Missionary biographies are uniquely able to bring us into the world of saints who have gone to the hard places. They show us what life among a foreign people is like, with all of its frustrations and victories. A good biography will both sober you and fill you with hope that God will do what he has promised: give the nations to Jesus as an inheritance (Psalm 2:8).

Here are three good reads:

From Jerusalem to Irian Jaya by Ruth Tucker - A history of Christian missions given in short biographies of missionaries from the different eras. Very well written. This would be a good place to go for suggestions for further reading.

John G. Paton: Missionary to the New Hebrides by John Paton - This is Paton’s autobiography detailing his life and his work among the people of modern-day Vanuatu. I read a very old copy of this that I checked out from a library. I’m assuming it’s the same material. This one’ll put fire in your belly.

The Narrow Road: Stories of Those Who Walk This Road Together by Brother Andrew with John & Elizabeth Sherril - This contains an autobiographical account of the life of Brother Andrew, founder of Open Doors International who smuggled Bibles into communist countries during the Cold War. Very accessible and engaging.