Recommended Books, Articles & Links
Below you will find a variety of resources that have been grouped by categories. The list is by no means exhaustive, but hopefully you will find it helpful.
LINKS TO A VARIETY OF RESOURCES
ExpandMissionary Care A collection of resources written by Ron & Bonnie Kotesky on a wide variety of topics related to missions and mental health; includes the “What Missionaries Ought to Know…” series, brochures, free e-books, resource database, and re-entry resources.
Global Vault A toolbox for missions which includes videos, book reviews, recommended resources on a variety of topics, and more, with a focus on resources for member care.
WordLive Free online guide from Scripture Union, helping you meet with God devotionally – through the Bible. Each day uses a new Bible passage with fresh resources to refresh your quiet time with God. There are two distinct approaches: Classic and Lectio.
Radical David Platt–a website with a myriad of resources for the church and missions
R. C Sproul’s Crucial Questions series 20 free e-books from RC Sproul
SPIRITUAL FITNESS
ExpandSeven things I Hate about Spiritual Formation by John Ortberg
Books from Amazon:
- Conformed to His Image Kenneth Boa
- Celebration of Discipline Richard Foster
- Streams in the Desert Lettie Cowman
- Prayer Philip Yancey
- Call to Spiritual Reformation Don Carson
- Spiritual Disciplines Handbook: Practices That Transform Us Adele Calhoun
- Bible Study Methods Rick Warren
- How to Study Your Bible Kay Arthur
- Spirituality for Extroverts and Tips for Those Who Love Them Nancy Reeves
- Godly Servants: Discipleship and Spiritual Formation for Missionaries David Teague
SPIRITUAL WARFARE
ExpandSpiritual Warfare: Arise, Fight, and Never Give Up by John Godson
Our Spiritual Battle – Video, Kathy Klassen
Books from Amazon:
- The Beginner’s Guide to Spiritual Warfare Neil Anderson and Timothy Warner
- Battlefield of the Mind Joyce Meyer
MAKING DISCIPLES
ExpandOne Minute Witness Training – Video, Oasis World Ministries
Books from Amazon:
- Just Walk Across the Room: Simple Steps Pointing People to Faith Bill Hybels
- T4T: A Discipleship Re-Revolution Steve Smith, with Ying Kai
THEOLOGY OF SUFFERING
ExpandDeveloping a Theology of Suffering Marion Dicke video (20:08)
Toward a Theology of Suffering Ken Williams article
Suffering and the Sovereignty of God John Piper and Justin Taylor, free pdf download of book
Book from Amazon:
Trauma & Resilience: A Handbook Charles & Frauke Schaefer
RESILIENCY IN MISSIONS
ExpandGarry Tissingh (5:50) 5 Factors Contributing to the Resiliency of International Workers
Dr. John Powell (3:15) What Contributes to Resiliency in Missionaries?
Darlene Jerome (3:37) Themes and Patterns in the Lives of Resilient People
Karen Carr (1:58) What Contributes to Resiliency in Missionaries?
MISSIONARY BIOGRAPHIES
ExpandBooks from Amazon:
Peace Child Don Richardson
Evidence Not Seen Darlene Rose
Bruchko Bruce Olsen
A Passion for the Impossible Miriam Rockness
To the Golden Shore Courtney Anderson
SINGLES
ExpandMarion Dicke video (5:16) Things to Think About as a Single Person in Missions
Mobile Member Care Team (MMCT) issue Full of resources on singleness, including books, articles, podcasts and more
Serving God Alone: Singles Serving Cross-culturally for the Glory of God ICEL (IMB) Bible study pdf version; This is for download only–please do not print, as these were the conditions we were asked to abide by in passing along this free resource.
