Missions Catalyst Resource Reviews 11.26.14
- DOWNLOADABLE: Advent Prayer Chain
- NEWSLETTER: Catalyst Postings
- TRAINING: Short-Term Missions 101
- BOOK: Know & Go
- WEBSITE: Great Christian Media in 12 Languages
- EVENTS: December Calendar
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DOWNLOADABLE: Advent Prayer Chain
Source: Weave
The countdown to Christmas is on! Focus your family on God’s global heart and purposes this advent season. Jesus came to redeem all peoples. Create an Advent Prayer Chain and set aside time each day to intercede for those who have never heard the gospel. Each link of the chain represents a people group—tribal, Hindu, unreligious, Muslim, or Buddhist—with simple descriptions and prayers in child-friendly language.
Nice job, Weave: an easy, kingdom-focused craft project and holiday decoration all in one!
» Download instructions and materials.
» Karen at Weave also told us about “a pretty cool prayer journal for families to pray for the world.” Check out 40 Days 40 Bites: A Family Guide to Pray for the World, written by Trudi Parkes of WEC. Available in the US from Amazon for US$7.03.
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NEWSLETTER: Catalyst Postings
Source: Catalyst Services
Postings is a free, monthly e-newsletter of thoughtful and practical articles for church mission leaders. All the articles are posted on the web so you can download and share them with your missions team and other leaders. Take a look at these editions from 2014:
» Learn more or subscribe to receive monthly editions.
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TRAINING: Short-Term Missions 101
Source: Delta Ministries
Looking for an online training curriculum you can use to equip mission team participants? Check out Short-Term Missions 101 from Delta Ministries. This new online course provides ideas, techniques, and skills designed to maximize the on-field experience for adults and youth serving on a short-term mission. Training includes eight self-paced sessions, each of which should take typical participants about three hours.
Topics include character transformation, cultural adaptation, team building, evangelism training, and some field-specific modules. Registration includes access to the online biblical DISC personality profile assessment.
» Learn more or register for US$45. Note that Delta Ministries offers many other resources for short-term teams, some of them free.
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BOOK: Know & Go
Source: GMI Books
Know & Go: Inspiring and Informing Global Mission, edited by Jon Hirst. GMI Books, 2014. 85 pages.
“From the Apostle Paul to William Carey to Billy Graham, the Church’s greatest evangelists and missionaries combine zeal with real-world data about the people they seek to reach,” says the new GMI book, Know & Go, which features articles by top researchers with GMI, OC International, and Joshua Project, as well as a foreword by Paul Eshleman of Campus Crusade for Christ.
This book makes the case for why knowing about your world is important. It addresses the opportunities and tensions that come with living in the information age and offers perspective on how to respond. It includes a history of Christian map-making and celebrates some milestones in the ministry of GMI and its sister organizations in the world of mission research, but also includes a great chapter with practical thoughts on how to do research on a budget.
This quick, inspirational read may only find a small audience but it does a great job of encouraging people to see research as something they can do within their ministry context.
» Learn more or purchase the Kindle edition from GMI for US$9.99; US$14.99 for the paperback. But from now until Monday, it’s 50% off ($4.99 and $7.49). Several other GMI Books publications are also on sale now; take a look at their site.
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WEBSITE: Great Christian Media in 12 Languages
Source: TWR
Have you seen TWR360? Both the website and the related apps provide a portal to inspirational, Bible-based Christian media to enjoy and/or share with others. Access audio and video material from dozens of ministries, study guides, scripture, Christian music, the Jesus Film, and other discipleship resources.
One of the most distinctive features of TWR360 is its ability to detect the language of a visitor’s browser and automatically function in that language. If a visitor selects one of the displayed topics, all available material on that topic in the visitor’s language will be presented. Nice.
» Is this something you could recommend to a friend showing interest in spiritual things or wanting to grow? Pass it on. Materials in two more languages, Vietnamese and Indonesian, will be added soon.
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MissionsCatalyst.net | about us | events calendar | website RSS feed
Missions Catalyst is a free, weekly electronic digest of mission news and resources designed to inspire and equip Christians worldwide for global ministry. Missions Catalyst was founded in 1996. Since 2007 it has been a ministry of Pioneers.
Use Missions Catalyst to fuel your prayers, find tips and opportunities, and stay in touch with how God is building his kingdom all over the world. Please forward it freely! |
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| Monthly Resource Reviews are composed and compiled by Marti Wade, who has managed and published Missions Catalyst since 2004. Based in Oregon, Marti is a writer, editor, and project manager serving with Pioneers on the Church Partnerships Team. She is the author of Through Her Eyes, a book about the lives of women serving cross-culturally in the Muslim world. She also speaks at conferences, Perspectives classes and similar events.
Our mailing address is:
Missions Catalyst c/o 1100 Brotherton Ave
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>>>KEEP SCROLLING for RELATED CONTENT & COMMENTARY, RESOURCES & REPLIES
NORWAY: Three Hundred Churches Planted in 15 Years
Source: Joel News International #862, March 31, 2013
To encourage Christians in Norway to get involved in God's mission, a map has been [compiled] with all cities, towns, and regions, and an indication to what extent they have been reached by the gospel. There are still many localities and people groups with a low church presence. A video documentary has also been produced with compelling stories by church planters and people who have encountered Christ for the first time.
But the Norwegians have a vision beyond their own nation. They want to "ignite multiplying church-planting movements all over Europe." Each year men and women from across Norway gather for a national church-planting forum. In 2013 a total of 25 church-planting teams will be involved in the M4 training network.
» Subscribe to Joel News.
» To learn more, check out the M4 Europe training network and watch the 18-minute video, New People, New Fellowship (Norwegian with English subtitles). Note that M4 includes church planters in Norway, Sweden, Latvia, Estonia, and Czech Republic.
TURKEY: Boiling Over in Protests
Source: Mission Network News, June 4, 2013
Tear gas, water cannons, and police batons punched into the crowds of Turkish protestors rallied in Taksim Square last Friday. Since then, mass "peaceful" protests have swept Turkey with Taksim Square as the epicenter, making it the nation's largest demonstration movement in years.
"I think what you see taking place here is ... a sense of uneasiness to the unresponsiveness of the Turkish government ... and a concern that the government of Prime Minister Erdogan may be moving toward the more Islamic, more fundamentalist, religiously oriented government," said Rody Rodeheaver with IN Network.
"If things like work stoppages [occur] ... the uneasiness that these situations create in various market places - not only in Turkey, but for other folks who want to do business in Turkey these are all question marks that raise issues in securities across the globe," Rodeheaver says.
The situation in Turkey's neighbor, Syria, also adds to the unease. "I think the unrest there has also created a sense of insecurity for some of the people in the population because of not knowing what's going to happen with Syria and some of the long-term results of that whole situation."
Altogether, the turmoil in Turkey could eventually affect ministry. "If things begin to erupt and if things begin to be unpredictable, what that creates is insecurities in terms of what types of ministry you can do [and] where you can do ministry."
» Read full story.
» See also a few Mission Network News stories about Egypt: Egypt's Court Rules Islamist-dominated Panel Illegal and Egypt Practicing 'Legal' Discrimination Against Christians.
WORLD: More than 42 Million Forcibly Displaced
Source: World Evangelical Alliance, June 3, 2013
The World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) and the Refugee Highway Partnership are calling upon churches around the world to observe World Refugee Sunday on June 16 and 23, 2013, as a day to remember and pray for those who are persecuted and oppressed around the world.
[More than] 42 million people have been forced to flee from their homes to escape war, violence, and persecution. The majority are women and children. World Refugee Sunday, which falls on either side of World Refugee Day (June 20), gives Christians an opportunity to demonstrate their common concern for the welfare and protection of forcibly displaced people in the world.
Tom Albinson, WEA Ambassador for Refugees, Displaced and Stateless People, says: "Not only has God given us a mandate to love the alien as we love ourselves (Leviticus 19:34), but the world around us is watching and hoping that we will step up to assist refugees, asylum-seekers, internally displaced, and stateless people."
"There is no nation on earth that remains untouched by the Refugee Highway," says [WEA's] Tom Albinson. "World Refugee Sunday is a powerful opportunity for the Church around the world to communicate to the world's forcibly displaced people that they are not forgotten and that, together with God, we care deeply for them."
» Read full story.
SYRIA: God Answered
Source: Mission Network News, May 17, 2013
Eight weeks ago, an E3 Partner disappeared in Syria. E3 vice president and Middle East expert Tom Doyle explains the situation: "He was in a very, very hot spot where there have been some Christian leaders that have been kidnapped. He's been threatened many times, and we just feared for the worst because of where he was and just no messages whatsoever."
Added to the tension was the kidnapping of two archbishops of the Orthodox Church in the same area. When "Ahmed" went missing, the team feared the worst.
