There is perhaps nothing better for young children, or indeed people of any age, than to be inspired by true accounts of individuals who have accomplished great things, particularly for the glory of God. While there are many fictional stories that capture the imagination, like Harry Potter, Red Wall, the Chronicles of Narnia, and The Wonderful Wizard of Oz series, which young adults often crave for their depiction of adventure, danger, courage, and breakthroughs, true stories of adventure hold a special power. These biographies point young people toward individuals truly worthy of admiration and imitation, especially for their faith and courage.
Biography, in general, offers a richness that dry historical dates often lack. It delves into the stories of real people, exploring what they endured, what motivated them, how they overcame obstacles, or how they suffered terribly, particularly in the advancement of the gospel. In a time marked by self-absorption, recommending these kinds of stories, especially those focused on the world of missions, for our children and grandchildren seems particularly important. They encourage thinking “outside,” thinking “adventure,” thinking “mission,” and discovering what God can accomplish through everyday people. It’s a powerful antidote to the challenges of our modern times, encouraging us to live “big” and to undertake difficult tasks in challenging locations.
Many have been profoundly influenced by such narratives. Growing up on the Chronicles of Narnia, for example, served as an early introduction to many biblical themes. A series that emerged in the 1990s, titled “Christian Heroes Then and Now,” has proven incredibly influential, now comprising over 50 volumes. These are true biographies of figures such as Elizabeth Elliott, Jim Elliott, George Mueller, and Gladys Aylward, detailing their cross-cultural missionary work, bringing the gospel alongside medicine, science, and evangelism to tribal countries in Africa, Indonesia, and other diverse places. These stories resonate deeply with children, proving suitable and impactful for those from four or five years old well into their teenage years. The story of George Mueller and his orphanages in England or Gladys Aylward in China are examples that have particularly resonated.
Perhaps one of the most influential stories for many is that of Eric Liddell, the Olympic runner depicted in the movie Chariots of Fire. His strong religious convictions led him to refuse to run in the Paris Olympics on a Sunday, forfeiting potential world records. However, what is less widely known is his life after the Olympics: his work as a missionary in China, his eventual internment in camps during the war, and his ultimate sacrifice. His story is described as amazing and life-changing, serving as a role model both as a runner and as a missionary willing to go to hard places and do hard things.
For others, a single book might stand out as uniquely influential. Peace Child by Don Richardson is one such example, described as perhaps the single most influential book for someone growing up with a focus on missions. Reading this book at summer camp, during the hottest hours of the day, proved transfixing. It is described as a “capital A adventure story”. This book is highlighted as a primary instrument God used to reveal a call to serve.
Understanding the core of missions, or missiology, can seem like a daunting task despite the gospel’s inherent simplicity. While the depths of its theological richness are unfathomable, the concept itself is rooted in the understanding that Jesus came to save all sinners, not just the Jewish nation. A key biblical foundation can be traced back to Abraham in Genesis chapter 12, when God called him, promising to use him and his offspring to bless the world. Abraham became the father of the Hebrew nation, and God consistently blessed Israel not solely for their benefit, but so that other people could come to know Him as a loving God. Even when Israel strayed, God’s discipline was visible, demonstrating to the world that a God was acting on their behalf, and consequences followed disobedience, just as blessings followed obedience. The narrative was always outward-looking, centered on people outside of Israel knowing God’s character, love, and eventually, His salvation.
This entire story finds its clearest expression in the New Testament with the arrival, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Missions, in essence, is about Christ living within us, transforming us from the inside out. This internal change allows us to demonstrate to a lost and broken world, through our lives, words, actions, and decisions, what it means to be restored to the Father. This theme runs throughout the entire Bible, from Genesis to Revelation. Abraham can be seen as a missionary in a sense, as was Paul, and this work has continued throughout history.
In modern times, the term “frontier” or “pioneer” missions refers specifically to going into areas with very few believers (less than 2% of the population) to introduce the gospel for the first time. It is estimated that roughly a third of the world’s population still falls into this category of unreached people groups. A personal calling to this type of work is often described as a Pauline calling, motivated by a desire not to build on someone else’s foundation. While working in highly Christianized areas like the United States is valid, some feel a specific calling to go to places where Christ’s name has truly not been heard. Even with modern technology like the internet, jet planes, and cell phones, hundreds of millions of people globally have no understanding of Jesus, have never met a Christian, attended church, or read the Bible, sometimes lacking even access to it. The goal is to be used by the Lord to introduce Jesus to people who do not know Him.
A personal experience of this type of frontier mission work involved living in western China among Tibetan people groups in the Himalayan mountains for 10 years, raising a family there. The visual contrast between this setting and the familiar American culture is striking, immediately conveying the radical change involved. While local clothing might be worn for festivals or ceremonies, the fundamental difference in cultures and peoples across the world from one’s familiar background is profound.
