The next book you should read according to our pioneers
In a series of articles, RM family from around the world share which books have greatly impacted them.
In this post, discover books recommended by pioneers in the UK, the Netherlands and the Middle East.
Mountain Rain: A biography of James O. Fraser by Eileen Crossman
A review by Marie, Pioneering in Fakenham, UK
In 2022 my favorite and most impactful book was Mountain Rain by Eileen Crossman. This is the biography of James O. Fraser and his mission to reach the Lisu People in the mountains of China in the early part of the 20th Century.
James was only twenty-two when he abandoned a promising career and went to Asia. At first sight of the Lisu tribe’s people of Yunnan province he felt an immediate affection for them, and for the rest of his life he labored to bring them to Christ and to Christian maturity at great cost.
It was a powerful reminder to me of the realities of the spiritual battle we are in to see souls saved - the highs and lows of mission, and the power and importance of prayer in seeing the battle won and revival come! It made me aware afresh that we cannot do anything fruitful without persistent, fervent prayer and fasting, calling out to God for salvation.
The Soul Winner: How to lead sinners to the saviour by Charles H. Spurgeon
A Review by Sebastiaan Schreuder, Church planting in the Netherlands
Though the examples and certain wording in this book might feel a bit outdated, this is certainly not true for the central theme and the principles in there - as he himself describes in this book:
“He that winneth souls is wise...for what can be wiser than to glorify God, and what, next to that, can be wiser than in the highest sense to bless our fellow men?…I say that such an aim would commend itself to all right minds, and that angels themselves may envy us poor sons of men that we are permitted to make this our life-object, to win souls for Jesus Christ.”
Don’t be fooled by the old age of this book (or, more accurately, this series of lectures and preaches that Spurgeon taught students in his seminary.) This book has grown my faith and shaped my mission many times, and on many occasions. It is a book that has stirred my heart for the mission to reach non-believers with the greatest news they could receive, that God loves them and Jesus died for them. It is a book I go back to when I feel overburdened or discouraged, just to let these old words sooth my soul and renew my passion for the mission.
As Spurgeon said, “Jesus came to save sinners!” so let your heart, through this book, be stirred for his mission, and to win souls for Him; it is what we are meant to do!
You can get the ebook for free, or order a second-hand copy for very little online.
Listening Prayer: Learning to hear God’s voice and keep a prayer journal by Leanne Payne
Review by A pioneer in the Middle East
About this book the famous Dallas Willard writes:
“An intensely practical book based on the author’s rich experience of how to live now as a servant of Christ and His Word. There is nothing in print that surpasses it in this regard…”
How true are these words! Perhaps no one has taught us more “how to live as a servant of Christ and His Word” than Leanne Payne, perhaps one of the most profound and articulate advocates of a truly charismatic and biblical worldview.
This book is different than most of her books, as it is a personal and reflective description of how she structures her prayer life around the Lord’s Prayer, using a prayer journal as a tool. At the heart of all of this is a mature and theologically reflective invitation to truly listen to our Lord speaking back to us, and as we hear His voice and obey in the power of His Spirit we become! …become all the Father has created us to be.
This book is full of practical insights and tools for prayerfully reading the Word, Praise and Thanksgiving, Intercession, Petition, Forgiveness, and Listening to God. But even greater than the practical insights is an opportunity to learn intimately from the prayer life of one of the Lord’s most inspiring servants.