Time and time again we find ourselves recommending books for the couples we meet to work through together. Here are our time-proven favourites with links to Amazon so you can add them to your collection too. The links we provide are affiliate links, so if you chose to buy a book using this link then know you will also be helping support our ministry in the process.
In love but worlds apart: G. Shelling and J. Fraser-Smith
Co-authored G. Shelling and Janet Fraser-Smith (who wrote Love Across the Latitudes) this book is a fantastic resource for intercultural couples. An incredibly practical resource with lots of great advice and an opportunity for application. Every marriage is to some degree cross-cultural so there is something for everyone to learn about each other.
The sacred search: Gary Thomas
The Sacred Search by Gary L. Thomas approaches the issue of choosing the right life partner in a way that should make people sit up and take notice. He deals with some of the illusions that people have when they are making such a significant decision and tells it how it is. As we should probably expect from the author of Sacred Marriage: What If God Designed Marriage to Make Us Holy More Than to Make Us Happy? this book challenges motives and choices.
Bringing Worlds Together: Lainey Hitchman
Marriage is a bringing together of two worlds, two cultures. For the most part, this blending goes smoothly; sometimes there are road bumps along the way. Bringing Worlds Together highlights elements of this process that, when understood, will smooth the way, help you navigate problems and make the joining of your worlds much more pleasurable.
Adjusting Expectations: Lainey Hitchman
No-one enters marriage expectation free. Adjusting Expectations helps identify how expectations were formed and whether or not they were realistic. Most expectations need some adjustment; they are often too high but can also be set too low. The good news is expectations can be reset!
Find out what you should expect and what God expects from you.
Love and Respect - Dr. Emerson Eggerichs
Often we sit with couples who are committed to each other but get into difficulties because they don't understand they are made differently from one another. This book helps bridge the gap, bringing understanding about how one person's needs are not necessarily the same as the other's. Once this is understood couples build their relationship more effectively instead of falling into patterns that tear it down.
In love but worlds apart: G. Shelling and J. Fraser-Smith
Co-authored G. Shelling and Janet Fraser-Smith (who wrote Love Across the Latitudes) this book is a fantastic resource for intercultural couples. An incredibly practical resource with lots of great advice and an opportunity for application. Every marriage is to some degree cross-cultural so there is something for everyone to learn about each other.
The sacred search: Gary Thomas
The Sacred Search by Gary L. Thomas approaches the issue of choosing the right life partner in a way that should make people sit up and take notice. He deals with some of the illusions that people have when they are making such a significant decision and tells it how it is. As we should probably expect from the author of Sacred Marriage: What If God Designed Marriage to Make Us Holy More Than to Make Us Happy? this book challenges motives and choices.
Burn up or Splash down
One of our favourites for missionaries returning from the mission-field. Our advice is to get this book well before you intend to return so that you can prepare well for everything that you will experience. Reverse culture-clash is a real thing, prepare well and avoid a lot of heart ache.