Missionary biography for children

Missionary stories are inspiring and challenging for adults and children alike and these titles can help grow your child’s faith.

I grew up in Alaska.

The short summers there have days that never end. And if it wasn’t raining, and the mosquitoes weren’t too bad, we would be out until well past a reasonable bedtime.

But when winter came, it was dark and cold. The evenings were long, and perfect for reading books by the dozen. My siblings and I spent hours almost every night, curled up around the woodstove reading or listening while my parents read aloud from book after book every winter of my childhood.

Missionary Heroes

Those evenings around the fire served as introductions to some of the greatest men and women who ever lived: missionary heroes. David Livingstone, the abolitionist explorer. Hudson Taylor, the founder of China Inland Mission. Mary Slessor, the brave woman who wasn’t afraid to go alone where Jesus called her. Brother Andrew, the man whom God gave extra courage. Gladys Aylward, the little woman who was loved by the people she went to serve.

Their names were like the names of old family friends. Their stories echoed in my heart long after the last page of the book was read, and long after I grew up and moved away from home.

The Purpose of Reading About Missionaries

The inspiring stories of missionaries and great faith heroes that my parents read aloud to me during my childhood taught me that God doesn’t call just the exceptionally talented. He doesn’t call just the brave ones to share His truth in difficult circumstances. Instead, He calls the ordinary, common ones like me and gives them exactly what they need to shine where ever He calls them, be it far away in Africa or in their own little neighborhood.

I have a home and family of my own now and live far away from Alaska and those long winters. But I often think back fondly to the evenings around the fire. The faithful lives of those missionaries still challenge, encourage,

Introduce your kids to the courageous men and women who spread God’s Word worldwide. Check out our list of missionary books for kids.

Rarely can our family be found without a great missionary book in hand. But it hasn’t always been that way.

When I was growing up, we gave money every year to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. I don’t remember ever knowing what that meant or where the money was going, but I know we gave proudly. I’m sure there were missionaries our church gave to, but I just don’t recall knowing about any until well into adulthood. Honestly, I wasn’t too concerned about my lack of knowledge in this area.

I didn’t know what I was missing.

One day we picked up the biography of Hudson Taylor. I’ll be honest and tell you that I didn’t know who he was. But the lines surrounding that booth at the homeschool convention were really long, so I figured reading missionary books was the right thing to do. (Go ahead and laugh, but I know you’ve done something like that too!)

It took many months for us to crack open the book, but one night we finally did. The kids huddled around me in silence as I read every word of the first chapter. And the second. And the third. After over an hour of reading, I finally had to put a stop to it, and the sighs in the room were heavy. This book could possibly have been the most captivating one that we had ever read!

I was probably the most shocked of all. I had been putting off reading this because I had grossly misjudged the value of doing so. Um, and I kinda thought it would be boring.

By the time we finished Hudson Taylor, I had ordered a dozen more missionary books, and we were changed forever.

There is just something so mundane about our little problems when you start looking at the problems that these amazing men and women faced. They risked their lives time and time again just to share the gospel with the lost. Meanwhile, we are getting annoyed with

With God, all things are possible! Stories of God's faithfulness on the mission field and the sacrifice of His missionaries will do more to grow your children's faith in God than a dozen lectures! Use these enjoyable missionary stories as family Read-Alouds for maximum spiritual benefit.

Because Christian missions is at the core of Sonlight, every History / Bible / Literature curriculum package includes at least one missionary biography. If you don't use Sonlight (yet) or aren't a homeschooler at all, be sure to read these twelve books to your children and add them to your home library. The discussions they inspire give you a chance to impart your faith to your children in a natural way. You will be changed, too, by these inspiring accounts.

Let's travel every continent of the globe by way of the stories of these exemplary Christian missionaries!

1. God's Adventurer: Hudson Taylor

by Phyllis Thompson

from Sonlight's History / Bible / Literature F Package

Hudson Taylor was only 21 when he sailed from England. He had already learned he could trust God with the last coin in his pocket; he would need that faith as he set out to evangelize the Chinese.

This missionary biography is a thrilling true story of daring, danger, and dependence on God in China.

2. The Good News Must Go Out

by Rebecca Davis

from Sonlight's History / Bible / Literature A Package

Mama Laird served as a missionary in the Central African Republic for decades and saw great waves of people turning to God.

One dear follower was beaten by drunks until he almost died, but 300 or so people came to his house of death and followed Jesus. Finally one day, no one came. Then he said, "God, let me get up or die."

This is marvelous missionary story that will challenge your faith in the best of ways.

3. Return of the White Book

by Rebecca Davis

from Sonlight's History /