We asked pastors, directors and elected leaders to share the best books they read this year. Here are their answers:

Amy Kruis, deaconss

Gentle and Lowly by Dane Ortlund

Andrew Nelson, board of missions

The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self: Cultural Amnesia, Expressive Individualism, and the Road to Sexual Revolution by Carl R. Trueman

Anxious People by Fredrik Backman

Ann Lawrenz, hospitality committee

Ann Judson: A Missionary Life for Burma by Sharon James

Gilead by Marilynne Robinson

This is my third read of this book. It grows richer each time I read it. There are three more books in the series.

Bleak House by Charles Dickens

Priscilla The Life of An Early Christian by Ben Witherington III

Ben Panner, college pastor

Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God by J.I. Packer

Cheryce Berg, director of children’s ministries

After the Last Border: Two Families and the Story of Refuge in America

by Jessica Goudeau

Finally—an honest and heart-wrenching look at what it means to be a refugee, told by an amazing Christian woman who sees each one as created in God's image

Curt Miller, missions pastor

Confronting Injustice Without Compromising Truth by Thaddeus Williams

Danika King, service and engagement committee

The Aurora Cycle by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell

The Wingfeather Saga by Andrew Peterson

A Swim in a Pond in the Rain by George Saunders

Dyanne Martin, evangelism and culture impact committee

Not Tragically Colored: Freedom, Personhood, and the Renewal of Black America by Ismael Hernandez

This is one of the most comprehensive, erudite books I have ever read about the race industry in America. It encompasses history, philosophy, economics, sociology, anthropology, politics and Christianity.

Jeff Oslund, elder

The Hiding Place: The Triumphant True Story of Corrie Ten Boom by Corrie Ten Boom, John Sherrill , Elizabeth Sherrill

Challenging and inspirational story highlighted by amazing examples of faith and prayer

Shadow of the Almighty: The Life and Testament of Jim Elliot by Elisabeth Elliot

The faith filled, disciplined focus on communicating the good news of Jesus from the USA to Ecuador is challenging and encouragingJeremy Taylor, elder

Jeremy Taylor, elder

Sooley by John Grisham

I always feel a bit of trepidation when recommending a fiction book, especially one by a mainstream author. I believe John Grisham is a Christian, and he incorporates a fair amount of Christian world view into his novels, but they are intended for a general audience and do contain some objectionable material. Nevertheless, I think this is an important book because it highlights a very nonfiction humanitarian crisis that continues to unfold in South Sudan, the world's newest country and one that few Americans know much about. Grisham combines tragic real-world events with a fictionalized but still somehow familiar tale of heroism in the sports world to create a very readable, entertaining, and educational novel. This book is not for kids and should be read with caution. But it should be read. While you're reading, pray for the people of South Sudan.

Josh Maurer, pastor of discipleship

Providence by John Piper

Paul and the Hope of Glory: An Exegetical and Theological Study by Constantine Campbell

Rediscover Church: Why the Body of Christ Is Essential by Collin Hansen and Jonathan Leeman

Discipling: How to Help Others Follow Jesus by Mark Dever

Ken Heulitt, church treasurer

City of Tranquil Light by Bo Caldwell

A missionary couple pour out their faith and life in China

The Message of Jeremiah by Christopher J. H. Wright

A fine pastoral commentary on Jeremiah

Joseph and His Brothers by Thomas Mann, John Woods translation

A deep and fascinating re-telling of Jacob and Joseph and his brothers. Very rich but demanding fiction.

Mark Berg, elder

Managing the Professional Services Firm by Daniel Maister

Excellent, though thick, read.

A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles

Amazing writer of the English language

Gentle and Lowly by Dane Ortlund

Holiness Day by Day by Jerry Bridges

Daily devotional with rich content

Mary Miller, deaconess

Praying the Psalms with Augustine and Friends by Carmen Joy Imes

Offers “language for prayer” when my own words fail

Michael Walker, pastoral resident

An Infinite Journey by Andrew Davis

Walking with God through Pain and Suffering by Tim Keller

Atomic Habits by James Clear

Mindy Rynbrandt, director of women’s ministries

The End of the Christian Life by Todd Billings

Worthy by Elyse Fitzpatrick

The Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life by Donald Whitney

Nancy Singer, director of administration and finance

Numbers Don’t Lie by Vaclav Smil

Anyone who knows me knows I've always been fascinated by numbers. This book is a collection of essays that use numbers and trendlines to pin down facts about energy production, transportation, machines and devices, food production and consumption, and demographics.

Nancy Taylor, deaconess

7 Ways to Pray by Amy Boucher Pye

Practical guide to prayer practices with some built-in exercises

Engaging Your Teen's World by David Eaton & Jeremiah Callahan

Understanding what today's youth are thinking, doing and watching

Penny Thrasher, deaconess

God of the Impossible by Rev. Stefano Fehr and Dr. Samuel Naaman

Palau, A Life on Fire by Luis Palau with Paul J. Pastor

Adorned by Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth

We Will Not Be Silenced and When a Nation Forgets God both by Erwin W. Lutzer

Suzanne Shirley midweek morning superintendent (Kids Korner)

Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand

Another Gospel?: A Lifelong Christian Seeks Truth in Response to Progressive Christianity by Alisa Childers

Tad Williams, elder

One Assembly: Rethinking the Multisite and Multiservice Church Models by Jonathan Leeman

Analog Church: Why We Need Real People, Places, and Things in the Digital Age by Jay Y. Kim

Wendy Robinson, board of missions

Making Peace with Change by Gina Brenna Butz

Navigating life’s transitions with honesty and grace.

God’s Global Mosaic by Paul-Gordon Chandler

What we can learn from Christians around the world.

This Beautiful Truth by Sarah Clarkson

How God’s goodness breaks into our darkness.

Whitney McKevitt, board of deaconesses

Out of Egypt by Connilyn Cossette (series of three books)

Biblical fiction genre

Mama Bear Apologetics by Hillary Morgan Ferrer

Wil Triggs, director of communications

Jesus Bible Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones

Delighting in the Trinity by Michael Reeves

Winsome Conviction: Disagreeing Without Dividing the Churchby Tim Muehlhoff and Richard Langer