithfulness.”
A Chance to Die
The next is one I read about three years ago. During our second adoption process my husband and I were praying about whether or not to join Medical Missions Outreach and move to Honduras to do full-time mission work. As I searched for biographies I found this one.
Hudson Taylor’s Spiritual Secret
Not only was Hudson Taylor a missionary, but to China – a country I thought a lot about since we have two children from China. Reading about Hudson Taylor’s life I realized his “secret” had little do with his location or vocation. His secret to life had everything to do with his heart’s position toward the Heavenly Father. Listen to this quote:
“Deeper down, deeper down that life had to go, in God. Outwardly it might seem, at times, that the work was carried on a floodtide of success. Glorious steps of faith were taken; glorious answers to prayer were received. But the preparation of heart beforehand and the steady burden-bearing afterwards were known only to those who shared them behind the scenes.” – H. Taylor
The beautiful thing about missionary biographies is inside the pages of someone’s story is this truth: GOD IS FAITHFUL. It rings true in the midst of their hardships and service. God remains faithful even today.
What biographies do you like to read?
Tweet ThisWill we believe God’s faithfulness? Will we believe enough to step out in obedience, whatever that may mean? Our lives will end and our words will fade; but if our lives are ones that trust in God and obey him, they will be like Amy’s: lighthouses in the dark stormy night of this world.
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