Ahmed's predicament was a high priority on May 11, which was The International Day of Prayer and Fasting for the Syrian Church. Thousands of people joined in. Sometime later "a Syrian leader texted out, 'God Answer! God ANSWER!' We were able to get a word to him and say, 'What did God answer? What happened?' And he said, 'Ahmed is fine!'"
Doyle adds, "We now know where he is. He's safe. His family is safe. All glory goes out to the Lord who protected him."
The prayer effort gained traction quickly via social media. Doyle explains, "The 8:38 Web site is a Facebook site. It's the number 8thirty8, and we encourage believers to set their watches to 8:38 pm each night to pray for believers that are either in prison, persecution, or danger."
Why did they land on a time of 8:38? "It goes with Romans 8:38-39: 'For I am convinced that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities ... shall be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.'"
» Read full story.
» Some communities and individuals you could pray about at 8:38 tonight: the people of Syria (three-minute "prayershort"), Eritrean Christians ("Persecution at Highest Level," says Baptist Press), Sri Lankan Churches ("Buddhist monks have forced the closure of 18 churches in southern Sri Lanka, threatening pastors with death if they continue their activities," says Barnabas Aid), Aman Ullah (a 16-year-old convert kidnapped by the Taliban in Pakistan, says God Reports), and Sharofat Allamova and Naziya Ziyatdinova in Uzbekistan (Forum 18 reports).
VIETNAM: Evangelist Nick Vujicic Well Received in Vietnam
Source: The Christian Post, June 3, 2013
The amazing 30-year-old Australian evangelist Nick Vujicic, born without arms and legs, visited Vietnam in May. Though not allowed to preach in public events, he took the country by storm as a motivational speaker. Vietnam's Christians, both Catholic and evangelical, were elated. Christian leaders in Vietnam all use the word "phep la," or miracle. Two miracles actually, they say.
The first was that the evangelist should be allowed to come to communist Vietnam at all, and the second one is that authorities approved as Nick's translator the young pastor newly installed in Hanoi's main evangelical church.
Nick's books, translated into Vietnamese, were on sale and have become best sellers. Nick's own website also showed a huge spike in hits.
» Read full story.
About Us
Missions Catalyst
is a free, weekly electronic digest of mission news and resources designed to inspire and equip Christians worldwide for global ministry.
Use it to fuel your prayers, find tips and opportunities, and stay in touch with how God is building his kingdom all over the world. Please forward it freely!
Questions, comments, submissions? Contact publisher and managing editor Marti Wade.
Events calendar
Subscribe to emails
Get RSS feed
Make a donation
Pat Noble has been the "news sleuth" for Missions Catalyst since 2004. In addition to churning out the news, she is working to create a SWARM (Serving World A Regional Mobilizers) in Northern New York using the NorthernChristian.org website. You can connect with her at www.flavors.me/patnoble.
BAHRAIN: Beacon Bookshop
Source: United Bible Societies, May 15, 2013
Christians in northwest Bahrain have easier access to Bibles and other Christian resources thanks to the opening, earlier this month, of a new Bible resource center.
The new center is called Beacon Bookshop and aims to serve Christians from all walks of life and speaking a variety of languages. More than 40 percent of people in Bahrain are migrant workers [who] account for most of the country's nine percent Christian population.
"The purpose of Beacon Bookshop is to gossip the gospel," smiles Adriana, an expatriate from Holland, who volunteers at the new center. Adriana's sentiment resonates with Hrayr Jebejian, who leads the Bible Society in the Gulf.
"Adriana is absolutely right," Hrayr Jebejian comments. "This kind of gossip does not harm people but brings them close to Jesus. This new center's purpose is to be a true beacon to the community, sharing the breath and light of God so that people can experience a life-giving relationship with Christ."
The Bible Society of the Gulf is committed to partnering with churches in Bahrain and other countries in the Arabian Gulf to reach out to migrants and offer them practical and spiritual support. They run 22 [similar centers] in Kuwait, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Oman.
» Read full story.
WORLD: The Gospel for the Deaf
Source: OM NewsBytes, June/July 2013
[More than] 35 million people worldwide are officially Deaf, and, tragically, about half of the cases could be prevented. The Deaf [may be] the fourth largest people group in the world who are unreached with the Gospel.
Deaf Ministries International works in 20 countries in Asia, Africa, South America, and the Middle East, helping to establish resources and facilities to bring the message of Christ and aid to Deaf people. Projects include schools and dormitories for Deaf children in the Philippines and Africa, sewing workshops for Deaf women in Burundi and Kenya, Deaf camps in Myanmar, and Deaf churches in Korea.
DOOR International is another ministry dedicated to the training of Deaf leaders and the establishing of indigenous Deaf churches.
» More NewsBytes.
See also: Will the World's First Deaf Church Come from Japan?(Christianity Today).
ZIMBABWE: Son of Witch Doctor Finds Jesus
Source: Godreports, June 5, 2013
In his village in southern Zimbabwe, people still seek help through witch doctors who offer a portal into the darkness of the supernatural realm. But one young man found healing in the arms of Jesus after his father's gods proved impotent.
Nhamo suffered a painful infection that rendered him unable to move from his bed. He spent many days listlessly, barely able to turn over, yet his father refused modern medical care. "He would not allow me to go to the hospital because he believed he could heal through witchcraft," he notes.
One day a team came from a neighboring village to show the JESUS Film. When Nhamo's father and mother left him alone, they warned him not to watch the JESUS movie on the evening it was presented in their village...
» Read the rest of the story or watch a video that tells this man's story (YouTube).
INDIA: Seven Pastors Hospitalized
Source: Worthy News, June 10, 2013
Twenty Baptist pastors have been attacked by suspected Hindu militants in southeastern India, and several church leaders required hospital treatment for severe injuries, representatives said Friday, June 7.
The All India Christian Council (AICC), which represents churches and mission groups, said the victims were from the Telugu Baptist Church who gathered for their monthly prayer meeting.
About 50 followers of Hindu group Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) stormed the gathering, "brutally attacked" the pastors "with sticks and rods causing dreadful injuries," and verbally abused them, AICC added in a statement seen by BosNewsLife.
The mob also accused the church leaders of forcing people to convert to Christianity, the group said.
Seven of the pastors, identified only as Thimothy, Kumar, Krupaiah, Roberts, Rosaiah, Lazarus, and Thinothy, were rushed to hospital for serious injuries, according to AICC officials.
» Read full story.
» Editor's note: Want to learn more about the forces behind violent attacks like these? You might find help in the recently published book, Persecuted: The Global Assault on Christians, by Paul Marshall, Lela Gilbert, and Nina Shea.
CAMBODIA: A Killing Fields Survivor Who Learned to Forgive
Source: WEA News, June 4, 2013
As a boy of eleven [Reaksa Himm] watched villagers hack to death his father and brothers and later his mother. Eventually crossing the border to Thailand, Reaksa was sent to Canada. Here World Vision cared for him at one of their refugee centers, [and] Reaksa turned in faith to serve Christ. From there [he] studied, preparing himself for ministry.
However, plaguing his young mind was not only the memory of his family now dead, but feelings of revenge for those who had so devastated his family and life.
"I could tell that something was wrong with me, and underneath the facade I suddenly realized that I needed to forgive totally. Forgiveness is not easy, but if I allowed the big ball of fire to keep burning inside my heart, my life would not be worth living ... When I could not forgive, I was actually burying myself into the grave of bitterness, anger, and hatred."
He returned to the village of Kokpreach and there met with [those who had killed his parents], and taking a Cambodian scarf, tied it around their necks as a symbol of forgiveness. Then he gave them a Cambodian Bible and read from Luke23:34 ("Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do"), and in so doing, offered his forgiveness.
» Read full story, also told in the book The Tears of My Soul.
JAPAN: Better Than Pickles
Source: Pioneers Media, June 2013
A Pioneers missionary in Japan writes:
There is a saying in Japanese which means, "We are all different, but all good in our own way." This philosophy reveals a core attitude of religion in Japan.
Recently I was invited to join a local symposium as a representative of Christianity. I was to speak at a religious session along with a Buddhist priest and a Shinto priest. We shared a casual debate for an audience of 100 people.
As I interacted with these two priests, they reflected similar sentiments about the way the Japanese practice religion.
"I think Buddhism is like a recipe book: you play around with a recipe and create something" one said. "You decide what your soul wants to make. It is your own responsibility what you do with the ingredients."
Part of the way through the discussion the Buddhist priest said, "I am afraid that about 80 percent of you are probably leaning toward Christianity!" The Shinto priest added, "I also thought he was convincing. It could be because I had had a lot to drink last night, but maybe I will become a believer too! I need to learn from him."
