Below is a list of some of our favorite mission books. Buy one that peaks your interest then read it. Reading solid books about pioneer Gospel missions should be part of every Christian’s life.
Parlier, Jaki. Poking Holes in the Darkness. (1995)
A modern missionary account of bringing the Gospel into spiritually dark, resistant regions through persistent witness.
Patrick. The Confession of St. Patrick. (c. 397–493)
A firsthand testimony of God’s sovereign grace in calling and sustaining a missionary to pagan Ireland.
Elliot, Elisabeth. Through Gates of Splendor. (1957)
The story of the five Ecuador martyrs, showing that obedience to Christ outweighs even life itself.
Edwards, Jonathan. The Life and Diary of David Brainerd. (1749)
A raw portrait of prayer, suffering, and burning zeal for the salvation of the lost.
Taylor, Hudson. Hudson Taylor’s Spiritual Secret. (1932)
Reveals that abiding in Christ—not striving—is the true source of missionary endurance and fruit.
Anderson, Courtney. To the Golden Shore: The Life of Adoniram Judson. (1956)
A sweeping biography of relentless perseverance in Burma through suffering, loss, and slow fruit.
Elliot, Elisabeth. A Chance to Die: The Life and Legacy of Amy Carmichael. (1987)
A life of hidden sacrifice and unwavering devotion to rescuing souls at great personal cost.
Nevius, John L. The Planting and Development of Missionary Churches. (1886)
Lays out a biblical model for indigenous, self-supporting, self-governing churches.
Young, Egerton Ryerson. By Canoe and Dog-Train Among the Cree and Salteaux Indians. (1890)
An adventurous account of Gospel work among remote indigenous peoples in harsh conditions.
Allen, Roland. Missionary Methods: St. Paul’s or Ours? (1912)
Challenges modern missions by calling a return to apostolic simplicity and trust in the Spirit.
Haykin, Michael A. G. To the Ends of the Earth: Calvin’s Missional Vision and Legacy. (2014)
Shows that Reformed theology has always contained a strong and active missionary impulse.
Carey, William. An Enquiry into the Obligations of Christians… (1792)
The foundational call that launched the modern missionary movement.
Bavinck, J. H. An Introduction to the Science of Missions. (1954)
A theological framework for understanding missions as the work of God among the nations.
Pollock, John. Hudson Taylor and Maria: A Match Made in Heaven. (1962)
A portrait of a marriage forged in shared sacrifice for the advance of the Gospel in China.
Sargent, E. M. The Life and Letters of Henry Martyn. (1819)
A glimpse into a short but intensely devoted life poured out for Christ in Persia and India.
Christie, Vance. Hudson Taylor. (1999)
A clear, accessible biography highlighting faith, dependence on God, and missionary vision.
Stuart, Arabella W. The Three Mrs. Judsons. (1883)
The stories of three women whose lives were bound up in sacrifice for Burma’s salvation.
Taylor, Hudson. Hudson Taylor’s Autobiography. (1902)
Taylor’s own account of God’s faithfulness in pioneering inland China missions.
Roseveare, Helen. Evidence Not Seen. (1988)
A gripping testimony of trusting God’s unseen purposes through suffering and violence in the Congo.
Paton, John G. John G. Paton: Autobiography. (1889)
A fearless narrative of taking the Gospel to cannibal tribes in the New Hebrides.
James, Sharon. My Heart in His Hands: Ann Judson of Burma. (2005)
The powerful yet often overlooked story of a woman whose endurance undergirded a mission.
Christie, Vance. Adoniram Judson: Devoted for Life. (2012)
A concise biography emphasizing total lifelong commitment to Christ’s mission.
Mathews, Basil. Book of Missionary Heroes. (1925)
A collection of inspiring accounts designed to stir zeal for Gospel advance among the nations.
If you’re serious about sharpening yourself as a Christian, and possibly a prospective missionary, don’t just read these—study them slowly. The common thread is unmistakable:
not strategy first, not comfort, not quick results—but surrender, endurance, and absolute confidence in the power of the Gospel.