Good Books, Good Growth: Selections for Lifelong Learning

by Kelly O’Donnell and Gerald Reddix

Have you ever walked into a Christian bookstore and felt overwhelmed by the number of interesting books that you would like to read? We sure have. In fact, this past year alone an estimated 24,000 new Christian titles were published around the world (Barrett, 1995).

Have you ever walked into a Christian bookstore and felt overwhelmed by the number of interesting books that you would like to read? We sure have. In fact, this past year alone an estimated 24,000 new Christian titles were published around the world (Barrett, 1995).

Books and other written materials can be great resources for mission personnel. “People need to keep learning, thinking, and growing to avoid stagnation and to reach their human potential,” says Monroe Brewer in describing a rationale for continuous education for missionaries. The right book at the right time—when carefully read, reflected upon, and applied to one’s life—can thus contribute much to one’s lifelong growth and learning.

CHOOSING GOOD BOOKS
Let’s suppose you went to a region of the world for three months in order to meet with and encourage missionaries. Your limited baggage allowance means that you could only take about 30 books with you that could be of help to missionaries. What books would you take?

Here is a list of books that we might take between the two of us. We actually bring many of these with us on field consultations and also recommend them to missionaries and mission leaders (most of whom are from North America and Western countries).

Our list is by no means comprehensive, yet it does represent a good sampling from among the hundreds of helpful publications available. Note that we have not included any of the more devotional types of books—which are also so important—as these would require their own separate list.

After you have read through our list, take some time to add some additional titles that you also find to be useful. You also might want to talk with others in your mission setting about how your people could access these and other good books on an ongoing basis (e.g., building a small library via courier).

MEMBER CARE
Christian Counseling (second edition). By Gary Collins. Waco, Tex.: Word, 1988. Overviews a comprehensive range of problems, such as depression, anxiety, and marital struggles, and makes suggestions to counselors for treatment.

Friend Raising: Building A Missionary Support Team That Lasts. By Betty Barnett. Seattle, Wash.: YWAM Publishing, 1991. Provides many helpful principles and suggestions for raising financial support by developing relationships with donors and friends.

Good Health, Good Travel. By Ted Lankester. London: Hodder Stoughton, 1995. Focuses on the medical and health aspects of living and traveling overseas. Practical help for preparation and for understanding the medical problems that can occur. (Available through Interhealth, 157 Waterloo Road, London SE1 8US, U.K.)

Missionary Care: Counting The Cost For World Evangelization. Edited by Kelly O’Donnell. Pasadena, Calif.: William Carey Library, 1992. A collection of 25 articles addressing the care and development of missionary personnel. Topics include setting up member care programs, counseling and clinical approaches, team development, the agency’s role in member care, and future directions for the field of member care.

Overcoming Missionary Stress. By Marjory Foyle. Wheaton, Ill.: Evangelical Missions Information Service, 1987. Deals with the practicalities of coping on the mission field. Chapters include material on raising children and adolescents, singleness, marriage, culture shock, interpersonal relationships, reentry, and selection of personnel.

Pastoral Counseling Across Cultures. Edited by David Augsburger. Philadelphia: Westmin-ster Press, 1986. Addresses the special issues of counseling people from different cultures and in different counseling contexts.

Personal Encouragement And Growth For Every Missionary: A Practical Approach To Biblical Caring and Counseling. By Betty Jo Dennett. Pymble, NSW, Australia: Gospel Missionary Society, 1990. Provides guidelines for setting up a member care program and attending to the special needs of staff.

Survival Kit For Overseas Living. By Robert Kohls. Yarmouth, Me.: Intercultural Press, 1984. A book for Americans preparing to live abroad. Explores in a direct and easy style the mysteries of culture, cross-cultural values, strategies when moving to a new country, communication skills, and culture shock. (Updated edition, 1996.)

SELF-HELP BOOKS
Authoritative Guide To Self-Help Books. By John Santrock and colleagues. New York: Guilford Press, 1994. Reviews literature and educational materials that can help people who are struggling with problems. Rates these popular books according to their likely value to help the reader.

Bold Love. By Dan Allender. Colorado Springs, Colo.: Navpress, 1992. Focuses on how to build relationships and intimacy with others. Blends biblical truths with psychological insights.

Boundaries: When To Say Yes, When To Say No. By Henry Cloud and John Townsend. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan, 1992. A book for personal growth and also relevant for team building. Discusses biblical patterns for developing healthy relationships.

