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Christian Biographies

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jamccor Feb 14, 2010

Can anyone recommend a christian biography to me? I have been struggling,like all christians,with things in my life and it sometimes helps me to regain strength by reading. Of course I read scripture daily and it remains my number one source of strength,but I also like reading about people who struggled and made it through.I have read the life story of David Brainerd,George Muller and Rees Howells already along with others,but havent searched for additional books in a while. I am grateful for all your help dear brothers and sisters.
GOD Bless
John

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InTheLight Feb 14, 2010

Here's a couple that have really blessed me and my family;

[url=http://store.jewsforjesus.org/ppp/product.php?prodid=1006]The God Who Answers by Fire[/url]

[url=http://www.amazon.com/Gods-Smuggler-John-Sherrill/dp/0800793013]God's Smuggler[/url]

In Christ,

Ron

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narrowpath Feb 14, 2010

Here are some exemplary biographies of people who shook the earth:

Hudson Taylor
D.L.Moody
C.G.Finney
John Studd
John Wesley
Watchman Nee

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hmmhmm Feb 14, 2010

If you want to listen to short ones, i recommend John Pipers series on many different historical persons. If for nothing else to spark an interest to get a more comprehensive biography of that person. Some of them are really good and have been an inspiration to me.

[url=https://www.sermonindex.net/modules/mydownloads/viewcat.php?cid=113]John Pipers Biographies [/url]

C
Ceri Feb 14, 2010

If anyone went through struggles and never gave up it was Corrie Ten Boone - No hiding place.

A life changing book for me has been 'Beauty for Ashes' Joyce Meyer, who suffered abuse and came to forgive him and God has worked on her life amazingly, as I did too.

C
Cambridge Feb 14, 2010

I too enjoy the powerful and encouraging testimonies of those who have run the race before or are yet running the race. Some very encouraging biographies not yet mentioned are
Hudson Taylor's Spiritual Secret
By My Spirit by Jonathan Goforth (google title and author for free online copy)
Peace Child by Don Richardson
The Heavenly Man by Brother Yun
Heroes of the Holy Life by Wesley Duewell
They Found the Secret by V Raymond Edman
Deeper Experiences of Famous Christians
They Knew Their God (4 vol)by E & L harvey and E Hey
How They Prayed (3 vol)by E & L Harvey
Through Gates of Splendor by Elizabeth Elliott- One of a number of books written by her surrounding the story of the 5 missionary martyrs in the Amazon jungles in 1956)
Walking His Trail by Steve Saint (son of one of those missionaries)
A Chance to Die: The Life and Legacy of Amy Carmichael by Elizabeth Elliott
Sounds From Heaven by Colin & Mary Peckham
Mountain Rain (bio of James O Fraser)by Eileen Crossman
Smith Wigglesworth - Apostle of Faith
George Whitefield (2 vol) by Arnold Dallimore -a lengthy read

Most of these would be attainable through your local Christian bookstore or Amazon. Some might have to be searched for in used Christian book outlets/internet suppliers like www.rarechristianbooks.com

Hope this helps. Sometimes we can learn in a few hours what it took a lifetime for someone to learn simply by reading their bio. At the very least we will be encouraged by them. A W Tozer said it like this

Come near to the holy men and women of the past and you will soon feel the heat of their desire after God. They mourned for Him, they prayed & wrestled & sought for Him day & night, in season & out, & when they had found Him the finding was all the sweeter for the long seeking. (The Pursuit of God, chapter 1)

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Areadymind Feb 14, 2010

Though not entirely a biography, one book I recommend to everyone along these lines of testimony is "Fresh Wind Fresh Fire," by Jim Cymbala. So inspirational.

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ginnyrose Feb 15, 2010

There are several biographies that have inspired me. The list is not in order of importance.

1. Corrie ten Boom. Read all of her writings, if you can find them although they do get to be redundant. But visualize living in Holland during WW2, helping people and then getting jailed for it...How would you fare? Her books will explain how this could happen.

2. Darlene Rose - "Evidence Not Seen". I read this book several times. I have purchased many hardcover copies on eBay to give as gifts to our children and others. This is the story of a young couple who were missionaries in Papua New Guinea but were taken prisoner by the Japanese during WW2. Darlene's husband died while there. "Evidence Not seen" details the trials she endured while prisoner.

3. Bilquis Sheikh - "I Dared to Call Him Father". Another book that I have read several times. I also purchased several hardcover copies off of eBay to share with others. Bilquis was a high born Muslim lady in Pakistan whom the LORD called. Read it and be blessed. It is totally unlike any other book you will likely ever read.

