GOOD READS (In Process - not completed)

Recently, I was asked to provide a list of books that I found useful during my missionary career. Honestly, quite often I am asked to recommend books, so I decided to prepare a list of books in various subjects that I have enjoyed or found very useful. Also you will find a description of why it is included in my bibliography and personal library.  As well, you will also find a link in order to find that book for yourselves if you so desire. I plan on keeping this list open ended, and come back to it from time to time. 

MISSIONS

Spent Matches, by Roy Moran. It provides a plan for reaching the multitudes. All I can say is AMEN.

https://www.amazon.com/Spent-Matches-Spiritually-Dissatisfied-Refraction/dp/0718030621

What Jesus Started, by Steve Addison.  Let's keep this simple - Get Busy! Do Something!

https://www.amazon.com/What-Jesus-Started-Movement-Changing-ebook/dp/B00A8K46M0

Letter's to an Apprentice, by Jeremy Taliaferro.  Honestly, I have not read this book yet, because it is not yet out in an electronic version that I usually use, and I'm a bit too lazy to download the Kindle App. But with that said, I have read every blog by this author who is also a friend, and I am sure that I know enough about what he has written to include it on my list of must reads.

https://lucidbookspublishing.com/our-books/letters-to-an-apprentice/

100 Years from Now, by Steve Murrell. One might think this book is about sustaining a movement of God, but it is more about following Christ correctly, so that in the future what is created is of GOD and not of YOU. 

https://www.amazon.com/100-Years-Now-Sustaining-Generations/dp/1939447224

The Ways of the Alongsider, by Bill Mowry. This is not really a book rather guided Bible study.  As you might expect the title first caught my attention, but the study was well written so I stayed for the duration.

https://www.amazon.com/Ways-Alongsider-Growing-Disciples-Life/dp/1631465724/ref=dp_ob_title_bk


Spiritual Multiplication in the Real World, by Robert McNabb. This book needs to be read, but the truth is that I struggled keeping my attention.

https://www.amazon.com/Spiritual-Multiplication-Real-World-disciple-makers-ebook/dp/B00R4VQFZC

Megachurch to Multiplication, by Chris Galanos. Chris has become a friend, who I talk with from time to time. He bought into multiplication completely, which is what the IMFC does overseas. He committed his megachurch in Lubbock, Texas to embracing the idea completely. The book is how he initiated and followed through with it in the real world. THIS IS A MUST READ.

https://www.amazon.com/Megachurch-Multiplication-Churchs-Journey-Movement/dp/173286960X

Letters to the Church by Francis Chan. This is another MUST READ. I love anything that Francis Chan writes. It may be that I respect him so much, but this book is an amazing eye opener.

https://www.amazon.com/Letters-Church-Francis-Chan/dp/0830776583

Saturate by Jeff Vanderstelt. This is a book about living the life of a Jesus follower.

https://www.amazon.com/Saturate-Being-Disciples-Jesus-Everyday/dp/1433545993

The Insanity of God, by Nick Ripkin.  This is a book of stories of faith from around the world. It is inspiring. 

https://www.amazon.com/Insanity-God-Story-Faith-Resurrected/dp/1433673088

Master Plan of Evangelism by Robert Coleman. This is a the story of the principles that Jesus used in making His disciples.

https://www.amazon.com/Master-Plan-Evangelism-Robert-Coleman/dp/0800788087

Tradecraft for the Church on Mission, by Larry McCrary and others. It is concisely written and provides insights on how missionaries reach those outside their own culture.

https://www.amazon.com/Tradecraft-Church-Mission-Larry-McCrary/dp/1479300918

Ask a Missionary by John McVay. This is a great book for those wanting to understand the missionary mindset.

https://www.amazon.com/Ask-Missionary-Time-Tested-Answers-Before/dp/0830856048/

I Want to Make a Difference by Don Parrott. This I recommend for those who are considering a life overseas on mission.

https://www.amazon.com/Want-Difference-Bridge-Global-Impact/dp/0911802517/

Global Mission Handbook by Steve Hoke. It's just what it says it is - a guide to crosscultural service.

