In this issue: Grow and help others grow in relationship with God
Day: May 27, 2015
CURRICULUM: The Prayer Course
Source: Alpha International and 24/7 Prayer
Looking for something simple and practical to grow and help others grow in their relationship with God? We just came across this resource from the UK. Alpha International (creators of The Alpha Course) and 24-7 Prayer developed a free prayer course based on the Lord’s Prayer and designed to fuel discussion and deepen the prayer life of your church.
Each lesson includes a short video, leader’s guide, and questions to help small groups explore topics such as worship, intercession, dealing with disappointment, learning to listen, and spiritual warfare. The leaders say the course has been used in 104 countries in the 20 months since it began.
» Learn more or download materials. You might also check out a recent article from 24/7 about prayerwalking as part of the strategy for reaching your city.
FOR CHILDREN: New THUMB Coloring Book
Source: Weave and CMM Press
Take your kids beyond the ordinary to the amazing spectrum of peoples and cultures in the world with the newly revised THUMB Coloring Book. Every fun drawing includes a caption with a cultural fact about each of 25 vibrant people groups in South America, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. Activities will engage kids ages 4-10 in learning about these unique groups and their need to hear the life-changing gospel message of Christ.
This coloring book is built on the THUMB acrostic—a fun, easy way to remember the major non-Christian belief systems found around the world. You can teach your kids to remember and pray for people with these beliefs by using this acrostic:
- T is for Tribal
- H is for Hindu
- U is for Unreligious (or Atheist)
- M is for Muslim
- B is for Buddhist
Includes important facts about other belief systems, focused prayer points, a world map indicating where each people group lives, and suggestions for using this book with your family or church class.
» Learn more or purchase for US$3.99 from CMM Press. A digital download version, US$20, grants you a license to make as many copies as you need.
ARTICLE: When Missionaries Come to Town
Source: Catalyst Services
Brief home-assignment visits can leave missionaries and churches feeling disconnected. Real relationships require more than a quick Sunday school update and a “Moment for Missions” report in the worship service before saying goodbye for another two to four years. What’s the solution when missionaries’ time is limited?
Better planning can help churches and global workers maximize the impact of even short visits. The April edition of Postings includes suggestions for both churches and missionaries as well as a customizable planning tool to clarify goals and make the most of your days together.
» Read the article or download it as a 6-page PDF. We’d also encourage you to subscribe or browse the archives.
BOOK: A Winsome Missionary Memoir
Unbelievable: Living in the Son, by Graham Charles Bee. 2015, 310 pages.
Are you a fan of missionary biographies and autobiographies? I bring this one to you because you may not find it on your own and it’s well worth the read. Graham Bee describes his early years in Australia, later ministry in Ghana, family life, and experiences in mission agency leadership with good grace and humor.
Admittedly, this is a self-published memoir and may be of greatest interest to those who know the author, have connections with WEC International or Australia, or who have served in West Africa. Yet the book is well written, and I found the author’s sunny attitude, sensitivity to God, and thoughtful insights reminding me of Thomas Hale (author of Don’t Let the Goats Eat the Loquat Trees and others). The stories in 50 short and encouraging chapters are well chosen to interest and inspire the reader on his or her own journey of faith.
» Learn more or purchase for US$13.13 from Amazon or elsewhere.
» Looking for something to listen to on a family road trip? YWAM Publishing now offers audio versions of many of their popular biographies.
EVENT: 30 Days of Prayer for the Muslim World
Source: 30 Days Prayer
Ramadan is coming up, June 18 to July 17, and with it the annual 30 Days of Prayer for the Muslim World. Do you plan to pray? How might you mobilize others to join you?
Each year a new illustrated prayer guide booklet is published in a number of languages and locations around the world. The booklet contains daily readings that focus on various topics, people groups and geographical areas of the Islamic world. Each day’s subject focus is followed by prayer points. It also features informative background articles and resources for involvement.
» Purchase copies of the US edition from WorldChristian.com for US$3 (bulk discounts and an edition just for kids also available); a downloadable PDF is US$2.50. Excerpts from the US edition should be posted online day by day on the same website. Get material in different languages or locations from the international site.
