We have all heard sad stories of expeditions that led to addictions, gang fights that led to deaths, and rapes that deeply traumatised young girls, most of which happened during times of freedom from regular activities. We have also heard stories of encounters with God, scientific discoveries, and business ideas that were birthed during times of rest and deep contemplation, many of which also happened during holiday time.
Summer holidays have both made and marred destinies, and this one could positively or negatively affect you depending on your decisions. Holidays provide a time out from the regular routine of corporate or academic life, an opportunity to spend time with family, travel, engage in hobbies, etc.
Unsurprisingly, Satan also positions systems in place to trap and entangle young people in addiction to drugs or other indulgences and even end their lives if possible. The only way to avoid the plague of destruction is to plan your summer and stick to your plan.
In light of these, we have compiled a list of biographies you can read and glean from this summer. We have chosen biographies because they are typically easier to read than most other books due to their storytelling style. It has been said that the secret of great men is in their stories. So make this summer count by exploring secrets that will improve your life. We have also included links for you to download/buy the books in any format convenient for you. We hope you will remember summer 2023 as a summer of divine encounters.
1. He Leads Me by Gbile Akanni
Born into the family of an Ifa priest, Gbile Akanni witnessed a lot of demonic activity while growing up. In He Leads Me, Bro Gbile, as he is fondly called, tells the touching story of the power tussle and fierce persecution that ensued when he accepted Jesus into his life, his desperate search for baptism in the Holy Spirit and the secret of a victorious Christian life, and encounters with God that led to the choice of his life partner and career/ministerial path. Through the pages of this compelling book, you will discover the secrets of the renowned Bible Teacher, whose commitment to discipleship has entrenched the tentacles of his ministry worldwide despite his love for obscurity.
Click here to access the hardcopy
2. Against the Tide by Watchman Nee
Against the Tide sheds light on the life and times of an exceptionally gifted and arguably the most influential Christian leader in Chinese history- Watchman Nee. This compelling biography digs deep into the family life and spiritual background of Nee To Sheng (turned Watchman Nee), the circumstances under which he grew up in ministry, the barriers he had to overcome, and the courage with which he chose to lay down his life despite opportunities to flee from the Communist crackdown of the Chinese Church under the reign of Mao Tse Tung.
Click here to access the softcopy
Click here to access the hardcopy
3. Living a Life of Fire by Reinhard Bonkke
In Living a Life of Fire, Reinhard Bonkke takes you from the simple home of a post-WW1 German family to the grand podiums of massive evangelical crusades in remote areas of Africa- an unusual journey of faith, vision, and meetings with world leaders. Using his uncanny storytelling prowess, the author paints a tapestry of unusual occurrences and seeming coincidences that birthed one of modern history’s most successful evangelical ministries. This is a story of how God handpicked a neglected child from a war-stricken country and transformed him into a notable evangelist who preached the glorious gospel and spread the light of Christ’s salvation in the “dark continent” of Africa.
Click here to access the softcopy
Click here to access the hardcopy
4. The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom
This book narrates life experiences most people will only ever read about from a book or watch in a movie. In The Hiding Place, Corrie Ten Boom, a Dutch clockmaker, tells of the unsophisticated clandestine operations her family and she engaged in to help many Jews escape from the Nazis during WWII- operations that cost most of her family their lives.
This story of faith, risk, sacrifice, and selflessness will keep you thrilled from start to finish. A clerical error led to Corrie’s release from the Ravensbrück concentration camp a few days before all the prisoners in her age group were killed. From the ashes of fear, intimidation, persecution, unbelievable suffering and loss, was born the Evangelical ministry of Corrie Ten Boom, who spent the rest of her life bringing healing and hope to everyone who would listen through the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Click here to access the softcopy
Click here to access the hardcopy
5. Tortured for Christ by Richard Wurmbrand
In Tortured For Christ, Richard Wambrand tells the story of the gruelling torture and persecution he experienced along with thousands of other Christians in the former Soviet Union. The Romanian Priest takes you behind the iron curtain and into the underground churches of Eastern Europe, their methods of survival, codes of communication, stories of betrayal, and tales of triumph.
After 14 years in prison and under the heartless torture of the Soviets for preaching at bomb shelters and rescuing Jews, Richard Warmbrand was released for a ransom of $10,000, after which he emigrated to the United States and founded Voice of the Martyrs- a non-profit Christian ministry serving persecuted Christians in restricted and hostile countries around the world. This is a story of faith that stood the test of fire.
Click here to access the softcopy
Click here to access the hardcopy
6. Gifted Hands by Ben Carson
Gifted Hands is the story of renowned Pediatric Neurosurgeon Ben Carson, who was the first to successfully separate conjoined Siamese twins joined at the back of their heads, saving both lives. He has been called “the remarkable surgeon who gives children a second chance at life”. In Gifted Hands, Ben Carson tells the story of the poverty of his family, the absence of his father, his uncontrollable temper, and poor performance at school – setbacks that were turned around by an encounter he had with the word of God that led him to put his faith in Jesus Christ.
The faith of Sonya Carson, his mother, is at the heart of this turnaround and Dr Carson’s successive remarkable medical triumphs. Retired Dr Carson believes faith and science are not incompatible and stands in the political arena as a towering intellectual with an unbendable faith who fights for moral principles of life based on the word of God.
Click here to access the softcopy
Click here to access the hardcopy
7. Shake Well Before Use by Samuel Shittu
If you desire to be used by God significantly, you must read this book. This is a very winding story that vividly depicts the life experiences of gifted Evangelist Samuel Shittu. At the heart of the story is the inescapable need for “divine shakings”, which every man or woman who God will use must pass through. The story in this book is a touching example of God’s relentlessness in overcoming the natural stubbornness of His chosen vessel, His ability to retrieve the shattered pieces of a disobedient life, and his faithfulness in bringing us into the fullness of His purposes for our lives.
8. He Touched Me by Benny Hinn
He Touched Me is the story of a boy of Jewish descent who migrated to Canada with his family, unaware of the mighty plans God had for him and the path he’d have to travel to reach the destination. In He Touched Me, Benny Hinn tells the story of his conversion experience, series of encounters with the Holy Spirit, initial persecution from his family, and divine open doors that led to massive success in ministry, which took his generation by surprise.
Born a stutterer, it took a divine touch to lose the tongue of the Jewish boy and turn him into a fiery evangelist whose ministry was characterised by healing and the move of the Holy Spirit. This story will inspire your walk with God and make you trust Him despite your natural insufficiencies.
Sam
I am excited to see this as i am trusting God to utilize some of these materials exhaustively. Thanks for this initiative to keep men at the feet of the cross in a seemingly busy world.
abbasdwelling
You’re welcome 🙂