Daring Decision by M.R. Conrad (2025)

Posted on 2025-10-24 by thelittleman

A 31-Day Journey with Those Who Followed God’s Leading

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It’s a blessed year, when M.R. Conrad publishes another missionary devotional! In my review of his second book, Daring Dependence (2022), I wished that he would write 12 books in total, so readers could be blessed every day of the year. Now with Book 3 under his belt, he’s got only 9 more to go!

Writing Style and Servants Portrayed

As with his first two publications, Conrad makes the Gospel clear immediately in this book (7-8), and then fills his pages with fascinating history and spiritual challenges based on the lives of missionaries through the ages—some well-known, others “forgotten.” He provides only snapshots of their lives, and in this volume, those snapshots center particularly on their decision to serve God in ministry.

There seemed an abundance of missionaries serving in China or her neighboring nations in this book, which I loved, though I was surprised at the number of names I didn’t recognize. For the first time, the new-to-me missionaries outnumbered those with whom I was already familiar, making this an exceptionally educational edition. Below is a breakdown of the 31 servants Conrad depicts, yet placed into my own personal groupings:

Christian Heroes I’d Heard of Already:
Eric Liddell (China), Robert Murray M’Cheyne (Scotland), Peter Slobodian (Soviet Bloc), David Livingstone (Africa), Jonathan Goforth (China), Lilias Trotter (Algeria), Adoniram Judson (Burma), Harriet Atwood Newell (India), Lottie Moon (China), Henry Martyn (India, Iran), Charles Simeon (England), Arthur Mathews (China), Isobel Kuhn (China)

Lesser-known Heroes Who Were New to Me:
Alexander Duff (India), Bonnie Witherall (Lebanon), Geoffrey Bull (Tibet), William Burns (China), George Leslie MacKay (Taiwan), Betty Green (MAF), Peter Rumachik (Russia), Frank Drown (Ecuador), Peter Torjesen (China), Mary Thompson Groves (Iraq), A. Norris Groves (Iraq, India), George Hunter (Central Asia), Jonathan Goble (Japan), Malla Moe (Eswatini), Luke Bickel (Japan), Hirata San (Japan), Raphael Thomas (Philippines), John Beekman (Mexico, Guatemala)

Favorite Quips, Quotes, and Characters

Quips

Throughout these devotionals, Conrad pulls key quips from the lives and writings of these many ministers, lines meant to become clarion calls for the reader for that day. Here are a few examples I enjoyed:

  • “Forget the crowd, walk with God alone.” (In William Burns, 37)
  • “Go forward on your knees.” (In Jonathan Goforth, 77)
  • “Just start saying ‘yes’ to God.” (In Mary Thompson Groves, 125)

Quotes

Conrad also includes longer challenges in his own applications of the lessons learned, and the following are a few of my favorites:

  • Beware of idolizing the foreign field. Being overseas can become the goal rather than following God’s leading to where He would have you serve. (In Robert Murray M’Cheyne, 45)
  • Never go alone in your service to Christ. See yourself as a laborer together with God (1Corinthians 3:9). Rely on Him as you follow His lead. And take others with you—especially those younger than you in the faith. Mentor them. Encourage them. Model for them. God is not looking for isolated experts. He is looking for those who invest their lives in others. (In George Leslie MacKay, 65)
  • Great things may require great sacrifice, but not every great sacrifice will result in great things. (In A. Norris Groves, 131)

Characters

Finally, two of these mini-biographies really stood out to me in this volume, that of David Livingstone and Jonathan Goble. While I had heard of Livingston before (and so have you, “I presume”), I couldn’t tear myself away from the lessons Conrad pulls from his life, particularly how God drastically changed his direction from mission work in China to Africa. Conrad writes:

God’s calling is not always a life-long assignment to a geographic location. The roles He gives us are not meant to be static. We learn. We grow. We follow. We go. (57)

This is a lesson I need to cement in my own heart, as I look to what future changes God might have in store for my family. Likewise, it’s a message that many restless Christians need to hear today. Just because you are where you are doesn’t mean you can’t go where He leads.

I had never heard of the second character in this list, Jonathan Goble, and for good reason. It was a bold but wise move by Conrad to include in his list of biographies a bad example. Despite his position and prominence, Goble’s own flawed character and inability to “put off the old and put on the new” caused him to lose his ministry and the fame he so cherished. It’s a stark reminder that positions and titles and accolades mean nothing—even in ministry!—but following Christ means everything.

Conclusion

This whole book is about calling: knowing it, following it, trusting it. As such, I believe it would make an incredible read for those who seem lost or restless in their jobs or stations in life. While “contentment” certainly is a noble quality for the believer, restlessness might also signal quiet disobedience to the Spirit’s invitation to serve Him in another context.

Daring Decision is yet another excellent addition to M.R. Conrad’s growing collection of devotionals based on the lives of missionaries and other godly servants. Each day steeps the reader in history and the Word with challenges and reflections that make it hard to walk away unchanged.

Christmas is just around the corner! If you’re looking for a great gift to inspire others towards service for the King, look no further than this series of devotionals on Amazon:

Daring Devotion (2020)
Daring Dependence (2022)
Daring Decision (2025)

©2025 E.T.

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