https://www.amazon.com/Global-Mission-Handbook-Crosscultural-Service/dp/0830837175/

When Helping Hurts by Steve Corbett. I've just started reading this book, but I find myself saying AMEN a whole lot.  Sometimes remembering all those times where my own helping hurt.

https://www.amazon.com/When-Helping-Hurts-Alleviate-Yourself/dp/0802457061/

Wind in the House of Islam by David Garrison. This book describes how the Holy Spirit is moving throughout Islam.

https://www.amazon.com/Wind-House-Islam-Drawing-Muslims/dp/1939124034

The Rise and Fall of Movements by David Garrison. As you can imagine I like David Garrison. I've met him and hosted him one time as he was touring and training in my country.

https://www.amazon.com/Rise-Fall-Movements-Roadmap-Leaders-ebook/dp/B07R7DNGSR

Pioneering Movements by Steve Addison. This is a book that builds on What Jesus Started. It identifies what it takes to lead movements.

https://www.amazon.com/Pioneering-Movements-Leadership-Multiplies-Disciples/dp/0830844414

Contagious Disciple Making by David Watson. This book is about making disciples who make disciples.  This is just a practical book. I love it. It oughta be a class in seminary.

https://www.christianbook.com/contagious-disciple-leading-others-journey-discovery/david-watson/9780529112200/pd/9112200#CBD-PD-Description

Movements that Change the World by Steve Addison. I will never forget the phrase white-hot faith.

https://www.amazon.com/Movements-That-Change-World-Spreading/dp/0830836195

Lives Given Not Taken by Jerry Rankin. I won't spoil this book for you. You'll cry. You'll join the battle.

https://www.amazon.com/Lives-Given-Not-Taken-Southern/dp/0976764539

COUNSELING

Abba's Child, by Brennan Manning.  This is my all-time favorite book. I discovered it during a dark time in my life, and well, I have given out free copies to others who I thought needed it maybe 20 times and have recommended it again maybe another 50 times. 

https://www.amazon.com/Abbas-Child-Heart-Intimate-Belonging/dp/1576833348

The Ragamuffin Gospel, by Brennan Manning. This is another classic which should be on ANY FOLLOWER of Christ's shelves, and the pages should be worn out.

https://www.amazon.com/Ragamuffin-Gospel-Bedraggled-Beat-Up-Burnt/dp/1590525027

How to Win the War by David Watson. Strategies for confronting spiritual conflict.  This book may be out of print, but you can still find copies I'm sure.  It's a great book.

Spiritual Warfare by Jerry Rankin. I sat through Jerry Rankin teaching how to fight spiritual warfare with his book in my hand. Awesome. Awesome.

https://www.amazon.com/Spiritual-Warfare-Battle-Gods-Glory/dp/0805448802

Dreamers

When I was in seminary and even before that I would dream of preaching to thousands from a well appointed platform. I dreamed my voice would carry a message to a world that once they heard it, they would drop to their knees and worship the one true Savior. I may be the only one to publicly admit that, but I am sure I am not the only one to ever have that dream. Even though I have preached to many, many people over the years, the message from my voice never penetrated deep into the community that I was in. No matter how loud I could scream or pound my fist into the pulpit the majority of my world still was lost and dying without Jesus. 

I served a “going and blowing” church in Central Florida back in the 90s. Many envied my position. Our church had the very real potential of being a mega-church. We were growing like a weed. I was the education/administration pastor, which today would be called the executive pastor, and I was asked to speak at conferences everywhere. I was asked to do training events and to write articles. The church’s success could have easily gone to my head, but I found myself sitting alone in my office at First Baptist Mt. Dora, Florida, with my heart hurting, not from any problems in my arteries, but rather from looking out the window into my world, knowing that people were alone, they were hurting, they weren’t healing, and they were choosing to hurt themselves or others with decision after decision. I found myself thinking, “God, is this all there is?” I would whisper in my prayers to God, “You placed me here. You called me for this purpose - to change the world or at least my part of it, and I am not doing it. I have failed you.” Something stirred deep in my soul. The thought crossed my mind, “Why are you in this office?” I don’t know if it was something I had heard from a message or a song on the radio, but I knew that I no longer needed to be in that office. I can write many articles behind my computer. I can do all the accounting the church needs. I can make decisions on this curriculum or that. I can help make plans for events and sometimes I can even counsel deeply with someone in that office, but I knew deep down that I could never change the world from that office. I had to leave. 

