What books on faith are worth reading right now?
As our world has moved more and more online, some of the most potent wisdom, history, and stories still live between the pages of amazing well-researched, lovingly-compiled, and artfully-written books. Check out these recommendations from EM Staff past and present that have changed our hearts and minds for the better as we seek to follow Jesus into a world in need of peace, love, and hope.
Books Recommended by the EM Staff
Here are 12 books our team has personally read and returned to again and again:
Love Does by Bob Goff
"This book, filled with humorous short stories and real-life adventures, challenges us to see every day as an opportunity to love and serve others. It's a light-hearted read to pick up for a few minutes each day or straight-through in a season when you need laughter, depth, and encouragement all at once."
- Heather Reynolds
The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer
"If you feel like you don't have enough time in your life to serve others or have a deep and meaningful relationship with God, there's a good chance you're addicted to 'hurry.' This book opened up my eyes to what's possible in our lives when we get rid of the heaviness and anxiety our culture and technology has thrust upon us and, instead, embrace a slower pace of life filled with the things that matter most."
- D.J. Morgan
Rescuing the Gospel From the Cowboys by Richard Twiss
"Having spent so many years serving among the Dine People (Navajo) as a person of faith, out of respect for my brothers and sisters there, my heart is pointed to learn the whole of history that often remains untold in our history books, especially as it relates to Christian missions. It is a painful history to be sure and one to be lamented. This book tells a challenging and beautiful story of God's love for all First Nations people from an indigenous perspective."
- Kristy Clum
The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom
"Her family is Dutch and Christ-followers, and they would hide Jews during the Nazi regime. This is a true story of how their faith abounds in the most difficult of circumstances. I was both encouraged by their faith and wowed by the story. Their faith and wisdom awestruck me."
- Kelsey Bennett
Reaching Out by Henri Nouwen
"Nouwen explores his own faith journey and his pursuit of unity with God, which ultimately led him to service toward others. This timeless book (published in 1975) opened my eyes to new faith practices and the way that God sees each and every one of us. My faith journey and relationship with God has been forever changed by this book."
- Abbie Thiebaut
A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
"This book is based in Afghanistan and provides a unique glimpse into the gender roles of society and religion, historically and currently. Two women find their lives intertwined in unexpected ways, and it provides a layered reality of how we can love others well in the most unlikely circumstances."
- Amanda Delbeke
The Broken Way by Ann Voskamp
"A beautiful book on embracing our brokenness, living with authenticity, and in the midst finding deeper intimacy with God and our relationships with others."
- Kristy Clum
The Crescent Through the Eyes of the Cross by Dr. Nabeel T. Jabbour
"This book is one we encourage our teams serving in the Holy Land to read before their IMMERSION trip. It's an essential read for Christians who are trying to love their Muslim co-workers, friends, and neighbors, or simply for those who want to better understand the current conflict in the Middle East. It's a book that educates Christ followers about the roots of our own faith while helping us better understand the historical perspective of others."
- Heather Reynolds
Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion by Gregory Boyle
"This book forces you to see every single person, regardless of where they're from or what they've done, as a child of God, holy and dearly loved. Boyle's stories will stop you in your tracks and wreck you in the best ways, and hopefully bring forth new compassion and understanding for people everywhere."
- D.J. Morgan
Irresistible by Andy Stanley
"This book is about the irresistible nature of Christ and how we have strayed from his original idea of church and following him in a lot of ways, and taken that irresistibility and changed it into things Christ wouldn't want, like judgment and a country club nature of the church rather than loving all."
- Kelsey Bennett
The Lemon Tree by Sandy Tolan
"This was the first book I read about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that brought awareness to both sides of the conflict and the honest value of all the narratives there. I loved it because it helped me learn about something that I sadly had been so ignorant of for so many of my years in the Christian faith. It gives a human voice to the stories being lived in the Holy Land in the midst of fear and oppression on both sides of the barrier. It helps to give context for those who may have never considered the validity of both sides of the conflict in this very complex region."
- Kristy Clum
Keep Growing in How You Love and Serve Others Well
Loving our neighbors well takes more than good intentions. It's a practice, and it's one EM has thought deeply about. Explore our 7 Healthy Service Principles to see the values that shape every trip we lead, and how we work to serve people with dignity, humility, and respect.
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