At one point the Shinto priest expressed his view of the importance of religion: "I don't think it is necessary to think too deeply about religion. For instance when you sit down to eat a meal, the main course is the rice. You have the side dishes. If you have pickles to go with the meal, it makes everything taste even better, doesn't it? I think you should think of religion like the pickles. It makes life a little better. If you think of religion as more than that, it will become a burden to you."
In response, I shared the reason why I came to Japan as a missionary - to share the Good News of a message that changed my life.
"He is so convincing in his speech," the emcee said laughingly. "I thought the Buddhist would become a Christian!"
» Read full story.
» See the June issue of Encounters Mission Journal for an interesting article about Buddhist understandings of conversion(Redcliffe College, PDF).
About Us
Missions Catalyst
is a free, weekly electronic digest of mission news and resources designed to inspire and equip Christians worldwide for global ministry.
Use it to fuel your prayers, find tips and opportunities, and stay in touch with how God is building his kingdom all over the world. Please forward it freely!
Questions, comments, submissions? Contact publisher and managing editor Marti Wade.
Events calendar
Subscribe to emails
Get RSS feed
Make a donation
Pat Noble has been the "news sleuth" for Missions Catalyst since 2004. In addition to churning out the news, she is working to create a SWARM (Serving World A Regional Mobilizers) in Northern New York using the NorthernChristian.org website. You can connect with her at www.flavors.me/patnoble.
Source: Thomas Nelson
From the introduction: "This book is intended to go hand in hand withMiraculous Movements: How Hundreds of Thousands of Muslims Are Fall..., by Jerry Trousdale. In that book, Trousdale outlined and explained some of the important principles that are involved in the worldwide Disciple Making Movement ... illustrated with true stories, drawn from hundreds of interviews that he and others have conducted over the last couple of years.
"This book illustrates those same principles, but with very little didactic comment. Instead, we wanted to let the stories speak for themselves, showing how God is at work around the world today in the lives of millions of ordinary people - not just in the lives of Muslims, not just in Africa, but in the hearts of ordinary people from every background, every tribe, and tongue."
Rather than the brief (but powerful) vignettes in Miraculous Movements, The Father Glorified tells stories that are pages or chapters long. Were there a third volume in the series, it might be a "how-to" manual, as neither of these two provides all a practitioner would seek. On the other hand, Cityteam and others offer seminars, classes and personal coaching.
» Purchase The Father Glorified from Amazon (or elsewhere) for US$11.21, US$9.99 for the Kindle edition.
AUDIO: Recordings from The Gospel Coalition
Source: The Gospel Coalition
Fan of The Gospel Coalition? Maybe you'd like to download audio and video recordings of their 2013 national conference to listen to on your commute or next road trip. They're online and free.
» David Platt's take on why the Great Commission is great
» D.A. Carson on the biblical basis for mission
» John Piper on the heart of God in the call to proclaim
...and lots more.
ARTICLE: Is This the Team for Me?
Source: Catalyst Services
» See also the May edition, Tap into Mobilizer Expertise (PDF), which illustrates how local churches can benefit from the skills of mission agency representatives nearby.
BOOKS: Insight on World Religions
Sources: Bethany House, CrossBooks, and P&R Publishing
Three books published in 2013 have come our way in recent months (e.g., free copies from the publishers!) Would any of these interest you as well?
What Every Christian Needs to Know about the Qur'an, by James R. White. Bethany House, 2013. 320 pages.
This book, published in May, focuses on what Islam's sacred texts teach about the key areas of conflict between Islam and Christianity, including Christ, salvation, the Trinity, and the afterlife. The author is the director of Alpha and Omega Ministries, a Christian apologetics organization. He writes with purpose, clarity, and confidence. See the Amazon reviews for praise and helpful analysis.
True Jihad: Winning the Battle for Muslims, by Mark S. Pfeiffer. CrossBooks, 2013. 130 pages.
This book, published in March, provides a brief but readable introduction to Islam's history, central teachings, and contemporary issues, along with some helpful advice on building relationships and answering Muslims' concerns. The author attempts to provide a balanced, respectful path for Christians to relate with Muslims and share the gospel with them. Pfeiffer directs the Christian Institute of Islamic Studies at Baptist University of the Americas. Learn more at the book's website.
Christianity and World Religions: An Introduction to the World's Ma..., by Derek Cooper. P&R Publishing, 2013. 215 pages.
This one is designed to offer students (and other readers) a guided tour of six "rival stories" of the world: Hinduism ("the story of diversity and devotion"), Buddhism ("the story of enlightenment"), Confucianism and Daoism ("the stories of order and nature"), Judaism ("the story of tradition and identity"), and Islam ("the story of submission"). It also describes the range of Christian responses to these stories. The author is a professor at Biblical Seminary in Pennsylvania, where he specializes in history and world religions.
EVENT: Praying for the Muslim World
Source: 30-Days Prayer Network
30-Days of Prayer is an international movement of intercession for the Muslim world. It coincides with the Ramadan fast - this year July 9 to August 7. If you haven't already acquired materials and made plans for how you will participate, now's the time.
Each year a new illustrated prayer guide booklet is published in dozens of languages and locations around the world. The booklet contains daily reading pages with prayer points, informative background articles, and resources for further study and involvement.
Order the full-color, 56-page North American edition for US$3.00 (bulk discounts and children's versions also available). Me, I plan to pray through the email edition; sign up here.This year another prayer campaign is happening at the same time: Open Doors is calling for 30 days of prayer for persecuted Christians. Will you do both?
» Have any plans for creative prayer or outreach during this season? Comment on this item (or any other) on the Missions Catalyst website.
EVENTS: Upcoming Training, Retreats, and Conferences
Source: Missions Catalyst Calendar
July 2013
July 8 to August 2, Strategic Institute for Muslim Studies(Boulder, CO, USA). Provided by Horizons International.
July 9 to August 7, 30 Days of Prayer for the Muslim World(global). Join the millions of Christians around the world who have participated in this largest ongoing international prayer focus on the Muslim world.
July 20-27, The New Wilmington Mission Conference (Western Pennsylvania, USA). Week-long multi-generational mission conference with a focus on youth 12-24. A tradition for more than 100 years.
July 21-26, ReBoot (Kitchener, ON, Canada). For missionary kids who have completed their high school education overseas and are transitioning to life in Canada.
July 22-26, LeaderLink (Bangalore, India). Five-day workshop-based leadership training program for missionaries. Provided by MissioNexus.
July 26-26, North America Refugee Roundtable (Vancouver, BC, Canada). Provided by the Refugee Highway Partnership.
August 2013
August 1-3, Connext Conference (Chicago, IL, USA). National Leadership Conference For South Asian Christian leaders.
August 1-3, All-Africa Tentmaking Conference (Dar Es Salam, Tanzania). Provided by Global Opportunities.
August 4-10, Perspectives on the World Christian Movement Leader's Intensive Class (Pittsburgh, PA, USA).
August 5-13, MK/TCK Re-Entry Retreat (Gaston, SC, USA). Retreat designed for teens transitioning to college from missionary families.
August 8-10, 7th Annual Christian Storytelling Conference(Peoria, IL, USA). Provided by the Christian Storytelling Network.
August 20-21, Personal Support Raising Bootcamp (Albany, NY, USA). Provided by Support Raising Solutions.
About Us
Missions Catalyst
is a free, weekly electronic digest of mission news and resources designed to inspire and equip Christians worldwide for global ministry.
Use it to fuel your prayers, find tips and opportunities, and stay in touch with how God is building his kingdom all over the world. Please forward it freely!
Questions, comments, submissions? Contact publisher and managing editor Marti Wade.
About us
Events calendar
Subscribe to emails
Get RSS feed
Make a donation
Marti Wade is a writer, speaker, and project manager for the Church Partnerships Team at Pioneers. As a mission mobilizer, she has also trained and sent out many short-term teams to do relationship-based research to serve among the world's least-reached peoples.
Marti has managed and published Missions Catalyst since 2004 and is the author of Through Her Eyes, a book about the lives of women serving cross-culturally in the Muslim world. She and her husband Chris live in Oregon.
SIERRA LEONE: Violence Erupts at Orthodox Mission Run by Former Australian Rock Star
Source: ASSIST News, June 29, 2013
A revolt broke out recently against the clergy and mission staff at Waterloo Mission in Freetown, Sierra Leone, which is run by a former Australia rock star who once toured with the Rolling Stones.
Themi Adams, who left the rock world and now heads the [Greek] Orthodox mission in the trouble-torn West African country of Sierra Leone, is accustomed to adversity, and understands very well what could [be] fueling the passion for hostility.
"This community that we are assisting is caught between two ideologies," said Brother Themi. "They oscillate between peace and violence according to the situation at hand and who is their leader."
"People do what they know to survive," said Themi. "If they know 'bad things' they will do them. This is what we are here for: to help and get them back on track. And, at times, this can be to our own detriment."
