Finding Missions Books in Odd Places
I live in the Philippines. That really limits my access to new books on Christian missions. Christian bookstores tend not to have such works, and online sources are pretty expensive if one wants them shipped to Luzon.
In the US things are somewhat better. At least, online purchases are cost effective.
The strange thing is that the most reliable place I have been to for perusing books on Christian missions is not a Christian bookstore. Here in the Philippines there is a book chain with a less-than-inspiring name— “Book Sale.” It sells lightly used and overrun books from the US. There is a section for religious books. The selection, unsurprisingly, is very much hit-or-miss. But sometimes they have numerous good missions books.
Today there were several and ended up buying three of them.
#1. “Vulnerable Missions” by Jim Harries. I have been wanting to read this for some time now. There are many views on the proper relationship between mission work and money. This is not the only one, but worthy of serious consideration.
#2. “Serving Jesus with Integrity: Ethics and Accountability in Mission”, edited by Dwight Baker and Douglas Hayward. I am not familiar with the book, but it is put out by the William Carey Library as part of the EMS series. Topically, it is very important. Looking forward to reading it.
#3. “Student Mission Power: Report of the First International Convention of the Student Volunteer Movement for Foreign Missions”. This is a reprint of the report from 1891. Since I am teaching a course on Missions History next term, this is immediately useful to me.
Curiously, in the US, the best place I have found to peruse missions books has been the Restore Store of Habitat for Humanity. With that one at least, I think I know the reason. I think some pastors who die or retire donate their books to H4H. Many of the books are on missions or pastoral care.
Online is a great blessing, but sometimes I really want to look through something to know if I want it. Some online books have samples. That is good but I wish for more options. Still I am happy for blessings in surprising places.