4. Don Piper - "Heaven is Real". Don had an accident and died but came back to life. Read about this experience and his grief in having to come back and deal with life on earth...your perspective of dying will change, I am sure - if you are a Believer.

Hope this helps..

ginnyrose

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ccchhhrrriiisss Feb 15, 2010

Hi Brother John!

I love to read the autobiographies and biographies of different men and women of God! Here are a few that I have greatly enjoyed:

[b]No Compromise: The Life Story of Keith Green[/b] by Melody Green and David Hazard

[b]The Cross and the Switchblade[/b] by David Wilkerson, with John and Elizabeth Sherril

[b]God's Smuggler[/b] by Brother Andrew, with John and Elizabeth Sherrill

[b]The Hiding Place[/b] by Corrie ten Boom, with John and Elizabeth Sherrill

[b]Tramp for the Lord[/b] by Corrie ten Boom

[b]They Speak With Other Tongues[/b] by John Sherrill...which covers his own life...and the lives of early Pentecostal ministers

[b]Memoirs of Revivals[/b] autobiography by Charles Finney

[b]Through the Gates of Splendor[/b] by Elizabeth Elliot

[b]Missionary Travels and Researches in South Africa[/b] by David Livingstone -- [i]but any David Livingstone book is great[/i]!

[b]Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners[/b] by John Bunyan

[b]Billy Sunday: The Man and His Message[/b] by William Ellis

[b]William Wilberforce[/b] by William Wilberforce

[b]The Story of the Welsh Revival: As Told by Eyewitnesses Together With a Sketch of Evan Roberts[/b] - by Arthur Goodrich, G. Campbell Morgan, W.T. Stead, W.W. Moore, Evan Hopkins, et al. [i]Out of print (I think), but you might find it at a university library[/i])

[b]The Life of David Brainerd[/b] by Jonathon Edwards

[b]Bwana Tembo[/b] by Morris Plotts

[b]Autobiography of a Missionary[/b] by J. Hudson Taylor

I'm sure that there are more, but I can't think of them right now. I have read books about the lives of Smith Wigglesworth, Dwight Moody, Charles Spurgeon, William Booth, Dietrich Bonhoeffer and other wonderful believers. I suppose that these are inspirational "supplements" for Hebrews 11.

:-)

V
Veronica226 Feb 15, 2010

"Chasing the Dragon" by Jackie Pullinger is amazing. And I have heard that "A Chance to Die: The Life and Legacy of Amy Carmichael" by Elisabeth Elliot is really good, but I haven't read it yet. I really want to though.

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Giggles Feb 15, 2010

Adoniram Judson's biography is amazing. Also check out Robert Murray McCheyne. A bunch of other great ones are here. A good martyr book would be great too, like Foxes.

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Areadymind Feb 15, 2010

I agree with hmmmm hmmmmm, the biographies on Desiring God by Dr. Piper are amazing. I have also been told, and have not read it yet myself, but have had it recommended a lot recently to read "Heavenly Man," about Brother Yun.

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ginnyrose Feb 16, 2010

jamccor,
I have been thinking about your question ever since I read it....In thinking, another book came to my mind and this is what I would like to share with you. I do not know your situation but this book may encourage you.

I am thinking of the book "A Song for Your Honor" by Kay Evans. Here is the description as it appears on the web:

"As Kay bent over Ron's face, snowflakes blew in through a crack in the tent and gathered on his eyelashes. She brushed them off. Ron's cheek felt as cold to her touch as the snow. After each of her six children peered briefly at their daddy's face in the casket, the grieving family left the little tent and headed, shivering, toward the van, the snow crunching under their feet. Ron's death was only the beginning of their grief and trouble.

Ron and Kay had tried to instill in their children a reverence for God and His Word and to shield them from ungodly influences. Ron's parents felt their grandchildren were being warped and deeply resented Ron and Kay's decision to limit the children's contact with their grandparents. Tensions escalated.

When her in-laws filed charges, the desperate mother fled. How long could they stay hidden? Kay prayed for direction and asked advice. "Kay," a lawyer said firmly, "the time of decision has passed. You cannot go back." With private investigators on their trail, the family fled the country.

With time, living among people of a very different language and culture became normal, everyday life. Private investigators and troubles in the U.S. seemed far away.

But one morning a line of armed men in blue uniforms was seen hurrying up the trail toward their house. The terrified family was trapped. What could they do? What would God do?