I moved to another church in another state. I moved to a church that I loved very much and still do. Apparently, West Hartselle Baptist Church didn’t want me to be in an office. One of the deacons actually asked me three days after I began serving that church, “Why are you in here? You ought to be out there?” That deacon will never know what he taught me that day. That church to me became a little slice of heaven right here on earth. My very first Wednesday evening while I was leading a prayer meeting a wonderful saint who was a leader in our church’s women’s mission ministries stood and prayed. She boldly asked, “God we have been asking for a long time that you send a missionary out from among us.” BOOM, for me it felt like her prayer was on a direct line from her heart and lips directly to God in Heaven who threw it right back down to where it exploded in my heart. I knew from that moment, that I would not be at that church for the rest of my life. The truth of the matter is that we only spent three years in that wonderful church, but it is the church that my family still to this day calls “home.” 

After tearfully leaving there, my little family of three found itself living in Central America tasked with getting Jesus’ saving message into 4.5 million people’s ears that will hear. Good grief, how in the world does one actually do that? Thankfully the mission agency that sent me was very clear that success was not in getting all those people saved, but rather all I had to do was get the message in a clear voice to their ears. It was then their responsibility to respond to the call of Jesus or not. I strategized and planned. I came up with many expensive ideas. Perhaps getting the message out on radio and TV. The internet wasn’t yet a big thing. My rude awakening came when my supervisor said, “That’s a good plan, where are you going to get the money? Because I don’t have it to give you. What else have you got?” I didn’t have anything. Everything that I knew was based on what I had seen growing up, and everything was way out of my budget. I knew how to start churches the traditional way, but I couldn’t build enough for 4.5 million people. I knew how to start seminaries. I didn’t have the funds. I knew how to plan and successfully hold events, rallies, and meet and greets. How, how, how, LORD GOD, please let me know. I don’t know what to do. YOU CALLED ME HERE. HOW CAN YOU GIVE ME THIS TASK? HOW CAN YOU ABANDON ME HERE WITH NOT MORE DIRECTION THAN TO “GO AND TEACH”? 

The problem I faced was that religion in the US is a rich 

religion, and it does rich things very well. I was never 

taught and no one ever showed me how to do 

a cheap church. 

                                                   Jimmy Barry

Driving over a ridge top road at the setting sun, I could see the Pacific Ocean on one side and the darkening Central Mountain range on the other. Between me and the ocean was a smaller mountain range. It was so beautiful. I pulled over to the side of the road. I looked out toward the ocean. I don’t know I was probably 4ooo feet above sea level where I was. As the sun was setting the mist started settling down into the valleys. I watched as lights began to turn on one by one, sometimes several at the same time in a little village far below. I silently confessed to God, “How am I going to do what you asked me to do, when I don’t know how to even reach that little village down there.” Let me be very clear, I always am suspicious of people who say they heard clearly a Word from God, but that moment a thought entered my mind from somewhere - I don’t know it could have come from a long lost sermon buried deep down in my memories and chose that very moment to pop to the top. I don’t know where it came from, so I choose to say that God spoke to me clearly that evening. He said, “Well, you can’t do it from here.” 

I searched hard for that little community. I finally had to buy a very expensive Government survey map just to find the dirt road that led to that little place on earth. It’s name was Barroeta. (Little Mud Hole.) It was a hard driving hour off the pavement down a very steep cliff. The community may have numbered 100 people - maybe not that many. It sure seemed like a strange place to get the saving message to 4.5 million people. More than once, I asked God, “Are you sure about this?” He didn’t answer, but instead He allowed me to meet José Manuel Rojas Sosa. 

