In This Issue: Where else will we run?
Day: July 22, 2015
VIDEO: God Wrote a Book
Source: Desiring God
Overwhelmed by world events and the barrage of news stories, conflicting perspectives, and calls to action? “Keeping up” is part of our job at Missions Catalyst, but sometimes it all becomes too much. How glad I am that amid all the books written, resources produced, and opinions expressed, I can restore my focus through the Book that God wrote.
I’d encourage you to watch this five-minute video about knowing God through his Word. (“God wrote a book. Where else will we run?”)
» Watch the video (or click on image above).
» For more short, inspirational videos to use in presentations or share with others, check out Moving Works.
MAP: Top 40 Least-Reached Places
Source: Justin Long
“Closure” strategies in world mission are complicated by the reality that some of the world’s largest countries include both some of the least reached and most reached peoples and provinces. Breaking data down at the level of provinces, counties, or districts can help. For a visual take on the world’s least reached regions, see this map of the top 40 least-reached places. (Thanks to Bryan Nicholson at CartoMission who made the map from Justin Long’s data.) You might pray about what this information could mean for the ministry efforts you pursue or support, or how you intercede for the needs of the world.
Justin Long is also in the process of researching and publishing profiles of each of these 40 least-reached provinces in Global Church Outlook updates. These profiles or a subscription to the series (and other resources) are available for a modest donation to support the ministry.
» Readers with interest in the Muslim world or global migration may have caught recent statements about the connection between Muslim immigrants and terrorist events. Another recent post from the same source explores a troubling question that’s been raised, Should We Stop All Immigration of Muslims to the United States?
BOOK: Ministry in Guilt, Shame, and Fear Cultures
Source: The 3D Gospel
Readers may have read Roland Mueller’s slim volume on Honor and Shame, which came out in 2001, or Werner Mischke’s more extensive 2015 work on this important topic, The Global Gospel: Achieving Missional Impact in Our Multicultural World.
Recently Jayson George kindly shared with us a copy of his 2014 book describing honor and shame cultures as well as guilt-innocence and fear-power cultures. At only 80 pages, The 3D Gospel: Ministry in Guilt, Shame, and Fear Cultures is a quick read and helpful resource for anyone working cross-culturally. It provides an introduction to these three cultural types and explores how the gospel addresses each.
“Although guilt, shame, and fear are three distinct cultural outlooks, no culture can be completely characterized by only one,” says George. “These three dynamics interplay and overlap in all societies.” He encourages the reader not to neglect any of the three facets but to recognize the importance of each in order to share the gospel in a more complete way.
The author hosts the website HonorShame.com (which we’ve mentioned here previously) and will lead a Missio Nexus webinar on September 17. He has also developed an assessment tool called TheCultureTest.com. It uses 25 simple questions to help you recognize your primary culture type: guilt, shame, or fear.
» Learn more or purchase The 3D Gospel for US$5.50 (or less) from Amazon or elsewhere; the Kindle edition is US$3.99.
ARTICLES: The Middle East in Crisis
Source: Mission Frontiers
Few world news sources are lacking in articles about tensions in the Middle East, but you might find perspectives you don’t hear elsewhere in the July edition of Mission Frontiers. It tells stories about God bringing hope in the midst of darkness and the gospel going forth to the brokenhearted.
Read how ISIS is spreading the gospel, a piece about the harvest in the Middle East, two about ministry among the Yazidis, an article calling us to walk in the steps of St. Francis, and another on how to pray for the chaos and suffering in the Middle East.
EVENTS: Upcoming Classes and Conferences
Source: Missions Catalyst Events Calendar
August 2015
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 10-12, Crisis Management Seminar (Bali, Indonesia). Learn how to develop a competent security and crisis management program.
August 11, Four Things Every Friend of a Short-term Missionary Needs to Know (webinar). Provided by DELTA Ministries.
August 17-21, Kairos Course (Watkinsville, GA, USA).
August 17 to December 20, Perspectives on the World Christian Movement Course (online). Provided by the Perspectives Study Program.
August 20, CLOSE: Leading Well Across Distance and Cultures (online). Webinar from Missio Nexus.
August 20-21, Support-raising Bootcamp (Blooomfield, NJ, USA). Provided by Support Raising Solutions.
August 27, Hope in the Face of Hopelessness (online). Webinar from Missio Nexus.
September 2015
September 3-5, Missions Fest Kinshasa (Kinshasa, DRC).
September 4-5, Missions Fest Pretoria (Pretoria, South Africa).
September 7-11, ETHNE Global Gathering (South Asia). ETHNE is a global movement focused on seeing each people group reached with the Good News of Jesus Christ.
September 7-20, ORIENT (Joplin, MO, USA). Pre-departure training for cross-cultural workers provided by TRAIN International.
September 11-12, Without Borders (Houston, TX, USA). A conference for Christian women to learn how to reach Muslim women. Provided by Crescent Project.
September 14-15, Support-raising Bootcamp (Richmond, CA, USA). Provided by Support Raising Solutions.
September 14 to December 13, Encountering the World of Islam (online). Twelve-week class will help you discover God’s heart for Muslims.
September 15-21, Traction Conference for Men (Wilderswil, Switzerland). Provided by Catalyst International.
September 16, Mind the Gaps: Engaging the Church in Missionary Care (online). Webinar from Missio Nexus.
September 17, Mission in Honor-Shame Cultures (online). Webinar from Missio Nexus.
September 17-19, Field Security Seminar (Lake George, CO, USA). Skills for field staff working in dangerous environments around the world.
September 17-19, GO Equipped TENTmaking Course (Chennai, India). Provided by Global Opportunities, hosted by Tent.
September 18-20, The Journey Deepens (Jacksonville Beach, FL, USA). A weekend retreat for prospective missionaries.
September 18-20, IBAM Impact Conference (Location TBD, USA). Take the next step in business as mission.
September 24-26, “Upward” Mission Leaders Conference (Orlando, FL, USA). Provided by Missio Nexus.
September 26, Heart for Asia Conference (San Mateo, CA, USA). Join OMF’s 150th anniversary celebration.
September 29, Do Your Short-term Mission Trips Measure Up? (webinar). Provided by DELTA Ministries.
September 29 to October 3, GO Equipped TENTmaking Course (Detroit, MI, USA). Provided by Global Opportunities and Send International.
September 30 to November 25, Mobilizer Equipping School (Chiang Mai, Thailand). Provided by Student Volunteer Movement 2.