Last October when I was attending the Christian Writer’s Conference, at Glorieta, New Mexico, US., one of the presenters spoke about the reluctance of publishers to produce books about missionaries. The presenter was quite sad about this but realized that publishers only print books that sell and missionaries stories don’t sell. I felt quite sad too that these stories were not being published but then I thought, “Hey, wait a minute, I’m one of the people that don’t buy/read missionaries’ stories!” So I started thinking about why I don’t buy or read these books.
Recently some friends gave me a book that “I must read” which was a missionary’s story. I didn’t want to read it and was again faced with this dilemma – why don’t I want to read these stories? Out of loyalty to my friends I read the book but whilst reading it I was asking myself why I don’t like reading these type of stories.
I came up with a few reasons but I think the most pertinent one is that these books tell me about God’s deeds but don’t tell me about God’s ways. (“He made known His ways to Moses, His deeds to the people of Israel” Psalms 103:7.) I read these stories and understand that God has done amazing things but I don’t really learn any more about the way God works. Generally speaking the missionary themselves don’t write a lot about the way God has worked in their own lives or the things that God has specifically shown or taught them. This may be out of humility because they want to focus on what has happened or what God has done, however I find I don’t connect or relate to the main character in the story and that is the missionary themselves. For me to read a book, and maybe this is selfish, but there has to be something in it for me. There has to be something I can learn about life or about God that applies to my life.
My next post will be about the book that I did read which is actually an amazing story.
Hi Sue, this is Wendy using my blog name. There is truth to what you say. I am reading a missionary’s book right now called, “On duty in Bangladesh”. I have met the author, though, and this makes a world of difference to me. I heard her speak at a breakfast and was taken with her loving, down to earth and genuine spirit and wanted to know more about her life and the things that the Lord has seen her through. Do you remember the civil war in Bangladesh and the need there. George Harrison did a concert for Bangladesh in the 70’s. It’s the first time I heard Ravi Shankar perform.
This is another reason I wanted to read her account because she was there … and there was little coverage until the musicians brought it to our attention.
I also read “The Heavenly Man”, because I met, at a quite intimate meeting a doctor, who knows of this man in China, … she said “if I hadn’t been there myself I wouldn’t have believed the things written in that book.” So in part I understand our need to have a ‘connection’ to the reality of the story and ‘be’ part. Making real missionaries more visible to us and having better contact with them would do us all a world of good.
I must say I take hope in the way the Lord takes care of those who serve in this way … they have many examples of this in their accounts. We have our own accounts of His blessings as well … not often quite so exciting though… but I am an advocate of peace and quiet … lol …not ‘looking’ for any trouble here.
Congratulations with your new family additions and weddings … much joy and blessings to your kids as they enter into marriage and parenthood.
5:20 AM
Hi Sue, this is Wendy using my blog name. There is truth to what you say. I am reading a missionary’s book right now called, “On duty in Bangladesh”. I have met the author, though, and this makes a world of difference to me. I heard her speak at a breakfast and was taken with her loving, down to earth and genuine spirit and wanted to know more about her life and the things that the Lord has seen her through. Do you remember the civil war in Bangladesh and the need there. George Harrison did a concert for Bangladesh in the 70’s. It’s the first time I heard Ravi Shankar perform.
This is another reason I wanted to read her account because she was there … and there was little coverage until the musicians brought it to our attention.
I also read “The Heavenly Man”, because I met, at a quite intimate meeting a doctor, who knows of this man in China, … she said “if I hadn’t been there myself I wouldn’t have believed the things written in that book.” So in part I understand our need to have a ‘connection’ to the reality of the story and ‘be’ part. Making real missionaries more visible to us and having better contact with them would do us all a world of good.
I must say I take hope in the way the Lord takes care of those who serve in this way … they have many examples of this in their accounts. We have our own accounts of His blessings as well … not often quite so exciting though… but I am an advocate of peace and quiet … lol …not ‘looking’ for any trouble here.
Congratulations with your new family additions and weddings … much joy and blessings to your kids as they enter into marriage and parenthood.
5:20 AM
Thanks for your comments Wendy. It certainly makes a difference when you can meet the missionary.
Thanks for your comments Wendy. It certainly makes a difference when you can meet the missionary.