Christ's servants today stand on the shoulders of His servants of earlier eras whose lives were often packed with more adventure than the most riveting novel. The profiles in this book will introduce you to the extraordinary lives of Christians who shook the world. Discover the legacies of Bill Bright, Amy Carmichael, William Carey, Jim Elliot, Eric Liddell, David Livingstone, and others who changed history through their sacrifice and perseverance. Read how answering "yes" to God's plan for their lives led them to high adventures, great challenges and huge impact that transformed millions. The individuals spotlighted in this book were visionary, motivated, and imperfect. They sought great things - but not for themselves. They were great for God. They lived out William Carey's daring challenge, "Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God." You did not pick up this book by accident. A life that is great for God is on:, that merits Jesus' approval. Are you ready? Will you be great for God? Book jacket.

"Thousands of Irish men and women have served as missionaries in the world's poorest countries. In God's entrepreneurs, Joe Humphreys examines this unique movement, showing how a plan to bring Christianity to 'pagan lands' was, over time, accompanied by a humanitarian operation that has affected millions of lives."--From back cover.

Ten Who Changed the World is seminary president Daniel Akin’s powerful tribute to the transformational work done by some truly inspiring Christian missionaries. With each profile, he journeys into the heart of that gospel servant’s mission-minded story and makes a compelling connection to a similar account from the Bible. David Brainerd (1718-1747; missionary to Native Americans) reminds Akin of Paul’s missionary life in 2 Timothy. The faithful ministry of George Leile (1750-1820; missionary to Jamaica) is aligned with Galatians 6. William Carey (1761-1834; missionary to India) lives out the Great Commission of Matthew 28. There are parallels between Adoniram Judson (1788-1850; missionary to Burma) and Romans 8. Lottie Moon (1840-1912; missionary to China) displays the power of a consecrated life described in Romans 12. The work of James Fraser (1886-1938; missionary to China) illustrates Revelation 5. Eric Liddell (1902-1945; missionary to China), his life documented in the film Chariots of Fire, illuminates Hebrews 12. Together, John (1907-1934) and Betty Stam (1906-1934; missionaries to China) embodied Psalm 67. William Wallace (1908-1951; missionary to China) was a shining example of Philippians 1. Jim Elliot (1927-1956; missionary to Ecuador) is a bold reminder of Psalm 96.

Dramatic changes have taken place in global society and in the church that have implications for how the church does missions in the twenty-first century. This guide helps readers understand these trends.

James F. Engel and William A. Dyrness offer a sympathetic yet courageous analysis of the challenges that North American and other Western Christian missions face.

In The Greatest Missionary Generation: Inspiring Stories from around the World, Larry Sharp establishes the characteristics, challenges, successes, and uniqueness of an incredible generation of missionaries. It is of no small significance that the missionaries of the second half of the twentieth century prepared the way for God’s people of the twenty-first century. Post-World War II purveyors of the gospel had incredible opportunities and open doors, and they used them for the glory of God. Through the retelling of personal stories of the missionaries in New Guinea, Brazil, Mexico, and more, lesser known details of missionary activity in the 1950s and 1960s are revealed, including the courage, personal calling, sacrifice, and excellence of these brave Christians. Their incredible journeys prove that their legacy is worth celebrating and remembering. It is of utmost importance for future generations to understand and appreciate the previous generation’s struggles and triumphs. The Greatest Missionary Generation will mobilize hearts to love and serve the Lord. Key points and features:An in-depth look into the lives and work of missionaries who served in the decades after World War IIIncludes photos

It's not every day that you get a visit from God. Burning bushes, ladders to heaven, chariots of fire and all that--we look for those stories in the Bible, and we look for them in our lives. When it comes to something as important as what we do with our lives, we think, maybe God owes us a big event. But, as Leroy Barber has learned through his work in inner cities and with young people, that's not usually how it works. More often God calls out to us from everyday misfortunes and all-too-common injustices, and he invites our response--not just a response in the moment, but a recognition that we have a role to play in seeing God's kingdom come, God's will done, on earth as it is in heaven. Through the surprisingly normal stories of the heroes of faith in the Bible, and through Barber's experiences with Mission Year and other ministries, in this book you'll learn what it means to change the world from your own little space in it.

The world continues to globalize and urbanize at a rapid pace. Technology and social media have transformed how people interact. Despite recent advances and innovations, countless people groups across the globe still lack access to the gospel of Jesus Christ. How should the church mobilize to reach the world? Now more than ever before, Christians need to be aware of the changing landscape before us. Missions expert David Sills shares this one-stop shop of key global challenges confronting Christian mission in the twenty-first century. In ten topical chapters he identifies ways practitioners can be faithful to God's call, help without hurting, reach oral learners, conduct short-term missions responsibly, engage in business as mission strategically and much more. While the world is fluid, God's mission endures. Discover anew how the eternal gospel can make its way to every tribe and nation.

“The reason you love Jamie (or are about to) is because she says exactly what the rest of us are thinking, but we’re too afraid to upset the apple cart. She is a voice for the outlier, and we’re famished for what she has to say.” --Jen Hatmaker, New York Times bestselling author of Of Mess and Moxie and For the Love Wildly popular blogger "Jamie the Very Worst Missionary" delivers a searing, offbeat, often hilarious memoir of spiritual disintegration and re-formation. As a quirky Jewish kid and promiscuous punkass teen, Jamie Wright never imagines becoming a Christian, let alone a Christian missionary. She is barely an adult when the trials of motherhood and marriage put her on an unexpected collision course with Jesus. After finding her faith at a suburban megachurch, Jamie trades in the easy life on the cul-de-sac for the green fields of Costa Rica. There, along with her family, she earnestly hopes to serve God and change lives. But faced with a yawning culture gap and persistent shortcomings in herself and her fellow workers, she soon loses confidence in the missionary enterprise and falls into a funk of cynicism and despair. Nearly paralyzed by depression, yet still wanting to make a difference, she decides to tell the whole, disenchanted truth: Missionaries suck and our work makes no sense at all! From her sofa in Central America, she launches a renegade blog, Jamie the Very Worst Missionary, and against all odds wins a large and passionate following. Which leads her to see that maybe a "bad" missionary--awkward, doubtful, and vocal—is exactly what the world and the throngs of American do-gooders need. The Very Worst Missionary is a disarming, ultimately inspiring spiritual memoir for well-intentioned contrarians everywhere. It will appeal to readers of Nadia Bolz-Weber, Jen Hatmaker, Ann Lamott, Jana Reiss, Mallory Ortberg, and Rachel Held Evans.

A History of Christian Missions traces the expansion of Christianity from its origins in the Middle East to Rome, the rest of Europe and the colonial world, and assesses its position as a major religious force worldwide. Many of the world’s religions have not actively sought converts, largely because they have been too regional in character. Buddhism, Islam and Christianity, however, are the three chief exceptions to this, and Christianity in particular has found a home in almost every country in the world. Professor Stephen Neill’s comprehensive and authoritative survey examines centuries of missionary activity, beginning with Christ and working through the Crusades and the colonization of Asia and Africa up to the present day, concluding with a shrewd look ahead to what the future may hold for the Christian Church.