What Missionaries Ought to Know about Books for Missionary Care

by Dr. Ronald Koteskey

download this as a pdf file

Recommended Reading, 2007

            Have you ever walked into a bookstore, even a Christian bookstore, and felt overwhelmed?  With about 24,000 new Christian books published yearly, it is little wonder that most people are puzzled about what to read.  Although lists of recommended books appear in print from time to time, many books are hard to locate unless you have access to an academic library or interlibrary loan, or they are so expensive that a missionary can hardly afford them.  Here is a list of books that are available, reasonably priced, and helpful.

Criteria for including a book.

The following criteria were used to decide whether or not to include a book:

·        In Print.  To be listed in this brochure, it must be listed in the current edition of Books in Print, so it should be available.

·        Reasonably Priced.  None of the books included cost more than $25, and half cost under $15.

·        Variety.  Some are written for the general public, some for missionaries, and all from a Christian perspective.

·        Complete Data.  Price, ISBN number, and complete publication data are included, so when friends ask what you would like, any bookstore should be able to order the book.

·        All these books can be ordered on-line at www.amazon.com and/or www.mti.org (check both for prices, including shipping).  They can also be ordered from MTI by mail, by fax, or by phone.

General missionary care.

            Psychology of Missionary Adjustment.  Marge Jones with E. Grant Jones, Logion Press, Springfield , MO , 1995 (ISBN 0-88243-321-0) $12.95; 11 chapters, 173 pages, bibliography, index.  Although useful for missionaries at any stage in life because it covers mental health issues from a call to retirement, it is probably most useful to relatively new missionaries.  The author, a missionary for nearly four decades, notes that the book was written to help missionaries persevere through the second, third, fourth and even fifth terms.

           Enhancing Missionary Vitality: Mental Health Professions Serving Global Mission. John R. Powell and Joyce M. Bowers. (Editors). Mission Training International, Palmer Lake, CO, 2002 (ISBN 0-942726-03-0) $24.95, 56 chapters, 499 pages, index.  This book is written basically about North American missionaries by people who attend the annual Conference on Mental Health & Missions.  Although written by and for mental health professionals, many of the chapters are of interest to missionaries themselves.

            Frontline Women: Negotiating Crosscultural Issues in Ministry.  Marguerite G. Kraft (Ed.), William Carey Library, Pasadena, CA, 2003 (ISBN 0-87808-356-1) $17.99; 12 chapters, 11 contributors, 225 pages. index.  Written mostly by women for women, this book covers many women’s issues including stress, roles, loneliness, life-style, self-image, marginality and the demonic.  As noted in the forward, women need to read this book to be encouraged and men need to read it and wake up.

Care of MKs

          Parenting in an On-Demand World. Robin Pascoe, Expatriate Press, Vancouver, BC, Canada. 2006 (ISBN 0-9686760-3-0) $24.95; 10 chapters, 230 pages, appendix.  Written by the mother of TCKS, this book is filled with personal experiences as well as much practical advice on living in other cultures.  Much has changed in our world since 1993 when the author wrote her parents guide.  This update considers implications for TCKs growing up outside their passport culture in this globalized, digitized, terrorized world.

             Third Culture Kids: The Experience of Growing Up among Worlds.  David C. Pollock and Ruth E. Van Reken, Intercultural Press, Yarmouth, ME, 2001 (ISBN 1-877864-72-2) $19.95; 18 chapters, appendix, 333 pages.  Written by authors with many years of experience working with TCKs, this book not only reveals what TCKs are like, but goes on to devote 7 chapters telling how to maximize the benefits of being a TCK.

            When Abroad—Do as the Local Children Do: Ori’s Guide for Young Expats. Hilly van Swol-Ulbrich, & Bettina Kaltenhauser. XPat Media, the Netherlands, 2002 (ISBN 90-5594-262-6) $15.95; 9 chapters, 105 pages, information for parents.  Written for children ages 8-12, this guide for living another culture follows Ori, a migrating bird, through transitions.  In addition to activities and assignments, this book also has additional information on Ori’s website to complete the interactive format of the book.

