I'm sure most of y'all have probably heard of Janet and Geoff Benge. They're the authors of the Christian Heroes Then and Now series. I think that if there's an author(s) that our family as a whole reads the most (besides the Bible!), it's probably the Benges.
Dad reads a chapter of one of their biographies every night to the whole family. He's been doing that for most of my life. I and my siblings have grown up hearing the tales of countless courageous missionaries like David Livingstone, Cameron Townsend, Wilfred Grenfell, Nate Saint, Amy Carmichael, Mary Slessor, Mildred Cable, and Lillian Trasher. Our collections of this series ranges over thirty books and we've nearly read all of them as a family. We've one left to read besides the one we're reading and soon it will be time to look for more.
I would highly suggest these books to anyone. The author team works well to give you facts and stories mixed together. These books are great for all ages. The stories are not just stories, they're real-life. They're not just good for reading, though. They're also good for research. I've written several papers using the information found in these books.
Of course, having read more than half the series, I can honestly say that I do have some favorites. Mary Slessor, Lillian Trasher, Amy Carmichael, Elizabeth Elliot, Ida Scudder, and Paul Brand are some of my favorites.
Vivid details, action-packed paragraphs, and heartbreaking memories are all part of this wonderful series. The authors help you get to know the characters first-hand and make it seem as if you knew them all your life. The biblical backgrounds found in each story are all different. The stories of the repentance and conversions of each of the missionaries are all different. They ways they impact the cultures they serve in are all different.
I've come to know more than the common missionary heroes through these books. I've learned about missionaries that aren't often spoken of, such as Samuel Zwemer, Jonathon Goforth, David Bussau, Charles Mulli, and Mildred Cable. These characters are my heroes, the ones I wish to become like. Their stories have been imprinted on my heart since the very first time I picked up Rescuer of Precious Gems, the book about Amy Carmichael.
Here is a longer list of some of my favorites:
Amy Carmichael: Rescuer of Precious Gems
Mary Slessor: Forward into Calabar
Lillian Trasher: The Greatest Wonder in Egypt
Ida Scudder: Healing Bodies, Touching Hearts
Elizabeth Elliot: Joyful Surrender
Paul Brand: Helping Hands
Corrie ten Boom: Keeper of the Angels' Den
Brother Andrew: God's Smuggler
Samuel Zwemer: The Burden of Arabia
George Muller: The Guardian of Bristol's Orphans
Wilfred Grenfell: Fisher of Men
David Livingstone: Africa's Trailblazer
Adoniram Judson: Bound for Burma
William Carey: Obliged to Go
C.T. Studd: No Retreat
Jacob Deshazer: Forgive Your Enemies
Charles Mulli: We Are Family
I encourage you to find some of the biographies and read them. I believe they help people to understand why others follow the call of God. I believe that like these missionaries who gave their all for Christ, we also are to give our all to Him.