Finding The Freedom of Self-Control. By William Backus. Minneapolis, Minn.: Bethany House, 1987. Explores the misbeliefs we have about ourselves and problems, with a view towards breaking old habits and improving self-control.

Healing For Damaged Emotions. By David Seamans. Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books, 1981. Best seller on how to work through early emotional damage from one’s family of origin.

Healing Life’s Hidden Addictions. By Archibald Hart. Ann Arbor, Mich.: Servant Publications, 1990. Surveys several compulsive behaviors and addictions that play havoc in people’s lives. Topics include eating, self-hatred, worry, sexuality, workaholism, codependency, exercise, and several others.

Inside Out. By Larry Crabb. Colorado Springs, Colo.: Navpress, 1988. Practical insights on how to help produce the inner changes that one wants. It also has a study guide.

Naturally Gifted: A Self-Discovery Workbook. By Gordon and Rosemary Jones. Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press, 1991. Provides tools to explore one’s gifts, abilities, temperament, values, and interests, relating these to career choices and job satisfaction. Includes a number of inventories and charts.

Pain And Pretending. By Rich Buhler. Nashville, Tenn.: Thomas Nelson Pub., 1991. Helps people to come to terms with past hurts in a balanced and sensitive way using sound biblical guidelines and psychological principles.

Pursuing Sexual Wholeness. By Andrew Comisky. Lake Mary, Fla.: Creation House, 1989. Written for Christians who struggle with homosexuality and for those who minister to them. The author shares insights from having been involved in homosexuality and now as a Christian therapist ministering in this area. Also has a workbook/study guide for groups.

Secrets Of Your Family Tree. By Carder, Henslin, Townsend, Cloud, and Brawand. Chicago, Ill.: Moody, 1991. Excellent discussion of many family background issues that affect a person. Psychologically and biblically oriented, with practical exercises.

The Wounded Heart. By Dan Allender. Colorado Springs, Colo.: Navpress, 1990. The fear, confusion, and rage in victims of various kinds of trauma are exposed (especially verbal, physical, and sexual abuse). Sensitively offers guidance and hope.

Tracks In The Sand: An Interactive Workbook. By Vance and Bethyl Shepperson. Nashville, Tenn.: Thomas Nelson, 1992. A refreshing guide to journaling for people who want to dig deeper into their life and relationship with God. It is especially useful for couples and those recovering from dysfunctional patterns, as well as for missionaries in more isolated settings who can use journaling as a self-help tool.

When Heaven Is Silent. By Ronald Dunn. Nashville, Tenn.: Thomas Nelson, 1994. Explores how God ministers to us through the hard-to-explain aspects of life. A good book to gain perspective on difficult struggles.

TEAM LIFE AND CONFLICT MANAGEMENT
Caring Enough To Confront. By David Augsburger. Ventura, Calif.: Regal Books, 1991. Explores the nature of conflict, communication, and ways to deal with conflict.

Cross-CulturalConflict: Building Relationships For Effective Ministry. By Duane Elmer. Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press, 1993. Looks at the way that conflict develops and ways to work through it in cross-cultural settings. Good examples and suggestions for using indirect methods for conflict resolution.

How To Lead Small Groups. By Neal McBride. Colorado Springs, Colo.: Navpress, 1990. Covers leadership skills necessary for running a variety of small groups. Lots of good information and tools for understanding and developing group life.

Peacemaking: A Study Guide. By Rick Love. Mesa, Ariz.: Frontiers, 1995. A group workbook for resolving differences and developing closer relationships within the group. Practical and filled with Scriptures to help guide the study.

Teamwork. By Gordon and Rosemary Jones. London: Scripture Union, 1995. Practical guidelines and exercises to help strengthen teams. Includes material on conflict management, team roles, communication, and team management.

When Caring Is Not Enough: Resolving Conflicts Through Fair Fighting. By David Augsburger. Ventura, Calif.: Regal Books, 1983. Helps people develop skills for resolving conflicts in healthy ways. Each chapter contrasts old and new “self-statements” regarding conflict and concludes with practical exercises.

CHILDREN, MARRIAGE, AND FAMILY ISSUES
A Gift For All Ages: A Family Handbook On Sexuality. By Clifford and Joyce Penner. Waco, Tex.: Word, 1986. Practical treatment of human sexuality, written from a Christian perspective. Has chapters on teaching kids about sexuality, sex and singleness, family planning, tough issues, and more.

Books Children Love: A Guide to the Best Children’s Literature. By Elizabeth Wilson. Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway, 1987. Annotated compilation of reading material for children, including secular and Christian titles. The books are divided into subject areas and each title shows the suggested grade level.

