These biographies, written by Janet and Geoff Benge and published by YWAM ministries, are wonderful introductions to the lives and ministries of the men and women they are written about. I read many of them in my late elementary and middle school years and still enjoy reading them. These books gave me my first exposure to many Christian people, and to missionaries in particular. What I know of many of these Christian lives I know because of these YWAM books. At other times I went on to read other books for more information and details about some of these men and women.

These wonderful books are divided into two different categories. The one category (that I spent most of my time in) is called Christian Heroes: Then & Now. This series is written on the lives of Christian missionaries and workers. Some of these include:

• Hudson Taylor (English missionary to China)
• Nate Saint (American missionary to Ecuador)
• Jim Elliot (American missionary to Ecuador)
• Elisabeth Elliot (American missionary to Ecuador/author and speaker)
• Gladys Aylward (English missionary to China)
• Amy Carmichael (Irish missionary to India)
• Eric Liddell (Olympic gold medalist/Scottish missionary to China)
• George Muller (German ministering in England)
• Lottie Moon (American missionary to China)
• Betty Greene (American missionary pilot)
• Lillian Trasher (American missionary to Egypt)

The second category is centered on historical characters. This series is called: Heroes of History. Some of these include:

• William Wilberforce (English abolitionist)
• Abraham Lincoln (American president)
• Benjamin Franklin (Founding Father of America)
• Daniel Boone (American pioneer, explorer)
• Harriet Tubman (American abolitionist, humanitarian)
• John Adams (Founding Father of America)
• Meriwether Lewis (American explorer, soldier, etc.)

These and more can be found on www.ywampublishing.com. Also available in this series are rhyming, hardcover children’s books complete with pictures. Although these books are designed for children, parental discretion should still be used (as in any other resource). Depending on sensitivities and personalities of individual children, styles of artwork can be problematic for a child. Keep in mind the storyline as well. While the pictures are usually discrete, there is the reality in missionary stories of differing clothing “standards” in certain cultures or of sad realities caused by pagan worldviews.

My little cousin who loves to read, read through one of these books on a 15 minute drive in the car when she was around eight years old.

A resource in this series that I am new to, and have so enjoyed, has been their audiobooks. My parents, Bekah, and I would listen to them in the car when we had any long distance to travel. When we didn’t have a long drive, we stopped listening to them! So, even though we’re busy, we started to make some time on some evenings to listen to a chapter or two. I don’t know if all the audiobooks are this way, but the ones we listened to even employed accents to match the story! Bekah and I have talked about how wonderful these audiobooks would be for our kids, if God gives us families and children of our own some day…you know, the days when things aren’t going quite as planned. 😉

• Publisher’s age recommendation: 10+. Depending on the storyline, we would generally agree with this recommendation. Some children younger than 10 might also enjoy these books. (These books would probably need to be read aloud to younger children due to the reading level.)
• The books are available to be purchased individually or in sets. These can be purchased on the website listed above, as well as on Amazon.com, Christianbook.com, and in some Christian bookstores.

– Annie

Photos by: Matt Enterline