José wasn’t much. He was a drunk. He couldn’t read. He had only very recently come to know Christ. He told me the following story about the change Jesus made in his life. The Costa Rican rain water woke him up from a drunk that he regularly pitched. He sat up while the water was running over him. He saw sober for the first time his situation. He no longer had his wife, whose name was Felicia. She left with his 4 sons awhile back. He lost his job from his drinking. While soaking wet sitting up in a gutter filled with rain water run off, he looked down, and he had lost his shoes. When a man loses his shoes he has pretty much lost everything he has. José said to no one in particular, because no one ever listens to the ramblings of drunks, “God, is this all there is?” Apparently God was listening, because before the day was through a stranger passed through and told him, “There is more to life than this. Can I share with you a story that changed my life?” After the story, he asked José, “Would you like to know a Jesus like I know?” The stranger taught him to pray and José said, “Sí, Señor. Te seguiré!” (Yes, Lord. I will follow you.) 

That man taught José a few more things that day and then left him. No one will ever know his name. José doesn’t remember it. I never met him, but José discovered through him that Jesus loved him and was searching for him. He would forgive him and would change him. For José this changed everything. He left the bottle. He got a job at the chicken plant. He saved enough money and bought a little lot on the side of a cliff. He found enough materials to put a dry roof over his head, and Felicia came home with his sons. One morning, he sat there in his homemade chair drinking coffee telling me this story. He said, “I know God is telling me to do something, but I don’t know what it is?” 

I said, “José, I do.” 

This little book is not about José or the thousands that have followed Jesus just like he and I have, but rather this book is for those dreamers just like me, who don’t know how to do what God has asked of them. They clearly know that they want to see their churches, communities and their piece of the world change. They want to see tens, hundreds, thousands, and millions bow to the one called Jesus. This little book is for you. The idea is that you clearly see a process that you can use where God has placed you to do what HE has called you to do wherever you may be. 

God has been kind. He has allowed me to see Him work on three continents. People by the hundreds and now by the hundreds of thousands coming to know Jesus. Their lives changed forever when Jesus replaced the anger, disillusionment, frustration, and pain in their hearts with His name.  Now that I have watched God work, I realized that while I sat in my office at First Mt. Dora, I was praying for success, but I was planning for failure. If I had succeeded in doubling the size of my church in Florida, everyone in my circle would have been seriously impressed. Our Sunday attendance would have been over 2000. I would have been asked to write books, be interviewed, and the accolades would flow, but the reality of that amazing success would have been that while we fit a few more people into the building, there still would have been almost 100,000 people outside those walls within driving distance desperately missing the peace that only Jesus Christ provides. 

The little book that follows is a snapshot of what we see God doing through His movement that we are allowed to watch in Central Africa.  I’m convinced that God would like to move just like that here in North America, but for that to happen, it will mean a shift in thinking. Success will be redefined completely. 

One Little Prayer

On stateside assignment, when I realized that I had to leave the mission field to take care of mom and dad, I uttered one prayer. “God, I want to die a missionary.” I never prayed it again. Six years later, when that season had come and gone, I answered the phone to someone I had never met. “Let’s talk missions,” asked Jimmy Barry. Six hours later, Jimmy asked, “Come to Africa, pray about this and see if it’s something you would like to do.” I answered, “Don’t have to pray about it, I already did.” 

Now, I’m watching a movement of God. People are on their knees from country after country, tribe after tribe bowing to the one called Jesus. The power of Jesus through a simple four stage process is changing hearts, lives, families, and communities as fast as feet can run. In Kenya last year we printed and distributed 150,000 books. We needed to print 42,674 more, but we were at the limit of our resources, so now new believers in Kenya patiently wait for their very first discipleship book. There will be a lot of you who say this is a great problem to have. In fact, what missionary or pastor would not want a waiting list of people needing discipleship materials? Yes, it’s a great problem to have, but still it’s a problem that demands a solution. It’s not a problem with the guys and gals on the ground. They are running as fast as they can with the gospel. It’s mine and Jimmy’s problem. You see God placed these two old geezers here and gave them that problem to solve, and we uttered together one more little prayer - “God, give us the wisdom to know how to solve the problem you gifted to us.” 