Approaching missions among an unreached people group can initially feel like one of the most absurd concepts imaginable, at least from a purely human perspective. This work only makes sense when considering the power and access available through Jesus and God working through people. The idea of going to start churches in an unreached area seems particularly absurd when one considers the starting point: people may lack any concept of sin, as was the case with these Tibetans. They might not even have a concept of a single supreme God, instead having a pantheon of many deities. Introducing the idea of a “most high god” above all others is a new concept.
Compounding these challenges is the sheer difficulty of communication. Learning the languages is paramount – not just one, but multiple layers. In this case, it involved learning Chinese, then Tibetan, and then navigating the crucial difference between written and spoken Tibetan. The inability to write what was spoken or speak what was written added a significant barrier to passing information or notes. The task was to become proficient enough in both language and culture to explain fundamental truths: that a supreme God has always desired to know them, has sought to reveal Himself, and is now doing so.
Then comes the challenge of explaining concepts central to Christianity that are foreign or misunderstood. One must explain that people have transgressed God’s moral law, that He is justifiably angry, and yet, out of love, He sent His son, Jesus Christ, to die on a cross. Concepts like God having a son might not align with their understanding of deities. Explaining the Trinity – a God who is three yet one – could be confused with their existing polytheistic beliefs. Describing atonement and substitutionary death on the cross, and expecting people to grasp and embrace these biblical concepts, grow in faith, and begin building a church, truly feels like an “absurd” undertaking without divine intervention. The “mountains of obstacles” involved are immense, particularly when starting from ground zero compared to ministering in a context with even a nominal understanding of such terms.
Despite these daunting challenges, breakthroughs do occur by the power of God. The fundamental need for salvation is universal to all humanity, whether consciously recognized or not. A key aspect of sharing the gospel, whether locally or cross-culturally, is helping people uncover this intrinsic need for God in their lives and the necessity of submitting to Christ’s lordship. On the mission field, with added layers of language and culture, this requires time and searching for “keys” – ways in which God reveals Himself or creates understanding within a specific cultural context.
In the experience among the Tibetan people, a significant “key” and area of breakthrough was discovered in a common area of brokenness and anxiety: pregnancy and child survival. This was during China’s one-child policy, where immense anxiety surrounded having a baby that might not survive, particularly given the high infant mortality rate. Adding to this, hospital births could sometimes lead to sterilization, preventing future children. The Lord used this deep concern as an opening to establish a ministry focused on ministering to families experiencing high-risk pregnancies and women in crisis pregnancies, including discussing the implications of abortion.
An organization was established that provided support to families during pregnancy and even post-birth, offering neonatal classes, ambulatory care, education, and small provisions to enhance the survival rate of young children in that harsh environment. This ministry became one of the critical breakthroughs. It served as an entry point, building relationships with people around a profound felt need. When someone is consumed by the anxiety of ensuring their one child survives and thrives, and you can help them navigate that difficult time, it facilitates the building of a trusting relationship. Earning that trust and respect provides the authority and right to speak into other areas of their lives. This approach, focusing on universal needs like health and the desire for children to survive, is a common missiological practice and explains the historical importance of medical missions. While language and culture differ, everyone gets sick, and everyone wants their children to live.
Beyond traditional strategies for church planting, which are often detailed in books and volumes, experience suggests other crucial, less conventional strategies. Tears are one such strategy. The work is demanding, filled with frustration, worry, and defeat, but also victory and joy, all accompanied by tears, much like the Apostle Paul’s experience. Perseverance is another vital strategy; it requires digging in, holding ground, and refusing to give up or take no for an answer.
Perhaps counterintuitively, weakness is highlighted as a highly recommended mission strategy. Letting people see your humanity and imperfections, acknowledging that your God is strong but you are not perfect, is important. Recognizing that you need the local people to survive and thrive in a foreign culture – needing them to teach you practical skills like slaughtering a lamb or making fire from yak dung – fosters connection. This dependence on local friends prevents burnout and quitting. Allowing your weakness to be seen often endears you to the very people you are trying to reach. Fundamentally, it’s about letting people see Christ in you, recognizing that “Christ in you is the hope of glory”.
Over the years invested in hard places, the story is never truly finished. Breakthroughs often arrive unexpectedly. In one instance, the emergence of the church began not while actively striving in the rural location, but as the time came to transition back to the city. The church that emerged was not what was initially envisioned; the process involved learning to join God in His mission rather than trying to force Him to accomplish it according to human plans. The first converts were unexpected – blind, lame, illiterate, poor. From a conventional standpoint, this might have seemed like a “total mess,” but from God’s perspective, it was perfect and beautiful. The encouraging news is that the church continues to grow there.
This entire journey is a great adventure. In a world where young people may be struggling with depression and overly focused on social media, directing them towards adventure, mission, and inspiring biographies offers a powerful alternative. These stories demonstrate God’s ability to work through ordinary people and highlight the importance of living purposefully, embracing the call to do hard things in hard places.
This article is adapted from the episode transcript.