"There is a tendency to romanticize missionary endeavors. The Orthodox Church and its priests, many here believe are living comfortable lives, but the truth, however, is that the Orthodox Church in Africa is at the frontier, regularly facing life-threatening situations for the sake of the Gospel of Jesus Christ."
Adams says that, since his move to Sierra Leone, his life has been "imminent danger" on at least 50 occasions, but added, "My escape each time was due solely to the grace of God."
» Read full story. You might also be interested in watching a 2012 video interview with Brother Themi in which he describes his journey "from rock star to reverend" (Vimeo video, InFocus).
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: New, Modern Bible Translation
Source: United Bible Societies, June 28, 2013
Sunday, June 30 [saw] the dedication of the modern translation of the Sango Bible in Bangui, capital of the Central African Republic, three months later than planned due to the coup that ousted the country's president in March.
The country has been wracked by political instability over the last 50 years, leaving both economic and social scars. It is one of the least developed countries in the world and its communities are deeply divided.
Today, around half of its five million people are Christians, while 35 percent hold indigenous beliefs and 15 percent are Muslims. French is the official language, but the lingua franca is Sango (or Sangho).
The first Sango Bible was translated by missionaries and published in 1966. Nearly 15 years later the churches felt the need for a completely new translation using modern Sango [and] taking an easier to understand approach.
"God gave us the Bible to transform us, not just to inform us," says Bible Society General Secretary Sylvain Ndjendolé. "His Word should transform our heart and not only our intellect."
His prayer, and that of many others in the country, is that this translation of the Bible will help people understand more clearly than ever before the Bible's teaching on forgiveness, reconciliation, peace, unity, and treating others with love and respect. Please join them in this prayer.
» Read full story.
» See how the book of Luke in the Chrambo language transformed hearts in Cameroon, enabling them to forgive those who burned their village (YouTube video, Wycliffe Bible Translators) and read about another new African Bible translation, this one in Yoruba (Mission Network News).
VIETNAM: Rare Religious Rights Success
Source: Morning Star News, June 27, 2013
Vietnamese authorities in Kontum Province this month resettled four severely persecuted ethnic Sedang Christian families on new land not far from where their homes and farms had been destroyed last February. This is a rare, positive government response to persecution and an important step in the struggle for religious liberty, if it becomes a precedent.
In mid-February, five Sedang minority families who had become Christians about a year earlier suffered nightly raids on their homes and fields by local people, animists who strongly opposed their conversion and tried to force them to recant Christianity.
First their personal and household possessions were wantonly destroyed; next their houses were damaged beyond use; finally, thousands of coffee plants and fruit trees in their fields, ready to yield crops, were cut down and destroyed. During the raids, some members of the families were beaten, and all were terrorized and forced to flee into the forest under threat of death. Four of the five families, 19 people in all, took refuge in the home of a Christian pastor and his wife.
» Read full story.
NEPAL: Tibetan Mother Believes, But Cannot Count Herself a Christian
Source: Asia Stories, June 23, 2013
Chiijik Lhomi has never been a big fan of Christians. Everyone in her community knows it. The 51-year-old woman - who makes and sells rice beer for a living - once loved to poke fun at those who believe in Jesus.
"Then my lost daughter was found," says Chiijik, whose last name indicates the name of her ethnic Tibetan people group [the Lhomi]. "After that, I started to believe just a little bit."
That was nearly eight years ago, and in spite of two miraculous healings in her village and countless conversations with other Christians - including Sonam, her runaway daughter who was "found" - Chiijik still isn't quite sure what it means to be free from sin.
"I believe in my heart about Jesus," Chiijik says. "But I cannot be baptized."
A Southern Baptist worker in Kathmandu believes that Chiijik doesn't want to be baptized because she feels guilty for persecuting those who shared Jesus with her in the past.
"Even though she insists that she believes in Jesus in her heart and is telling her friends and neighbors that Jesus is the one true God, Chiijik does not count herself among the Christians in the community."
It is difficult for 21-year-old Sonam, now a vibrant, growing Christian, who so badly wants her mother to follow Jesus.
Then a few months ago, Sonam had a dream.
"I had a dream that my mother was sick. I saw my mom's face and [I knew] she was going to die. I started to cry," Sonam recalls. "Then [another Christian] said, 'Why are you crying? Why did you not share with your mom? Now she is going to die.'"
Although Sonam had accompanied countless Christians over the years who had shared their faith with Chiijik, her dream made her realize she had acted only as translator.
"I had never shared Jesus with my mom from my own mouth," Sonam says. "I knew I needed to share with her."
» Read full story, then take the Buddhism quiz.
» Has Chiijik, like many Tibetans in Nepal, learned to live with two identities? Read Tibetan Refugees Crying Out For Documentation (IRIN).
Quotable
Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge. Surely the lowborn are but a breath, the highborn are but a lie. If weighed on a balance, they are nothing; together they are only a breath. Do not trust in extortion or put vain hope in stolen goods; though your riches increase, do not set your heart on them. One thing God has spoken, two things I have heard: Power belongs to you, God, and with you, Lord, is unfailing love; and, You reward everyone according to what they have done.
Psalm 62:8-12
About Us
Missions Catalyst
is a free, weekly electronic digest of mission news and resources designed to inspire and equip Christians worldwide for global ministry.
Use it to fuel your prayers, find tips and opportunities, and stay in touch with how God is building his kingdom all over the world. Please forward it freely!
Questions, comments, submissions? Contact publisher and managing editor Marti Wade.
Events calendar
Subscribe to emails
Get RSS feed
Make a donation
Pat Noble has been the "news sleuth" for Missions Catalyst since 2004. In addition to churning out the news, she is working to create a SWARM (Serving World A Regional Mobilizers) in Northern New York using the NorthernChristian.org website. You can connect with her at www.flavors.me/patnoble.
By Shane Bennett
What has the greatest potential to impact the future of the Church in the U.S. and beyond? A global prayer movement? Nope. A renewed emphasis on the Bible? Uh uh. A radical re-commitment to Anabaptist orthopraxy? Well maybe, but that's not what I'm thinking. Nothing has the potential to kill a church or unleash the kingdom of God there like a short-term mission report!
OK, that's over the top, but delivered winsomely, a good report can release resources, volunteers, and mounds of good will. A bad report can shut off the flow of Niagara Falls! No one wants to have to confess, "Yes, First Church used to be mighty in missions until I reported on my mission trip to Mexico. Apparently at the next deacons meeting, they whited out 'missions' and penciled in "'new carpet.'"
So what can we do? Of course, if you don't give a report, you can't really mess it up! But you also miss the serious potential of involving others in your experience. Here are seven steps to giving an excellent report, one that will make people glad they showed up to hear you and maybe even want to go with you next time.
1. Think about it.
You might think this would go without saying, but not in my case! I regularly forget to plan ahead for a solid report to a team's sending church. And like you, I've sat through far too many reports from both teams and individuals which were apparently being thought up on the spot. If you're with me on planning ahead, keep these things in mind:
a. Design the right activities for the right venue.
A video or photos set to a favorite song will pair well with one or two brief testimonies. If you're spending an evening with a small group and have the whole time, longer stories with questions and answers can be really effective.
b. Consider who will talk and who will not.
I'll concede there might be some ethereal benefit to everyone sharing what's on their heart. But my pragmatic side says choose the right people to talk. This does not mean choose the cutest or most articulate, but it does imply some prayer and thought. Team members have different skills. Just because someone can't speak well in front of the church doesn't mean they lack value. But it does mean they can't speak well in front of the church.
c. Make sure you how much time is allotted for your report.
Discuss with the pastor, leader, matriarch of the Women's Missionary Union, or whoever your host may be. Out of consideration to the rest of us who may someday give a report or have to sit through yours, please honor the time constraints. Years of relational cultivation can be mowed down in the 30 seconds it takes to ask, "Can I have just five more minutes to share this story God has placed on my heart?"
And while we're on the subject of time...
2. You need less time than you think.
You've heard it before: It's better to leave people wanting more, rather than talk so long they want to stick needles in their eyes. (At least I think that's how the saying goes!) Five minutes used well, with opportunities for follow up, is sufficient. I think it may also be a sweet spot, time-wise, for pastors. Better yet, ask for seven minutes and only use five!
3. Center on God.
Remember that you stepped into what God was already doing, and even though you came home, he's still at work in your host city. It's almost always best to talk about what you saw God up to there and what you sense him doing in your own life.
This will save you from the cardinal sin of mission trip reporting: scolding the people you're reporting to. Unless God has clearly wrapped Elijah's mantle around your shoulders, let the Holy Spirit do the convicting. Christians in most churches have had their fair share and more of young bucks, fresh fromeight whole days in another country, telling them how they don't really put the Gospel into action.