» See also the DVD In the House of Islam, a documentary based on David Garrison’s book A Wind in the House of Islam.
EVENTS: Conferences, Training Events, and More
June
June, GoFest 2015 (across Asia, Australia). One mission mobilization event, seven cities: Singapore; Penang, Malaysia; Dili, Timor-Leste; Pontianak, Indonesia; Perth, Melbourne, and Sydney, Australia.
June 5-6, The Justice Conference (Chicago, IL, USA). Annual event to promote dialogue around justice related issues such as human trafficking, slavery, poverty, HIV/AIDS, and human rights.
June 5-13, Single Vision (Lisbon, Portugal). Renewal for single missionaries.
June 6, Disciple Making Movements Training (Plano, TX, USA). Provided by Act Beyond.
June 8 to August 30, Encountering the World of Islam (online). Twelve-week class will help you discover God’s heart for Muslims.
June 9-29, Perspectives on the World Christian Movement (Pasadena, CA, USA). Three-week intensive.
June 10, Rethinking Short-term Mission (online). Free hour-long webinar from Sixteen:Fifteen.
June 9, Mobile Ministry Training Course (online). Start of four-week class, repeated several times a year. Learn how to use mobile technology for evangelism.
June 14, World Refugee Sunday (international). Churches praying for refugees and displaced people. Some also observing this event June 21.
June 14-24, Refresh! (Grenoble, France). Retreat for cross-cultural workers. Provided by Heartstream Resources.
June 18 to July 17, 30 Days Muslim Prayer Focus (global).
June 19-21, GOFest (Bulstrode, Bucks, UK). Free, annual mission festival for all ages.
June 23-24, Support-raising Bootcamp (Lombard, IL, USA). Provided by Support Raising Solutions.
June 24 to July 4, Breathe Conference (Wilderswil, Switzerland). Ten-day retreat for renewal and encouragement for cross-cultural workers.
June 25-27, National African-American Missions Conference (Vienna, VA, USA).
June 30, Four Things Every Team Leader Should Do After a Short-term Mission Trip (webinar). Provided by DELTA Ministries.
July
July 5-15, Refresh! (Thailand). Retreat for cross-cultural workers, provided by Heartstream Resources.
July 6 to November 8 Perspectives on the World Christian Movement Course (online). Provided by the Perspectives Study Program.
July 12-17, ABIDE (Joplin, MO, USA). Re-entry and debriefing for singles, couples, and families. Provided by TRAIN International.
July 14-17, Thrive Retreat (Breckenridge, CO, USA). For North American women serving cross-culturally.
July 16-17, Disciple Making Movements Experience (Nashville, TN, USA). Hosted by Long Hollow Baptist Church.
July 18-25, New Wilmington Mission Conference (Western Pennsylvania, USA). Annual, week-long multi-generational mission conference; a tradition for more than 100 years.
July 19-25, Perspectives on the World Christian Movement (Grapevine, TX, USA). One-week intensive.
July 19 to August 7, Manarah (Detroit, MI, USA). Muslim evangelism training provided by Christar. Also offered elsewhere in Spanish.
July 22-23, Support-raising Bootcamp (Rogers, AR, USA). Provided by Support Raising Solutions.
July 28, How to Protect Yourself after a Short-term Mission Trip (webinar). Provided by DELTA Ministries.
July 26 to August 1, ReBoot Re-entry Program (Kitchener, ON, Canada). For returning missionary kids, ages 17-20, transitioning to life in Canada.
August
August 3-9, MK/TCK Re-entry Retreat (Gaston, SC, USA). Retreat designed for teens transitioning to college from missionary families.
August 8-14, ReBoot Re-entry Program (Calgary, AB, Canada). For returning missionary kids, ages 17-20, transitioning to life in Canada.
August 9-15, Perspectives on the World Christian Movement (Pittsburgh, PA, USA). One-week intensive.
August 11, Four Things Every Friend of a Short-term Missionary Needs to Know (webinar). Provided by DELTA Ministries.
August 17 to December 20, Perspectives on the World Christian Movement Course (online). Provided by the Perspectives Study Program.
August 20-21, Support-raising Bootcamp (Blooomfield, NJ, USA). Provided by Support Raising Solutions.