Many factors contribute to a good missionary biography.

However, I’ve managed to narrow them all down to one: its personal impact on me.

Each and every missionary biography I’ve read finds expression somewhere in my life and ministry. I am grateful for these missionaries’ example. I’m also grateful for those who took the time to research and record their stories.

This list is only drawn from the missionary biographies that I’ve personally read—because obviously, I haven’t read them all.

My Top Ten Missionary Biographies

(I won’t even try to put them in order of importance.)

1) Behind the Ranges by Geraldine Taylor

James Fraser turned his back on a lucrative career in engineering. He also gave up the possibility of success as an accomplished concert pianist. Arriving in China at age 22, Fraser devoted his life “behind the ranges” to the unreached Lisu people.

His missionary methods in the early…