Talk up God; don't talk down your church. (Feel free to tweet that!)
4. Connect with personal stories.
Most of us resonate with stories, and it's hard to argue with "This happened to me." If you share stories in which you goof up a bit but God works things out to his benefit anyway, all the better. In fact, since you're likely not a pro, take advantage of your amateur status to invite other amateurs to identify with you.
In the process of telling your story, take care not to extrapolate your anecdote to a broad principle it can't support. Siddiq declining your offer of tea doesn't mean "Muslims prefer coffee." In fact, we do well to exercise extreme caution in our evaluation of the people we interact with in a cross-cultural context. Chances are good that we don't really understand most of what we see. Share what happened, but hesitate to interpret it.
5. Provide tangible takeaways.
Extend the connection by passing out a well-designed card that says thank you, shows a great shot of your team or your host people, and gives some pointers for further prayer. Provide a point of connection and maybe the dates of future trips your church will be taking. Some people will keep this, and the Holy Spirit will use it to encourage them to take further action, even to sign up to go on the next trip.
In addition to a card or other reminder, give one clear action step. Invite people to pray, sign up for your newsletter, learn more about your host city, or go with you next year. Some people in the audience will be eager to respond. Give them a way to do that.
6. Make the tech excellent.
Excellent Tech 101: Make sure whoever speaks is adequately amplified. Do a mic check! Train the speaker to use the mic well, then make sure they do. Though many people are reluctant or embarrassed to use a microphone, do it anyway. Deaf Aunt Lou will thank you!
Given the tech that many of us carry around in our pockets, don't settle for less than really good. Choose great photos; delete low-quality ones. Even better is a one-minute video put together in the host city. It's pretty cool when someone from there says on screen, "We're glad your people were here."
7. Allay fear at the outset.
Many people in church get nervous when an amateur gets the microphone. "Who knows how long or bad this is going to be?" Allay fears by laying out the parameters: "I have three minutes" or "I'll make two comments and show you a four-minute video."
Another way to help people feel confident from the start is to have your pastor or some other trusted person interview you and the team. This keeps them in charge and helps the rest of everyone think, "Okay, this is going to be alright." Then your excellent, brief, relevant, and encouraging report simply blows them away!
Three bonus steps
Up your odds of success by considering these three steps:
8. Avoid jargon and foreign words.
Unless you're teaching someone a specific phrase, don't use words that less than 90% of your crowd knows. If you're teaching a phrase, make sure it's relevant. "Hello" in Arabic or Mandarin: Yes. The name of an obscure healing herb in the Amazon: Maybe not.
9. Express gratitude if your audience prayed or gave money.
Heck, express gratitude that they're listening to you. You can hardly go wrong with a heartfelt thank you.
10. Finally, don't talk poorly of the people you visited or their religion.
Take great care not to mock them. While you're at it, don't say "them" more than once.
Conclusion
Well, readers, what do you think? Disagree with anything on this list? What would you add to it? Please comment on our website with your embarrassing story or lesson learned, or a link to your excellent video or presentation tool.
If it would help, I'd be happy to think through your report plan with you. Just send me an email.
In the meantime, please forward this to short-term trippers you know and to churches who have teams out this summer. People you'll never know will thank you!
Seven Deadly Debriefing Debacles
Vision Variance: When God Says, "Go" but Your Spouse Says, "Whoa!"
About Us
Missions Catalyst
is a free, weekly electronic digest of mission news and resources designed to inspire and equip Christians worldwide for global ministry.
Use it to fuel your prayers, find tips and opportunities, and stay in touch with how God is building his kingdom all over the world. Please forward it freely!
Questions, comments, submissions? Contact publisher and managing editor Marti Wade.
About us
Events calendar
Subscribe to emails
Get RSS feed
Make a donation
Shane Bennett writes and speaks for a great organization calledFrontiers. Lately he's wondering about how Muslim immigrants in Europe might fully experience God's blessing.
He's also working with some buds to leverage a $49 a month smart phone plan to raise a ton of money for cross-cultural workers. Email him for info on the plan or the vision.
LESOTHO: Reaching the Shepherds
Source: Mission Network News, July 4, 2013
Lesotho's shepherds spend weeks at a time in difficult conditions in the highlands, tending their employer's flocks of sheep and goats and spending their nights in simple rock shelters. It's a job that keeps them isolated and marginalized.
Africa Inland Mission (AIM) is trusting God to bring together a team of eight single young men to live among these least-reached shepherds and introduce them to Christ. The project is part of AIM's Training in Ministry Outreach program.
"I believe that the shepherd community of Lesotho offers extraordinary opportunities for incarnational witness," says AIM missionary John Barry, who has served among them. "While conditions are difficult, and the population density very low, relationships [among shepherds] are intense. I think this offers the perfect opportunity for genuine discipleship."
» Read the full story, and watch the beautiful five-minute videoSet Apart. See also two previous AIM reports, The Shepherds of Lesotho and The Shepherd Evangelists.
NIGERIA: Extremists Retaliate
Source: Baptist Press, July 3, 2013
Thousands have fled their homes in northern Nigeria amid Islamic extremist attacks on Christians, partly in retaliation for the government's state of emergency and the destruction of extremist bases.
The violence was attributed to ethnic Fulani Muslims and to the Islamic extremist group Boko Haram, indicating the latter has regrouped and retaliated against Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan's state of emergency and corresponding destruction in May of Boko Haram bases in the Sambisa Games Reserve in Borno.
Boko Haram is blamed for killing pastor Jacob Kwiza and attacking five Christian communities in Borno's Mandara Hills area, Morning Star News reported. Fulani Muslims are blamed for killing Toma Vongjen, a Christian in the Wase area of Plateau State, and destroying church buildings in four villages there, the persecution monitor reported.
The thousands who fled their homes had been warned by Boko Haram to flee within a week or face death, area Christians said, the Associated Press reported.
Dinfa Lambda, a pastor in Jos, told Morning Star News whole villages have been displaced in northern Nigeria and that Christian fellowship and evangelistic outreach efforts are no longer possible.
"There are Christian villages that have been completely wiped out by these Muslim terrorists," Lambda was quoted as saying.
» Read full story, as well as another Baptist Press story making the case that Nigerian Islamic Terrorism Transcends Religion.
» See also, Boko Haram Begs for Forgiveness, Signs Ceasefire Deal (Vanguard News) and Why Nigeria Matters (Julian Linnell, Anglican Frontier Missions).
EGYPT: Momentous Days
Source: United Bible Societies, July 5, 2013
Ramez Atallah, General Secretary of the Bible Society of Egypt, asks for prayer during "these momentous days."
"The real picture of what happened during the demonstrations is radically different from what you imagine. More than 17 million people across the country participated (the largest turnout in our history and possibly a world record, too), but it was mostly peaceful, despite the numbers involved. As I and my family walked through the crowds of people - old, young, men, and women - we felt proud to be Egyptians and to be united with so many of our countrymen - both Christians and Muslims. It was exhilarating to see people's enthusiasm and love for our great nation.
"It was when Egyptians realized that they could not depend on foreign powers to resolve their crisis that a small group of young people started this grassroots movement designed to force the president's resignation. The fact that this is truly a movement by and for the people was reflected in the sheer numbers who took part in the protests.
"So rejoice with us for the remarkable events taking place in our country. Pray that the unprecedented unity expressed between all Egyptians who reject the forceful imposition of political Islam will result in a new Egypt where people with different persuasions can live alongside one another in harmony. This is the Egypt I remember from my youth and the Egypt most people yearn for."
» Read full story.
» See also: Christians and Muslims Come Together to Share Ramadan Meal in Egypt (Christian Post).
PAKISTAN: Discriminating against the Ahmadis
Source: ASSIST News, July 12, 2013
"Whom did you cast your vote for?" I asked my tailor, a hardworking man in his early forties who works in his shop in a peaceful locality in Lahore where I have been living for the last 23 years. He stared at me and replied [with anguish], "No one. Our leader told us not to, because we have no rights in the country and we are treated like animals."
He caught my confusion and added, "I'm an Ahmadi. You might have heard about us?" The hurt on his face left me speechless. It was the first time he revealed his identity, confiding in me knowing well I am a Christian [and therefore also] a minority in Pakistan.
Pakistan is the home to the largest population of Ahmadis in the world and in 1974 became the first and only state to declare Ahmadis "non-Muslims." In 1984 the Pakistan military dictator further issued an ordinance of imprisoning those Ahmadis calling themselves Muslims, using public prayer rooms, or using traditional Islamic greetings in public.
» Read full story.» See also: Pakistan's Ahmadis Face Rising Persecution, Violence (Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty).
BELARUS: Christian Who Runs Homeless Shelter Facing Jail
Source: Barnabas Fund, July 8, 2013
A young Christian man who has turned his home in Belarus into a shelter for the homeless is facing up to two years' imprisonment after being accused of leading an unregistered religious organization.
