As those of you who are familiar with my writing ministry can affirm, through the years I’ve done a fair amount of missionary biography reading and writing. But just this year I’ve become acquainted with an absolute treasure trove of missionary biography which I was entirely unaware of previously. Thanks for allowing me to introduce you to this valuable resource if, like me, you’ve not been aware of it till now.
The treasure trove I’m recommending is M. R. Conrad’s outstanding trio of book-length “missions devotionals” published by Church Works Media. His newest volume has just been published and is entitled Daring Decision: A 31-Day Journey with Those Who Followed God’s Leading. It explores the vital issue of how God calls and guides people to serve Him with their lives. It features the examples of individuals who carefully sought, then faithfully followed, God’s leading in serving Him, both at home and abroad.
Conrad’s first collection of missionary biography devotionals (published 2020) is entitled Daring Devotion: A 31-Day Journey with Those Who Lived God’s Promises. It introduces readers to the rich spiritual resource of missionary biography, and relates the testimonies of missionaries who claimed the promises of God in His Word in carrying out their ministries.
Conrad’s second work in this series is Daring Dependence: A 31-Day Journey with Those Who Found Their Strength in God (published 2022). It shares the examples of missionaries who manifested an all-out dependence on God and His enablement in order to carry out the Christian living and service He desired of them.
These books provide a veritable Who’s Who of prominent missionaries, mainly from the past three centuries, including Gladys Aylward, William Borden, David Brainerd, William Carey, Amy Carmichael, Oswald Chambers, Jim and Elisabeth Elliot, Jonathan and Rosalind Goforth, Adoniram Judson, Eric Liddell, David Livingstone, Henry Martyn, Robert Moffat, Lottie Moon, Robert Morrison, John Paton, Mary Slessor, John and Betty Stam, C. T. Studd, and Hudson Taylor. In addition, the volumes also introduce us to a number of somewhat less known but equally dedicated missionaries, such as Geoffrey Bull, William Burns, Alexander Duff, James Gilmour, Betty Green, Norris and Mary Groves, Arthur and Wilda Mathews, Peter Rumachik, Peter Torjesen, Lilias Trotter, and John Williams. Several other notable promoters of worldwide missions and evangelism are featured in the books, among them being Robert Murray M’Cheyne, Dwight Moody, George Muller, Charles Simeon, George Whitfield, and Nicolas von Zinzendorf.
Conrad’s books devote one chapter to each of these (and numerous other) individuals, all of whom are well worth getting to know. The author briefly relates some of the significant features of each person’s spiritual development and service, then brings out a primary lesson from his or her life. Each individual’s testimony is related in an interesting fashion that captures and holds the reader’s attention.
Conrad concludes each chapter by relating its main point of emphasis to our Christian living and service today. His spiritual perspectives and guidance are sound and substantive. His applications are challenging but also encouraging.
Every chapter includes a suggested Scripture reading, and often additional Bible references, which establish the primary lessons on a solid biblical foundation. A short set of “Personal Reflection” questions at the end of each chapter further assists readers in thinking through and applying the material under consideration.
These readings can be profitably used as a part of one’s personal or family devotions. The chapters are not long, only five or six pages each, so can be read in a relatively brief amount of time. But they should certainly not be rushed through, rather prayerfully pondered and personally applied.
These books are not only for those interested in missions and those contemplating vocational Christian service. All Christians who desire to serve the Lord well – right where they’re at presently and wherever He leads them in the future – will gain great encouragement and benefit from the works.
Conrad is well qualified to have written these volumes. The Lord used many of the biographies Conrad references to play a part in discipling him as a young man, as he considered God’s will for his life. He served in urban Asia for twelve years in church planting and leadership training. His leadership training ministries now include key areas in the Middle East and East Africa. His years of firsthand experience in personal missionary endeavor and his obvious commitment to helping expand Christ’s worldwide kingdom work enable him to write as a knowledgeable and passionate practitioner rather than merely as a theoretician.
Conrad’s books also provide a wealth of bibliographical information. Each chapter and its endnotes contain a primary biography about the missionary being considered, and often a number of other bibliographical sources as well. In addition, at the end of each of his three books Conrad includes an “Essential Missionary Biography Checklist,” which in Daring Decision (his third book) has grown to a list of twenty “Must-Read Missionary Biographies” and thirty-eight “Worth-Reading Missionary Biographies.”
Which of Conrad’s three books should you start with? Perhaps the primary theme of one of the volumes as briefly described above will appeal to you most at this time. Any and all his works will prove spiritually profitable. You can learn more about the author and his books at his website www.mrconrad.net.
Copyright 2025 by Vance E. Christie