              Fitted Pieces: A Guide for Parents Educating Children Overseas. Janet R. Blomberg and David F. Brooks, Share Education Services, St. Clair Shores, MI, 2001 (ISBN not available) $22.50, 8 Chapters, 667 Pages. With 84 articles (50 from Interact) appearing in the eight chapters, this is without question the most comprehensive book available on the education of third culture kids. It is a valuable resource for people considering the education of their children overseas.

Problems from the past.

            Healing for Damaged Emotions.  David A. Seamands, Chariot Victor Publishing, Wheaton, IL, 1991 (ISBN 0-89693-938-3) $11.99; 12 chapters, 144 pages.  Written by a missionary/pastor/professor, this book looks at the effect of memories of events in the past that have never been faced and result in anger, guilt, depression, inferiority and perfectionism.  We can find freedom from this lingering emotional pain that continues to effect us.

           The Wounded Heart: Hope for Adult Victims of Childhood Sexual Abuse. Dan B. Allender, NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO, 1990 (ISBN 0-89109-289-7) $16.00; 13 chapters, 301 pages, bibliography.  This book offers guidance in the middle of the confusion, rage and fear of those who have been sexually abused as children.  Though you may not realize it, someone you know has been sexually abused, and this book will help.

Relationships with others

            Ministering Cross-Culturally: An Incarnational Model for Personal Relationships. Sherwood G. Lingenfelter & Marvin K. Mayers, Baker Book House, Grand Rapids, MI, 1986 (ISBN 0-8010-5632-2) $12.99; 9 chapters, 125 pages.  Two missionary-professors developed this questionnaire/model that results in a personal profile on twelve basic values that often result in disagreements between people, even people from the same culture.

           Caring Enough to Confront: How to Understand and Express Your Deepest Feelings Toward Others (Rev. ed.). David Augsburger, Regal Books, Ventura, CA, 1981 (ISBN 0-8307-0733-6) $12.99; 10 chapters, 143 pages.  A professor of pastoral counseling shows you how to be a peacemaker by “care-fronting” someone with whom you have a conflict.  It is effective when used with people from western cultures.

             Cross-Cultural Conflict: Building Relationships for Effective Ministry. Duane Elmer, InterVaristy Press, Downers Grove, IL, 1994 (ISBN 0-8308-1657-7) $15.00; 12 chapters, bibliography, 189 pages.  A missionary-professor contrasts handling conflicts the American way with handling them in other cultures.  This is useful for maintaining relationships with missionaries from other cultures as well as nationals to whom you are ministering.

Personal Issues

             Honourably Wounded:  Stress among Christian Workers. Marjorie Foyle, Evangelical Missions Information Service, Monarch Books, Grand Rapids MI, 2001 (ISBN 0-8254-6023-9) $14.95; 14 chapters, 288 pages.  Written by a missionary psychiatrist with a lifetime of missionary service in India, this book offers a broad overview of many topics gathered under the general topic of stress.  Written for practical self-help, this is the best general book to buy if you can afford only one.

             The Art of Coming Home. Craig Storti, Intercultural Press, Yarmouth, ME’ 2002 (ISBN 1-877864-47-1) $21.95; 5 chapters, 203 pages.  Written by a Peace Corps volunteer specializing in cross-cultural adjustment and repatriation, this book includes sections for the spouse and children as well as sections for exchange students, volunteers, military, and missionaries.

            Boundaries: When to Say Yes, When to Say No, To Take Control of Your Life. Henry Cloud and John Townsend, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, MI, 1992 (ISBN 0-310-58590-2) $14.99; 16 chapters, index, 304 pages.  The title says it all, and you understand that if you are letting other people control your life.

            One final note.  If people in your sending country ask what they can do to care for you, suggest that they read Serving as Senders: How to Care for Your Missionaries While They Are Preparing to Go, While They Are on the Field, When They Return Home, Neal Pirolo, San Diego, CA, 1991 (ISBN 1-880185-00-8) $7.95, 207 pages and/or The Reentry Team,  Neal Pirolo, Emmaus Road International:  San Diego, CA, 2000 (ISBN 1-800185-07-5) $9.95; 10 chapters, 319 pages.