Aleksei Shchedrov, 28, is being investigated on criminal charges following police raids on the shelter in the village of Aleksandrovka, Grodno Region, in February and April.
The authorities have taken issue with a prayer room, which is used by residents and local villagers, at the site, but Aleksei insists that he is running a charity, not a religious organization.
He said, "I am a Christian and I help those who are in need. I give them food, a bed, a bath, and clothes, and I pray together with them."
Aleksei set up the shelter in December 2011 and estimates that he has since helped almost 100 people.
He is being investigated under Criminal Code Article 193-1, which punishes "organization of or participation in activity by an unregistered political party, foundation, civil, or religious organization." Violators face a fine or up to two years' imprisonment.
» Read full story.
About Us
Missions Catalyst
is a free, weekly electronic digest of mission news and resources designed to inspire and equip Christians worldwide for global ministry.
Use it to fuel your prayers, find tips and opportunities, and stay in touch with how God is building his kingdom all over the world. Please forward it freely!
Questions, comments, submissions? Contact publisher and managing editor Marti Wade.
Events calendar
Subscribe to emails
Get RSS feed
Make a donation
Quotable
"The man who mobilizes the Christian church to pray will make the greatest contribution to world evangelization in history."
Andrew Murray
Pat Noble has been the "news sleuth" for Missions Catalyst since 2004. In addition to churning out the news, she is working to create a SWARM (Serving World A Regional Mobilizers) in Northern New York using the NorthernChristian.org website. You can connect with her at www.flavors.me/patnoble.
Questions, comments on anything here? Share them on our website.
Source: Thomas Nelson
Pressure Points: Twelve Global Issues Shaping the Face of the Church, by J.D. Payne. Thomas Nelson: 2013. 194 pages.Pastor, professor, and author J.D. Payne's new book explores twelve of the most significant global issues facing the church in our day. "This message is not intended to cause fear or fill the Church with a sense of depression and gloom," says Payne. "While each of today's critical issues poses numerous challenges to the advancement of the gospel, I write this work with a positive tone, believing that some of the greatest days for Kingdom advancement are still to come."
Get a good taste of how he sees the issues by following the links below to a series on Payne's blog, Missiologically Thinking.
The Church and the Pressures of the Age
Pressure Point #1 Unreached Peoples
Pressure Point #2 The West as a Mission Field
Pressure Point #3 Growth of the Majority World Church
Pressure Point #4 Pluralism and the Plurality of Faiths
Pressure Point #5 International Migration
Pressure Point #6 Globalization
Pressure Point #7 PovertyPressure Point #8 Growth of Cities
Pressure Point #9 Children and Youth
Pressure Point #10 Health Care
Pressure Point #11 Oral Learners
Pressure Point #12 Pornification of Societies
Global Engagement in a World of Pressure Points
» Buy the book for US$14.94 from Amazon (or elsewhere); US$9.99 for the Kindle edition.VIDEO: The Good Neighbor
Source: GemStone Media
Brad is carjacked, beaten, and left for dead on a lonely stretch of highway. Late at night, in the middle of nowhere, who will drive by? Will anyone stop to help?
The Good Neighbor is a modern retelling of Luke 10:25-37 ("The Good Samaritan"). The free, 20-minute video raises questions about what our obligation is to strangers in need. Use it as a resource with your church or Bible study group.
» Watch The Good Neighbor (or the one-minute trailer).
ARTICLES: Mission Frontiers
Source: Mission Frontiers
"The work God is doing today among Muslims is so historic and unprecedented that I wonder if any of us can truly comprehend it. Never before in the 1,400 years since the death of Muhammad have we seen so many Muslims coming to faith in Jesus as their Savior and Lord." So writes editor Rick Wood in his introduction to the latest edition of Mission Frontiers.
The lead article, David Garrison's God Is Doing Something Historic, reports that in the first thirteen centuries of Islam's expansion, only one voluntary movement of 1,000 or more Muslims to Christ took place. In the last two decades of the twentieth century, there were eight. But as of 2012, there are at least 64 documented movements to Christ taking place among Muslims, each with more than 1,000 baptized believers and 100 churches. You'll have to wait for Garrison's new book to get the full scoop, but the excerpt in Mission Frontiers may whet your appetite.
For related articles, read Welcoming Muslim Neighbors into God's Kingdom in East Africa, by Ben Naja, Why Are Muslims Coming to Jesus Like Never Before? by Robby Butler, and A Novice's Guide to Fielding Common Muslim Objections, by our own Shane Bennett.
Readers might also be interested in several other articles, including a good piece on generosity and dependency by Jean Johnson, What Should We Do With All Our Money?
WEB SERVICE: AskaMissionary.com
Source: AskaMissionary.com
What do would-be missionaries want to know? What would you tell them? The following are among the most popular questions on AskaMissionary.com, where you'll find more than 150 questions with 500+ answers.
» Visit AskaMissionary.com. Maybe you have a good question or helpful answer to contribute. (Disclosure, I'm one of the editors!)
» Readers might also be interested in the 2010 "best of" book,Ask a Missionary: Time-Tested Answers From Those Who've Been There, edited by John McVay.
EVENTS: Upcoming Training, Retreats, and Conferences
Source: Missions Catalyst Calendar
August 1-3, Connext Conference (Chicago, IL, USA). National Leadership Conference For South Asian Christian leaders.
August 1-3, All-Africa Tentmaking Conference (Dar Es Salam, Tanzania). Provided by Global Opportunities.
August 4-10, Perspectives on the World Christian Movement Leader's Intensive Class (Pittsburgh, PA, USA).
August 5-13, MK/TCK Re-Entry Retreat (Gaston, SC, USA). Retreat designed for teens transitioning to college from missionary families.
August 8-10, 7th Annual Christian Storytelling Conference(Peoria, IL, USA). Provided by the Christian Storytelling Network.
August 20-21, Personal Support Raising Bootcamp (Albany, NY, USA). Provided by Support Raising Solutions.
September 2013
September 5-7, Missions Fest South Africa (Pretoria, South Africa). Free, community-based missions conference in the Missions Fest tradition.
September 7, Bridges Seminar (Santa Barbara, CA, USA). A training event to help Christians connect with Muslims, provided by Crescent Project (similar events listed below and on website.)
September 9 to November 25, Encountering the World of Islam(online). Twelve-week course will help you discover God's heart for Muslims.September 14, Bridges Seminar (Fort Wayne, IN, USA).
September 16-19, Annual Conference for Oral Communicators(St. Louis, MO, USA). From the International Orality Network.
September 18-19, International Society for Frontier Missiology Annual Meeting (Dallas, TX, USA). This year's theme: Global peoples: gates, bridges, and connections across the frontiers.
September 19-21, North America Mission Leaders Conference(Dallas, TX, USA). Provided by MissioNexus.
September 21-27, Traction Conference for Men (Wilderswil, Switzerland). For men who serve in cross-cultural settings.
September 22 - Bridges Seminar (West Lafayette, IN, USA).
About Us
Missions Catalyst
is a free, weekly electronic digest of mission news and resources designed to inspire and equip Christians worldwide for global ministry.
Use it to fuel your prayers, find tips and opportunities, and stay in touch with how God is building his kingdom all over the world. Please forward it freely!
Questions, comments, submissions? Contact publisher and managing editor Marti Wade.
About us
Events calendar
Subscribe to emails
Get RSS feed
Make a donation
Marti Wade is a writer, speaker, and project manager for the Church Partnerships Team at Pioneers. As a mission mobilizer, she has also trained and sent out many short-term teams to do relationship-based research to serve among the world's least-reached peoples.
Marti has managed and published Missions Catalyst since 2004 and is the author of Through Her Eyes, a book about the lives of women serving cross-culturally in the Muslim world. She and her husband Chris live in Oregon.
Questions, comments on anything here? Share them on our website.
Source: Thomas Nelson
Pressure Points: Twelve Global Issues Shaping the Face of the Church, by J.D. Payne. Thomas Nelson: 2013. 194 pages.Pastor, professor, and author J.D. Payne's new book explores twelve of the most significant global issues facing the church in our day. "This message is not intended to cause fear or fill the Church with a sense of depression and gloom," says Payne. "While each of today's critical issues poses numerous challenges to the advancement of the gospel, I write this work with a positive tone, believing that some of the greatest days for Kingdom advancement are still to come."
Get a good taste of how he sees the issues by following the links below to a series on Payne's blog, Missiologically Thinking.