MARRIAGE
ExpandPreparing Missionary Couples for Cultural Stress by Sue Eenigenburg (reproduced with permission from EMIS)
Click here for a collection of articles put out by Christianity Today around the topic of marriage and ministry
Click here to download Ron Koteskey’s book (or individual chapters) on Missionary Marriage Issues
The 5 Biggest Areas of Conflict for Couples by Drs. Les & Leslie Parrott
Is Ministry Killing Your Marriage? Leadership Journal article
MEN
ExpandSurfing for God: Discovering the Divine Desire Beneath Sexual Struggle Michael John Cusick – Free PDF Version and Free Study Guide
A list of recommended books on the Men of Integrity site
Every Man Ministries (website with some resources, video sermons, etc, including resources for building ministries for men)
Spirituality for Men by Tony Horsfall (reproduced with permission)
WOMEN
ExpandThe Emotional Needs of Women on the Mission Field by Ruth Ann Graybill (reproduced with permission from the author)
Books from Amazon:
- Screams in the Desert: Hope and Humor for Women in Cross-cultural Ministry Sue Eenigenburg
- More Screams in the Desert Sue Eenigenburg
- Expectations & Burnout: Women Serving the Great Commission Sue Eenigenburg
- A Quiet Center Susan Scott Sutton
- The Long Way Home: Discovering the Beauty of God’s Mercy and Rest as a Minister’s Wife Laura Mullenix (Laura is founder of BethNuah ministries for wives of ministers–see website below)
Articles for women regarding marriage
One another: How 12 NT verses transformed our marriage by Tammy Darling
Surviving Marriage’s Winters by Stacy Voss
Clearing the Air by Jenny Schermerhorn
Websites, online magazines, blogs, etc, for women:
Just Between Us (encouragement for ministry wives and women in leadership)
Thrive ministry (also listed under retreats)
Velvet Ashes (Encouragement for Women serving overseas)
INTERPERSONAL SKILLS
ExpandBooks from Amazon:
- Cross-Cultural Conflict Duane Elmer
- Cross-Cultural Connections Duane Elmer
- Lambs Dancing with Wolves Michael Griffiths (Available from the UK)
- Creating Understanding: a Handbook for Christian Communication across Cultural Landscapes Donald Smith
- The Peacemaker Ken Sande
CROSS-CULTURAL MATTERS
ExpandThings We Wish We’d Known Before Going Out on Mission
American and German Icebergs by Dr Sabrina Mallon-Gerland
Peace Corps cross-cultural workbook Overcome cultural anxiety by exploring self-imposed barriers and our perception of ourselves
Books from Amazon:
- The Culture Map Erin Meyer
- Foreign to Familiar Sarah A Lanier
- Cross-cultural Servanthood Duane Elmer
- Cultural Imperative: Global Trends in the 21st Century Richard D. Lewis
- Culture from the Inside Out: Travel—and Meet Yourself Alan Cornes
- When Cultures Collide Richard Lewis
- Why Are Americans Like That? Stan Nussbaum
- American Cultural Baggage: How to Recognize and Deal With It Stan Nussbaum
- Building Credible Multicultural Teams Lianne Roembke
- Figuring Foreigners Out Craig Storti (includes four stages of cultural awareness; helpful insights that increase your ability to relate with people from cultures around the world)
- Survival Kit for Overseas Living L. Robert Kohls (special challenges for wives, mothers, and short-termers are also addressed)
- Teaching Cross-Culturally Judith & Sherwood Lingenfelter
Culture-related youtube videos:
Cultural Gaffes beyond your borders – Peace Corps
The differences between West and East
LEADERSHIP
ExpandBooks from Amazon:
- Spiritual Leadership: A Commitment to Excellence for Every Believer J. Oswald Sanders
- The Leadership Challenge: How to Make Extraordinary Things Happen in Organizations James Kouzes and Barry Posner This is the fifth edition in hardback – hopefully in Kindle
- Shackleton’s Way: Leadership Lessons from the Great Antarctic Explorer Margot Morrell
MUSLIM MINISTRY TOOLS AND RESOURCES
ExpandFoundational Books by John Gilchrist (free, online):
Facing the Muslim Challenge
Sharing the Gospel with Muslims
Muhammad: The Prophet of Islam
The Qur’an: The Scripture of Islam
Jam’ Al-Qur’an – The Codification of the Qur’an text
Muhammad and the Religion of Islam
The Christian Witness To the Muslim
Other Islam-related Books available on Amazon:
Answering Islam Norman Geisler
A Wind in the House of Islam David Garrison
From Seed to Fruit: Global Trends, Fruitful Practices and Emerging Issues Relating to Muslims Dr Dudley Woodberry and Vision 5:9
Grace and Truth: Toward Christlike Relations with Muslims (also available in free e-book – write to john.becker@aimint.net) Rick Love and Vision 5:9
Miraculous Movements: How Hundreds of Thousands of Muslims are falling in Love with Jesus Jerry Trousdale
A Christian’s Evangelistic Guide to Islam (pocket-size ‘Islam 101’) Malcolm Steer
A Muslim’s Guide to Christianity (pocket-size, jargon-free brief explanation) Malcolm Steer
The Unseen Face of Islam Bill Musk
Touching the Soul of Islam Bill Musk
And You Shall Be A Blessing Ben Naja
Encountering the World of Islam – big compendium
Ishmael My Brother: A Biblical Course on Islam Ann Cooper
Muslims, Christians and Jesus: Building Relationships and Gaining Understanding Carl Medearis
Mini-Skirts, Mothers and Muslims Christine Mallouhi
Where There Was No Church – Fruitful Practice Research (Vision 5:9) (also available as free e-book – write to john.becker@aimint.org)
Electronic Publications:
Reaching the Unengaged – Mission Frontiers
Unleashing the Gospel through Storytelling – Mission Frontiers
A Historic Wind is Blowing – Mission Frontiers