Last 4 Words: Make Jesus Known to the Ends of the Earth by Greg Kelley. The meaning of Jesus’ four last words (“ends of the earth,” Acts 1:8) is crucial to understanding the unfinished task and believers’ responsibility. This book grips readers’ hearts to do something about the remaining need. Dr. Marvin Newell, Ambassador at Large, Missio Nexus

Missionary Motivations: Challenges from the Early Church by Matthew Burden. By looking at the early Church’s vision for global missions, Burden seeks to inform our current missionary models. While not sparing theological or missiological depth, this very “readable” book speaks to all who have a heart to mobilize and go into all the world. David Harrop, Pastor of Global Ministries, Calvary Church, Lancaster, PA

The Missionary Movement from the West: A Biography from Birth to Old Age by Andrew F. Walls. Walls overviews Western missions through the 19^th and 20^th centuries with astute analysis of how Christian missions has been shaped by contextual pressures and assumptions. For those seeking to join Jesus in his global mission, Walls provides insightful historical context that informs today’s missions efforts. Dr. Mark Naylor, faculty, Trinity Western University

Africa to the Rest by Yaw Perbi and Sam Ngugi. This ground-breaking book by Africans presents helpful historical background on missions from and to Africa, and the future of Africans being sent out globally. They present a viewpoint largely from sub-Saharan Africa. I appreciated the authors’ enthusiasm (they admit to a “shock and awe” purpose in writing), particularly their description of the African church’s growing desire to focus on transformational discipleship. Bruce Huseby, Global Advisor for Crossover Global and former missions pastor

Rethinking Global Mobilization: Calling the Church to Her Core Identity by Ryan Shaw. Shaw lays out why the church-based mobilizer has an important role in empowering the local church to engage globally. He discusses needed paradigm shifts while giving strategic frameworks for understanding what a mobilizer is and tangible ways a mobilizer can engage their church in today’s world. This is a must-read for the church missions mobilizer! Dr. Mark Byrom, Executive Pastor of Outreach and Care, Alliance Church Appleton, WI

God’s Heart for Muslims by Keith Swartley. This booklet, a fairly extensive revision of an earlier version, is an eight-lesson study that helps church members understand the Muslim world and how they can represent Christ effectively among Muslims. Jared Burwell, Pastor of Sending and Mission, Movement Church, Richmond, VA

The Missionary Mama’s Survival Guide: Compassionate help for the mothers of cross-cultural workers by Tori Haverkamp. Haverkamp’s book disciples moms (both parents, really) through the process of emotionally releasing their children to follow the Lord’s call into overseas missions. Jared Burwell

Liturgies and Laments for the Sojourner, Volume 1 by Alicia Boyce, Heather Fallis, and Tamika Rybinski. The authors include insightful prayers about situations common to cross-cultural life, like moving (again), language learning, closed borders, and culture fatigue. This could be a great resource for mission workers to use for team meetings and retreats. Marti Wade, Editorial Director, Pioneers-USA

On Being a Missionary (Abridged): An Introduction to Cross-Cultural Life and Ministry by Thomas Hale and Gene Daniels. This major revision of a 524-page tome published a decade ago is half that size and an easier read for today’s generation. The principles for going across cultures are still relevant for doing mission in today’s world. Dr. Marvin Newell

Church Without Walls by Eric Zander. A native Belgian church planter, Zander developed his mission practices out of a desire to reimagine what discipleship could look like in his post-Christian context. His work speaks to those who are recognizing that our church-planting models lack a needed innovative missions edge. Scott White, Executive Director of Providence Mission Homes and former missions pastor

The Multiplier’s Mindset: Thinking Differently about Discipleship by Cynthia Anderson. This superb handbook serves the disciple-making practitioner who wants to develop the mindset as well as the tools for multiplication. Each chapter provides penetrating and challenging questions as well as specific action steps that guide disciple-making teams in their planning and engagement. The first appendix has helpful summaries of key points, questions and action steps from each chapter. Dr. Mark Naylor

Multiplying Leaders in Intercultural Contexts by Evelyn and Richard Hibbert. In this practical resource, the Hibberts focus on how to develop grass-root leaders in differing cultures using the four C’s of Christian leadership—Community, Character, Clarity, and Care. Weaving together research, experience, and practical application, they show how these characteristics are expressed across different cultures.  Dr. Marvin Newell