Then we went to work. We began a little rebranding to be more inclusive than just Uganda. You may have noticed our logo changed from Uganda’s colors to a brownish logo on a dull gold background on our new website - www.imfcworld.com. We restructured the constitution and by-laws to facilitate stateside growth. We learned the in’s and out’s of online fundraising. Now there is a method whereby people can raise funds on behalf of the guys and gals in Africa instead of just the ability to donate themselves. We’ve created a system for people and churches to partner in more ways than just sending a mission team from time to time. Very soon a worldwide multicultural prayer network will come online. I’m currently looking for just the right volunteer that could maintain and grow it. Now that the administrative groundwork is in place, Jimmy and I believe that God gave us the wisdom to know that he never asked us to be promoters of an institution, rather he called us to be just what we have always been - disciple makers. So. . .

We are bringing 4 Stage Discipleship to the United States. God has placed in our paths certain individuals (some of whom are pastors) that have seen that discipleship works, and is allowing us to influence them some as they seek to use 4 stages where they are, where they worship, and where they live, work and play. God seems to be blessing this wisdom. Just last week the Noonday Baptist Association asked me to teach a seminar on 4 stages, and then mentor some pastors as they try to revitalize their churches. Soon I’ll be interviewed online in front of many of the Baptist associational missionaries around the US. I’ve been asked to participate in a non-denominational podcast about discipleship. There is a conservative evangelical Methodist pastor that is looking to open doors especially among those that are quite Wesleyan. Things are happening all around us right now. 

Will following our mandate result in increased resources for the brothers and sisters in Africa? We don’t know, but that is not our question to answer. We simply need to continue producing disciples who make disciples wherever we happen to be, and for that to happen we are praying one more little prayer: “God, keep us holy, so that we can continue to be your servants.” Could you - would you partner with us in that one little prayer? And together we’ll see what God has in store. 

Blessings,

Steve D
www.imfcworld.org

What's Wrong with Me?

The other day, while I was talking with someone they mentioned they were content. Under my breath I said, “I’ve never been contented in my life.” Honestly, I didn’t want anyone to hear that comment. It just sort of came out, but this person being the person they are wouldn’t let that comment go, and he forced me to explain. I tried to use my political avoidance type speech, but he wouldn’t have it, so eventually I had to expound. 

I know what the Bible has to say about contentment. I really do.  Hebrews 13:5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have. 1 Timothy 6:6 Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment. . . But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.  Philippians 4:11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.  This is just three quick little verses, but you can trust me on this - the Bible has a lot to say about contentment, and contentment is not my strong point.  

I was not talking about nor currently writing about contentment with physical things. Honestly, I have lived with a lot, and I have lived with very little yet found life wonderful both ways. I’m talking about internal contentment in a psychological or sociological or maybe even a theological type thing.  For instance, several weeks ago I was set to speak in a church, and its pastor told me he was looking forward to today, because the “house was going to be full - packed even.”  A few days earlier another pastor showed me his sanctuary and described how many people would fit.  Both times, the massive number that was outside those walls and would never come inside was very heavy on my mind. When I served a going and growing church in Florida and we baptized many every Sunday, the people on the streets that I passed daily bothered my soul. A church where I served in Alabama that was growing like a weed was never enough for me.  God has given me 280 million people (280,000,000) to lead closer to Him, but it’s not enough. I lie awake a night thinking about them, and I just want more. I am not content. What is wrong with me? Why can't I just be content?

Blessings,

Steve DuVall

www.imfcworld.org

More Relevant than a Beard

Yeah, I know I am behind the times, perhaps an ancient cog in a mighty big old wheel, but I try to stay relevant, so I grew a beard. That should be enough, right? 