The Church and the Pressures of the Age
Pressure Point #1 Unreached Peoples
Pressure Point #2 The West as a Mission Field
Pressure Point #3 Growth of the Majority World Church
Pressure Point #4 Pluralism and the Plurality of Faiths
Pressure Point #5 International Migration
Pressure Point #6 Globalization
Pressure Point #7 PovertyPressure Point #8 Growth of Cities
Pressure Point #9 Children and Youth
Pressure Point #10 Health Care
Pressure Point #11 Oral Learners
Pressure Point #12 Pornification of Societies
Global Engagement in a World of Pressure Points
» Buy the book for US$14.94 from Amazon (or elsewhere); US$9.99 for the Kindle edition.VIDEO: The Good Neighbor
Source: GemStone Media
Brad is carjacked, beaten, and left for dead on a lonely stretch of highway. Late at night, in the middle of nowhere, who will drive by? Will anyone stop to help?
The Good Neighbor is a modern retelling of Luke 10:25-37 ("The Good Samaritan"). The free, 20-minute video raises questions about what our obligation is to strangers in need. Use it as a resource with your church or Bible study group.
» Watch The Good Neighbor (or the one-minute trailer).
ARTICLES: Mission Frontiers
Source: Mission Frontiers
"The work God is doing today among Muslims is so historic and unprecedented that I wonder if any of us can truly comprehend it. Never before in the 1,400 years since the death of Muhammad have we seen so many Muslims coming to faith in Jesus as their Savior and Lord." So writes editor Rick Wood in his introduction to the latest edition of Mission Frontiers.
The lead article, David Garrison's God Is Doing Something Historic, reports that in the first thirteen centuries of Islam's expansion, only one voluntary movement of 1,000 or more Muslims to Christ took place. In the last two decades of the twentieth century, there were eight. But as of 2012, there are at least 64 documented movements to Christ taking place among Muslims, each with more than 1,000 baptized believers and 100 churches. You'll have to wait for Garrison's new book to get the full scoop, but the excerpt in Mission Frontiers may whet your appetite.
For related articles, read Welcoming Muslim Neighbors into God's Kingdom in East Africa, by Ben Naja, Why Are Muslims Coming to Jesus Like Never Before? by Robby Butler, and A Novice's Guide to Fielding Common Muslim Objections, by our own Shane Bennett.
Readers might also be interested in several other articles, including a good piece on generosity and dependency by Jean Johnson, What Should We Do With All Our Money?
WEB SERVICE: AskaMissionary.com
Source: AskaMissionary.com
What do would-be missionaries want to know? What would you tell them? The following are among the most popular questions on AskaMissionary.com, where you'll find more than 150 questions with 500+ answers.
» Visit AskaMissionary.com. Maybe you have a good question or helpful answer to contribute. (Disclosure, I'm one of the editors!)
» Readers might also be interested in the 2010 "best of" book,Ask a Missionary: Time-Tested Answers From Those Who've Been There, edited by John McVay.
EVENTS: Upcoming Training, Retreats, and Conferences
Source: Missions Catalyst Calendar
August 1-3, Connext Conference (Chicago, IL, USA). National Leadership Conference For South Asian Christian leaders.
August 1-3, All-Africa Tentmaking Conference (Dar Es Salam, Tanzania). Provided by Global Opportunities.
August 4-10, Perspectives on the World Christian Movement Leader's Intensive Class (Pittsburgh, PA, USA).
August 5-13, MK/TCK Re-Entry Retreat (Gaston, SC, USA). Retreat designed for teens transitioning to college from missionary families.
August 8-10, 7th Annual Christian Storytelling Conference(Peoria, IL, USA). Provided by the Christian Storytelling Network.
August 20-21, Personal Support Raising Bootcamp (Albany, NY, USA). Provided by Support Raising Solutions.
September 2013
September 5-7, Missions Fest South Africa (Pretoria, South Africa). Free, community-based missions conference in the Missions Fest tradition.
September 7, Bridges Seminar (Santa Barbara, CA, USA). A training event to help Christians connect with Muslims, provided by Crescent Project (similar events listed below and on website.)
September 9 to November 25, Encountering the World of Islam(online). Twelve-week course will help you discover God's heart for Muslims.September 14, Bridges Seminar (Fort Wayne, IN, USA).
September 16-19, Annual Conference for Oral Communicators(St. Louis, MO, USA). From the International Orality Network.
September 18-19, International Society for Frontier Missiology Annual Meeting (Dallas, TX, USA). This year's theme: Global peoples: gates, bridges, and connections across the frontiers.
September 19-21, North America Mission Leaders Conference(Dallas, TX, USA). Provided by MissioNexus.
September 21-27, Traction Conference for Men (Wilderswil, Switzerland). For men who serve in cross-cultural settings.
September 22 - Bridges Seminar (West Lafayette, IN, USA).
About Us
Missions Catalyst
is a free, weekly electronic digest of mission news and resources designed to inspire and equip Christians worldwide for global ministry.
Use it to fuel your prayers, find tips and opportunities, and stay in touch with how God is building his kingdom all over the world. Please forward it freely!
Questions, comments, submissions? Contact publisher and managing editor Marti Wade.
About us
Events calendar
Subscribe to emails
Get RSS feed
Make a donation
Marti Wade is a writer, speaker, and project manager for the Church Partnerships Team at Pioneers. As a mission mobilizer, she has also trained and sent out many short-term teams to do relationship-based research to serve among the world's least-reached peoples.
Marti has managed and published Missions Catalyst since 2004 and is the author of Through Her Eyes, a book about the lives of women serving cross-culturally in the Muslim world. She and her husband Chris live in Oregon.
Your Chance to Change the World, One Small Blessing at a Time
By Shane Bennett
Know that feeling of futility that often accompanies tough problems and large-scale trouble? Really, what can you or I do about train crashes in Europe, young fathers dying of cancer, or the apparently growing divide of angst and animosity between Muslims and Christians?
Well, actually there is something you can do about that third one. Let me ask you this: If with little effort on your part you could contribute just a bit to growing peace between these two camps, how likely is it you'd do so? If you're thinking "less than a 20 percent chance," you can skip the rest of this brief article. It will waste your time. More than 20 percent, though, read on. What I have to suggest may help you write a few notes in the great symphony of peace God is bringing about as he extends his kingdom throughout the earth.
Here's the deal: Ramadan 2013 ends today. Today, that is, if you're reading this article on the day it dropped into your mailbox. Thank you, by the way, we appreciate it. The Muslim month of fasting is followed promptly by Eid al Fitr, an Islamic celebration about as significant for many Muslims as Christmas is for Christians.
Eid Greetings
So, just as you might get a "Merry Christmas" from the cashier at Hobby Lobby, it would be totally cool for you to wish your Muslim friends a happy Eid. An easy way to do this is by saying, "Eid Mubarak!" (EED Moo BAR ehk: eid sounds like "need" without the "n," and for mubarak, just remember the former Egyptian president!) Eid Mubarak means, believe it or not, pretty much, "happy Eid." If you're short on Muslim friends, you have my permission to say this to Muslims who are complete strangers to you! Even if it turns out they're not Muslim, they're more likely to be confused than angry.
If you have some Muslim friends for whom you'd like to do a little more, here are three fairly easy ideas:
1. Gifts
I asked my friend Ali in Saudi Arabia, who used to be an international student in my town, "If you were still a student in the U.S., what would you recommend as a good gift for a Muslim friend after Ramadan?" Ali kindly responded, "The gift will be very simple: perfume and candy or wristwatch and candy." So there you go, perfume, watch, chocolate. Bazinga! When we lived in Holland and England, I gave boxed chocolates for Eid gifts. Even sans watches and perfume, they seemed to be appreciated.
2. Cards or emails
I've put up a poster at checkthis.com that wishes a happy Eid and quotes Jesus talking about coming so that we (which presumably includes Muslims!) might have abundant life. I'd like to invite you to forward this to your Muslim friends today ortomorrow. (Really, even a few days late would be fine!)
You might also forward it to your non-Muslim friends to send to their Muslim friends.
3. Friendship
You may also want to give a gift of relationship. Say "Eid Mubarak," then invite your friend to coffee or dinner. Ask questions about Ramadan, God, and what may actually bring peace to troubled lands and souls. Open the conversation.
Conclusion
Are any of these ideas the silver bullet for peace between Muslims and Christian? No, sadly there is no silver bullet. Will these ideas cause your Muslims friends to instantly surrender their lives to Jesus? No more than saying Merry Christmas to your atheist friends will do that for them. But in doing this you extend grace. You bless. You help your heart feel about people they way Jesus does. And you will, for real, chip away at the dividing wall of hostility that presently separates many of us from most Muslims. Give it a try.
» Let me know how it goes or share your comments on this item on our website.
EVENTS: Traction Conference and the Simply Jesus Gathering
A couple of events are coming up that I want you to know about:
Traction Conference for Men
One is called Traction and is hosted by a Missions Catalyst reader, Dan. He says:
"If you're a guy who serves internationally (or you know someone who is!), please keep reading. A very special gathering called Traction is coming together near Interlaken, Switzerland, September 21-27, 2013, and men who serve internationally are being invited.