This thrilling and inspiring account is the story of what God did.

A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation. -Psalms 68:5

Just a "warning" from Home Fires Publishers... everyone at our house that has started this book could not put it down until they had read it cover to cover. ☺"

This is a story/testimony of people still living... Homeschoolers may find this book unsettling yet comforting. When I heard the author speak at a ladies seminar, there was in the audience a lady who just cried - she could relate because she and her husband experience similar pressures from family.

Just thought I would share this since I could not get it off my mind.

ginnyrose

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jamccor Feb 16, 2010

I have made a list of every book recommended here and also a link to Amazon if they have it in stock.I cant thank you all enough for taking the time to give your recommendations.If anyone else has anything not mentioned, please post and I will keep my list growing.
GOD Bless
John

sermonindex Feb 16, 2010

here's a very wonderful book i've talked about before:

"The Journal Once Lost - Extracts From The Diary of John Sung"

Chris, in my humble opinion, its a must have for any follower's library...the actual biography of John Sung, by Leslie T' Lyall is ...good, but as with the "Life of Brainerd", the actual diaries yield more "fruit" in the roadmap of the life of a prime vessel of Messiah Jesus.

in Jesus' love, neil

sermonindex Feb 17, 2010

I have, but have not yet read, 'Give Me This Mountain' [is] the British title of the autobiography of Dr. Helen Roseveare,' of whom the Stir Me series is available on SI. Having listened, I know the book will be amazing.

In her talks to young people, she plays down the violence she has suffered at the hands of the soldiers, but listen carefully for her allusions to them, so that you 'hear' [i]with understanding[/i] what [u]God[/u] is able to do in a believer's life.


There is biography which made a deep impression on me, called, 'For this Cross I'll Kill You' (1973), about a South American brother who was killed for his faith, while the missionary through whom he was converted, (who wrote the book), was not. It is as much an account of what missionaries may face - from the call of God to its outworking - as the story of the young Christian. There seems to be a 1978 re-titling of it as 'Bruchko' ([url=http://openlibrary.org/b/OL5433941M/For_this_cross_I'll_kill_you.]see Open Library[/url])

I would also recommend 'He delighted in God' about George Muller, and 'Growth of a Soul' about Hudson Taylor. 'Hudson and Maria', leading up to and beyond his first wife's death, and anything about the life of CT Studd (often by Norman Grubb, his son-in-law), are also worthy of attention.

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jonandvera Jul 18, 2016

Here's a newly released compilation:
"25 Classic Christian Biographies" with quite a few pretty amazing biographies. It's available on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/25-Classic-Christian-Biographies-Spurgeon-ebook/dp/B01IKVW9HC

Note that its not just a summary, but each biography is included in its original entirety...just compiled into one eBook for one pretty low price.

It includes the full biographies of:
1.\tThe Authoritative Life Of General William Booth (1912)\t
2.\tThe Story Of John G. Paton (1907)\t
3.\tHudson Taylor - A Retrospect (1905)\t
4.\tThe Life And Work Of Dwight L. Moody (1899)\t
5.\tGeorge Müller Of Bristol (1898)\t
6.\tC. H. Spurgeon: A Biography (1892)\t
7.\tBiography Of Charles Finney (1875)\t
8.\tThe Personal Life Of David Livingstone (1873)\t
9.\tBiography Of Robert Murray McCheyne (1843)\t
10.\tThe Life Of William Carey (1834)\t
11.\tHenry Martyn: Saint And Scholar (1812)\t
12.\tJohn Wesley, The Evangelist (1791)\t
13.\tGeorge Whitefield: A Biography (1770)\t
14.\tThe Biography Of Jonathan Edwards (1758)\t
15.\tThe Life And Diary Of David Brainerd With Reflections (1747)\t
16.\tJohn Bunyan - Grace Abounding To The Chief Of Sinners (1688)\t
17.\tThe Life Of Dr. John Owen (1683)\t
18.\tThe Life Of Calvin (1564)\t
19.\tThe Life Of Luther (1546)\t
20.\tThe Life Of William Tyndale (1536)\t
21.\tRaymond Lull - First Missionary To The Muslims (1315)\t
22.\tThe Life Of The Angelic Doctor St. Thomas Aquinas (1274)\t
23.\tThe Life And Legends Of Saint Francis Of Assisi (1226)\t
24.\tThe Confession Of Saint Patrick (461)\t
25.\tThe Confessions Of Saint Augustine (430)

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