Cutting The Cord. By Vern Lewis and Bruce Narramore. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan, 1990. Discusses the different developmental stages and challenges of adolescence, communicating and relating with one’s teenagers, and helping them successfully launch into adulthood.

Don’t Pig Out On Junk Food. By Alma Gordon. Wheaton, Ill.: EMIS, 1993. Written by an MK for MKs as they transition back into American culture. Also useful for parents of MKs to understand what their children will be experiencing.

Growing A Healthy Home. Edited by Mike Yorkey. Colorado Springs, Colo.: Focus on the Family, 1990. Contains 54 short chapters on many topics: marriage, husbands and fathers, wives and mothers, education of children, family activities, teenagers, raising children, and family problems. Very readable and helpful, and includes a reading list at the end.

Help I’m A Parent. By Bruce Narramore. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan, 1995. Describes several useful biblical and psychological foundations for raising healthy children. Includes topics on discipline, natural and logical consequences, communication, and self-esteem.

Hidden Keys Of A Loving, Lasting Marriage. By Gary Smalley. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan, 1993. Common problems between husbands and wives are pointed out. Looks at reasons why marriages fail, meeting the needs of your spouse, differences between husbands and wives, and more.

How To Really Know Your Child. By Ross Campbell. Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books, 1987. Practical help on understanding and raising your child. Also excellent is his previous book (1977), How To Really Love Your Child, which includes material on making contact with your children, showing them you love them, and disciplining them.

How To Help Children With Common Problems. By Charles Schaeffer and Howard Millman. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1981. A comprehensive guide to dealing with the everyday problems of children and adolescents. Practical advice in a variety of areas, such as impulsiveness, poor use of time, anxiety, shyness, bed-wetting, sleep disturbances, sibling rivalry, temper tantrums, badlanguage, and many more.

Love Across Latitudes. By Janet Fraser-Smith. Published by the author (P.O. Box 7177, Nicosia, Cyprus), 1993. A premarital workbook for couples, in which each person is from a different culture.

Man To Man: Helping Fathers Relate To Sons and Sons Relate To Fathers. By Earl Henslin. Nashville, Tenn.: Thomas Nelson, 1993. A practical Christian guide to develop healthy relationships between fathers and sons. Also includes material on dealing with negative feelings towards one’s own father and other men, and an extensive list of resources for supportive help.

More Communication Keys For Your Marriage. By Norman Wright. Ventura, Calif.: Regal Books, 1983. An easy reading sequel to his previous excellent book on marital communication. Practically treats a variety of marital issues and ways to improve communication.

Planning For MK Nurture: Compendium Of The ICMK, Volume 1. Edited by Pam Echerd and Alice Arathoon. Pasadena, Calif.: William Carey Library, 1989. Addresses a variety of topics on raising children on the mission field. Based on the presentations given at the 1987 International Conference on Missionary Kids in Quito, Equator.

The Parent’s Guide: Systematic Training For Effective Parenting of Teens. By Don Dinkmeyer and Gary McKay. Circle Pines, Minn.: American Guidance Service, 1983. Practical advice on building good relationships between parents and teenagers. Looks at reasons for and ways to respond to misbehavior, encouraging independence with responsibility, self-esteem, mutual respect, and democratic relationships. A similar manual is also available for younger children.

Understanding And Nurturing The Missionary Family: Compendium Of The ICMK, Volume 2. Edited by Pam Echerd and Alice Arathoon. Pasadena, Calif.: William Carey Library, 1989. Includes 40 presentations on areas relevant to the adjustment of missionary families, given at the International Conference on Missionary Kids in Quito, Ecuator, 1987.

Endnotes
1. Barrett, D. (1995). “Annual statistical table on global mission.” International Bulletin of Missionary Research, 19, 24-25.
2. Brewer, M. (1991). “The lifelong learning link: Twelve reasons for continuous education for missionaries.” Missiology: An International Review, 19, 185-202.

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Kelly O'Donnell is a psychologist working with Youth With a Mission and Member Care Associaites, based in England. Together with his wife, Michele, he editeed Helping Missionaries Grow (1996) and Missionary Care (1992).

Gerald Reddix holds a doctorate of psychology degree and has been helping Christians through his practice as a marraige, family and child counselor. As part of Member Care Associates in England, his ministry focuses on families and teams working in forntier missions.

EMQ, Vol. 33, No. 1, pp. 90-95. Copyright © 1997 Evangelism and Missions Information Service (EMIS). All rights reserved. Not to be reproduced or copied in any form without written permission from EMIS.

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