"Imagine six days in the Alps surrounded by a community of men who really understand. Imagine taking time to restore your soul, refuel your passion, and refresh your body."
» Learn more or register for Traction.
Simply Jesus Gathering
The second event is called Simply Jesus and is being pulled together by my bud Carl Medearis. I'm psyched to go because Carl's a great guy, but also because N.T. Wright is going to be there! (And my strong hope is that I can get him to play andsing some Dylan. If that happens, you don't want to miss it.)
The event, to be held November 7-9 in Denver, Colorado, is focused on the person, life, and teaching of Jesus, and it's for anyone who wants to understand more about Jesus. In the interest of full disclosure, if ten of you sign up for Simply Jesus and tell them you heard about it from me, my wife and I get to go free! I'd love to see you there.
» Learn more or register for the Simply Jesus Gathering.
» Know someone who would be interested in these events?Forward this email to them.For more events, see the Missions Catalyst events calendar.
About Us
Missions Catalyst
is a free, weekly electronic digest of mission news and resources designed to inspire and equip Christians worldwide for global ministry.
Use it to fuel your prayers, find tips and opportunities, and stay in touch with how God is building his kingdom all over the world. Please forward it freely!
Questions, comments, submissions? Contact publisher and managing editor Marti Wade.
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Shane Bennett writes and speaks for a great organization calledFrontiers. Lately he's wondering about how Muslim immigrants in Europe might fully experience God's blessing.
He's also working with some buds to leverage a $49 a month smart phone plan to raise a ton of money for cross-cultural workers. Email him for info on the plan or the vision.
CHILE: Motivation for Missions
Source: OM News, August 16, 2013
Rob Minderhoud, a worker with OM Chile involved in church mobilization, recently had the opportunity to go on a two-week trip to promote OM Chile and share about missions in the north of the country.
"Together with the leader of another missionary organization, we traveled more than 4,000 kilometers visiting numerous of churches, youth groups, radio stations, and taking advantage of all the opportunities God put in our path," he shared. "We stayed two to four days in every place, and by God's grace we were able to contact and get to know many pastors and people interested in missions, resulting in several church invitations to provide them with mission training."
Chile is a "Christian" country, with about 15 per cent of the 17 million inhabitants being evangelical Christians. Chileans are passionate about their faith in Jesus, and OM sees huge potential to send Chileans into missions.
"Many churches still lack vision and knowledge regardingmissions," said Rob. "But it is great to see how God is opening doors and is working in the hearts and minds of many Chilean believers."
During the trip, God also faithfully provided food and places to stay. "We experienced a lot of love through Chilean brothers and sisters," Rob said. "Some people told me they had been praying for a long time for a missionary organization to come and visit their church and share about missions."
» Read full story. See also Mixed Languages, Cultures, and Experiences, about Chileans and foreigners being trained inmissions together. (Photo above is from that story.)
HONDURAS: Paying It Forward
Source: Email from Don Rumbaugh, serving in Honduras
The students' school expenses are paid for by an initiative called "Honduras to the World" (sponsored by the Christian and Missionary Alliance's Marketplace Ministries). Upon graduation from medical school, the students will "pay forward" this sponsorship by living and working among unreached and/or unengaged people groups in Africa.
» Watch this short interview with Don Rumbaugh as he explains how God is changing Honduras from a mission field to a mission force.
» See also another story from Honduras, Ben's Kidnapping and the Power of Prayer. Be encouraged by Ben's story and pray formissing Ukrainian leader, Julia, who disappeared July 4.
GUATEMALA: Jesus Is Lord of this Country
Source: The Christian Post, August 26, 2013
The President of Guatemala, Otto Perez Molina, declared Jesus Christ as the Lord of the country last week during their first national prayer breakfast.
Leaders from government, economic, religious, and indigenous backgrounds gathered in Guatemala City to pray for their nation's peace and to have God as the center of the universe.
"Today we name Christ as Lord of Guatemala and we declare in his name that each of our generations will be generations that will live in a prosperous Guatemala," said Molina, according to Hispanic news outlet, AcontercerCristiano.net.
During the meeting, leaders were also encouraged to implement principles and values within their businesses, universities, and neighborhoods. In addition, speakers including Manuel Espina, president of Guatemala Prospera - an organization that trains national business leaders on how to foster developmental change within their community - asked leaders to embrace prayer as the sole method by which their country can succeed.
» Read full story.
SOMALIA: Internet Provides Gospel Access
Source: St. Francis Magazine, August 2013
As Christians, we confess that all human history takes place under God's sovereign control, including the advance of the gospel and the growth of Christ's church.
Seemingly unrelated or random events are actually orchestrated within God's eternal plan. The impact of gospel communication to the Somali people via the Internet is a case in point.
Somali involvement with the Internet extends back to its early days. In 1997, journalist and author Michael Maren estimated that Somalis posted more messages on the Internet than all other African nationalities combined. A conservative global estimate of Somalis with Internet access would be 3,000,000. The vast majority of Somalis in the Diaspora use the Internet daily to stay in contact with their relatives in the Horn of Africa.
Somali was one of only 11 African languages recognized by Google in 2006. At present, there are well over 300 Somali-language websites. A BBC report said, "Facebook has taken off in Somalia since Islamist militants al Shabab fled the city several months ago, loosening social restrictions and making the streets safer. New accounts have grown by 50% in the past six months, and there are now more Facebook users than estimated Internet users in Somalia, thanks to mobile phones and computer sharing."
» Read full story.
» See also an article recently posted by Joshua Project, Using Facebook to Reach an Unreached People.
NORTH AFRICA: Returning with a Message
Source: Arab World Media, August 15, 2013
About fifty years ago "Rasuul" had a vision in which he saw a dirty and beaten man with ragged clothes standing next to a woman. The woman told him, "Follow this man." Rasuul was indignant. How could he follow this man? He was unclean and not worthy of following. He didn't understand. But he recalled the words of the Qur'an - that if you don't understand something, you should ask the "people of the book."
So, when he came across an Italian missionary, he asked for a copy of the Tawrat (first five books of the Bible). While he was still averse to reading the gospels, he read the Tawrat and believed it was true.
Rasuul decided to settle in a neighboring country. His outlook on religion had changed. While he simply said he believed in the first five books of the Bible, he gave all of his children the freedom to choose their religion [and] most chose faith in Christ.
One day, when they gathered together as a family, Rasuul's daughter read Isaiah 53. As she read, Rasuul's eyes lit up as he exclaimed, "This man is the man in my vision! Who is he?" His daughter told him it was Jesus. From that day, the animosity towards the gospels and Jesus fell away, and Rasuul followed Christ.
Three years ago, Rasuul passed away, but before he died he called his children together and asked them to do something. "Our people must know the truth about Jesus," he said. "Please go and tell them about the decision I made, and the truth about Jesus."
Now, we hear that at least one of Rasuul's children is making plans to return to his homeland and share the good news with this people group. Praise God for this opportunity and pray that many would be amazed as they learn of Rasuul's faith in Christ.
» Read full story.NEPAL: 100 Days of Prayer
Source: Boudha Prayer, August 2013
In the Northwest corner of Kathmandu, Nepal, lies one of the most sacred places in the whole Tibetan Buddhist world: Boudha stupa, or Boudhanath, a place of worship for both Buddhists and Hindus. The surrounding area is home for thousands of Tibetans, exiles as well as tribal people from the Himalayan areas. Every year thousands more come to Boudha on pilgrimage - Buddhist prayer there is unceasing.
Now we are calling Christians all over the world to join in on focused prayer for Boudha and the Tibetans there. In 2013 we are setting aside 100 days of prayer. Between September 1st and December 9th we invite individuals and churches to pray with us for this area. Boudha is an important Tibetan crossroads and we believe that a movement of God in Boudha will affect the whole of the Tibetan Buddhist world.
» Email Boudha100 for more details and information about how you can pray personally, with a group, or on a prayer journey.
» See also this collection of images and an article about the holy site on a Buddhist travel site (Kechara).
About Us
Missions Catalyst
is a free, weekly electronic digest of mission news and resources designed to inspire and equip Christians worldwide for global ministry.
Use it to fuel your prayers, find tips and opportunities, and stay in touch with how God is building his kingdom all over the world. Please forward it freely!
Questions, comments, submissions? Contact publisher and managing editor Marti Wade.
Events calendar
Subscribe to emails
Get RSS feed
Make a donation
Pat Noble has been the "news sleuth" for Missions Catalyst since 2004. In addition to churning out the news, she is working to create a SWARM (Serving World A Regional Mobilizers) in Northern New York using the NorthernChristian.org website. You can connect with her at www.flavors.me/patnoble.
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