You see I had heard about Black Friday.  In our family it once was a tradition that Deb, her mom and her sister left the house around 11:00pm on Thursday - Thanksgiving Night - to go shopping for all the Christmas “deals.”  They would return looking like they had done battle around noon on Friday to recover. Dad and I stayed home and watched the news reports about all the crazy people grabbing this, that or the other thing. We laughed one night when we watched a live news report of a female fist fight in the shoe department at Macy’s - downtown Atlanta. For a moment we were concerned about the safety of our women, and then joked to ourselves about which one of them had caused the fight over shoes.  I still giggle a little while thinking about my tiny little wife playing keep away with a pair of red pumps in the middle of the night. She claims it wasn’t her, but when kidding Deb, why should I let the truth to get in the way. Then a few years ago along came Cyber Monday. I am a little fuzzy on this one, but I think if you do your online ordering by today, which is Cyber Monday, then delivery will reach you in plenty of time before Christmas to get everything wrapped and delivered to where it belongs. Ok, that makes sense to me, but it's a sad sign of the times for the mom and pop shops that are not so relevant anymore. Then a couple of months ago I heard about a new thing - Giving Tuesday.  I heard about it while talking to our website developers.  Apparently, Giving Tuesday was developed by someone ten years or so ago, who wanted to change the Christmas season focus from material possessions to helping others. Well, OK then — this is something I can really get behind, and tomorrow is Giving Tuesday, so let's consider the IMFC. 

Most of you who are one of the IMFC or follow the field work closely know what goes on. You know that three thousand people per month are fed by the IMFC as we work to transform their lives by teaching them how to begin and sustain a business. You know about the lives saved through the MAMA Kit distributions, or changed through the sanitary pads “trainings.” You have read the stories from the prisons, or participated with us as we disciple behind the bars and razor wire. If you know about those, then you know about the discipleship movement going on right now among the refugees. You would also know that Kenya and the Congo are begging for more Discipleship books. Wow, thousands of people are running with the Gospel. The Gospel is still relevant today! Who knew? 

Every one of us who are a part of the IMFC in both hemispheres believe God has called us to make a bigger difference. We completely understand running with the Gospel. I am sure that most of us want to live life being more relevant than a beard, so if you feel you need to do more and complete God’s purpose for your life then follow one of the links below.  

• Walk Dusty Roads
• Join IMFC's Brand New Prayer Team
• Donate for Giving Tuesday
• Create your own fundraising team for one of the IMFC ministries

I do look forward to working with you more closely.

Until Jesus Comes - GO,
Steve DuVall

This Is Weird

Hmmm. This is weird; I’m very confused. Well, it’s not weird that I am confused, this is something that happens to me quite often. The current problem is that I don’t know if I am grateful or thankful.  Grateful and thankful are both positive feelings of gratitude with the difference being that grateful implies that you need others to be happy, while you can be thankful all by your lonesome.  

I’m thankful that my wife loves me enough not to kill me in my sleep even though I probably deserve it much of the time.  

I’m grateful that Debbie consented to marry me.   

I’m thankful that together we have a wonderful, smart, talented and beautiful daughter.

I’m grateful that Hannah’s sense of humor mirrors mine.

I’m thankful that I have a job that positively affects hundreds of thousands of people of many different races and cultures.

I’m grateful that my little family has plenty of food, clothing, and shelter - much of the world, especially where I work doesn’t. 

I’m thankful that I have more real friends than I can count who live all around the world - on every continent -  and many, many of them I will call them very close friends.  Well that's not quite true - I don't think I know anyone at all living on Antartica.  

I’m grateful that a dear husband of one of those friends who passed away just last night is walking with Jesus today, speaking with Moses, Paul, my mom and dad, and he no longer has to fight a disease that robbed him of all his memories.  He is whole today.  

I'm both grateful and so very thankful that so many of my friends and family are becoming partners with the IMFC reaching the poor and displaced people of the world, so I guess I am not confused at all, rather I'm just a very happy, contented and blessed man.  Hmmm. I guess though that in this day and age being happy, contented and blessed is a very weird thing.    

Happy Thanksgiving all y’all.  

Steve D

www.imfcworld.org

SHAKING YOUR WORLD

This is huge. This is a game changer. This is the truth.

Do you know why the church isn't growing? Because it's the church that is trying to do the growing. It's the church trying to reach the lost ones in the community. It's the church trying to go to the ends of the earth.

Are you ready for the game changer: THE CHURCH WAS NEVER MEANT TO DO THE GROWING. 

Jesus commissioned His followers to go into all the world. Jesus commissioned you and me.

Now the church is a huge part of that individual's efforts, but it is ultimately up to the individual to go and teach. The church grows because of the individual's efforts.

If you don't believe me look it up. 

Blessings,
Steve