BOOK: North American Mission Handbook

Source: William Carey Library

Looking for a mission agency? Leading mission efforts at your church? Let me suggest you get your hands on a copy of this book which just came out from Missio Nexus. This edition includes not only the most extensive, up-to-date information available on more than 900 US and Canadian-based mission organizations, but also in-depth analysis on trends in North American missions.

» Learn more or purchase for US$27.99 from William Carey Library (or elsewhere). Paperback only; no electronic version.

SERVICE: Here’s Who Can Map Your Message

Source: cartoMission

Looking for maps to inform and inspire mission efforts?

The cartoMission website features custom maps with data related to religious affiliation, population, life expectantly, migration, and other topics. CartoMission has designed maps for the Center for the Study of Global Christianity at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, Operation World, Joshua Project, Every Home for Christ, the Traveling Team, and other ministries. They’re beautiful.

» Take a look, and follow cartoMission on Twitter or Facebook. Have data to map? Contact them for help communicating your vision.

CURRICULUM: Mission Mobilization for the Global Church

Source: Storyline

Looking for a study to use in awakening or equipping a small group or class for God’s global purpose? This eight-lesson study includes short articles to read, introductory videos, scripture to explore, and discussion questions to give participants perspective and excitement about God and his work around the world.

The 70-page booklet and related videos are available in Russian, Ukranian, English, and Spanish.You may recognize the topics and themes from similar resources:

  • The Bible tells one continuous story of God as a missionary God.
  • God’s people are God’s method to complete the Great Commission.
  • God has different roles for his people to play in reaching the world.
  • How ordinary people have joined God’s missionary story throughout history.
  • The difference between reached and unreached people groups and other key mission vocabulary and terms.

» Purchase the Storyline Study for US$11.99; bulk discounts available. Get a taste by watching the videos.

» The Storyline Podcast features interviews with mission leaders focused on raising up a globalized work force. You can also find Storyline on social media channels and follow their blog.

RESOURCE ROUNDUP: Seen Around the Internet

Sources: Various

1. Missionary care: Got people serving internationally? Almost every Friday the missionary-care ministry Paracletos publishes a curated list of links to articles, events, and other resources related to missionary care. Read the latest and subscribe or follow social media streams for more.

3. Crossing cultures: Taking a team overseas? Read about Demon Possession, Missions, and the Power of Jesus’ Name. Want to be an effective cross-cultural evangelist? Try these Three Steps to Sharing the Gospel in Any Language (IMB).

3. New books: Working in or with a church? Several recent offerings are designed to help local churches engage in missions.

EVENTS: Upcoming Conferences, Courses, and More

Source: Missions Catalyst Events Calendar

November 2 to December 7, Foundations of Media Strategy (online). Mentored course on using social media for deeper conversations and disciple-making. Offered by Mission Media U.

November 2-4, Open B4T Expo (San Jose, CA, USA). Transforming nations through business; reaching the unreached to know and love Jesus.

November 2-4, Ethnic Ministries Summit (Charlotte, NC, USA). Organized by the Ethnic America Network.

November 2-4, Crescent Project National Conference (Raleigh-Durham, NC, USA).

November 3, Student ConneXion (Portland, OR, USA). Student missions conference geared towards students ages 10-20.

November 3-4, Check-IT-Out Fall 2017 Conference (Waxhaw, NC, USA). For IT professionals and students to explore using their skills in support of Bible translation.

November 4, Heart for Muslims Conference (New York City, NY, USA).

November 5, International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (global). An annual event, also observed November 12.

November 5-17, Second Language Acquisition Course (Union Mills, NC, USA). Provided by the Center for Intercultural Training.

November 6 to March 18, Perspectives on the World Christian Movement Course (online). Provided by the Perspectives Study Program.

November 8-11, Vulnerable Missions Conference (Ambridge, PA, USA). Moving beyond post-colonial dependency.

November 9-11, Global Missions Health Conference (Louisville, KY, USA). Annual event focused on medical missions.

November 10-11, The Journey Deepens (Waxhaw, NC, USA). Explore becoming a missionary. Sponsored by MissionNext.

November 13-14, Support Raising Bootcamp (Brea, CA, USA). Provided by Support Raising Solutions.

November 13-15, North American Central Asia Forum (Minneapolis, MN, USA).

November 15-16, Standards Introductory Workshop presented by Standards of Excellence in Short-term Missions (Peoria, IL, USA). A pre-conference workshop at the International Conference on Missions.

November 16, Missionary Accountability and Missionary Care (online). Webinar from Missio Nexus.

November 16-19, International Conference on Missions (Peoria, IL, USA). Conference of the Christian Church/Churches of Christ.

November 28-30, Your FOCUS on the World Coach Training (Minneapolis, MN, USA). Church mission coaching training from Catalyst Services.

December 5-7, Finishing the Task Conference (Lake Forest, CA, USA).

December 12-13, Support Raising Bootcamp (Orlando, FL, USA). Provided by Support Raising Solutions.

December 26-29, Chinese Mission Convention (Ontario, CA, USA).

» View the complete calendar. Please let us know about mistakes or omissions. For more about a specific event, though, you should contact the event organizers.

Mars, Modern Idols, and More | News Briefs

Missions-Catalyst-no-tagline_largePolyprismatic-Tiled-World-Map-800px“Without faith in Christ, where does one look for salvation? Read on. But be warned. This edition is a little odd.”

  1. EARTH: Elon Musk’s Salvation Plan for Humanity
  2. GERMANY: Six Modern Idols in the Land of the Reformation
  3. CENTRAL ASIA: “I Want to Know What I am Saying”
  4. USA: JESUS Film Project Introduces Gift Cards
  5. SOUTH ASIA: How God Is Using One Elderly Man, Serving Via Skype

Comments or questions? Let us know. Follow us on Twitter for more great content. Got this from a friend? We’d love to have you subscribe!

Greetings,

“Beat it into their heads continually,” he said. To what did Martin Luther refer? Nothing less than “the doctrine upon which the church stands or falls,” sola fide, faith alone. Five hundred years after the Reformation, the church continues to stand on this faith, and it can deliver prisoners from works-based cults (see this video or this one).

David Platt writes, “Salvation by faith alone is the best news we could possibly hear or deliver. If we lose that, we lose everything. So let us rejoice in that salvation, and let sola fide ring out from our lips in the Church and among the lost until the day when such faith finally becomes sight.”

Without faith in Christ, where does one look for salvation? Read on. But be warned. This edition is a little odd.

blessings,
Pat

EARTH: Elon Musk’s Salvation Plan for Humanity

Source: God Reports, October 3, 2017

SpaceX founder and Tesla co-founder Elon Musk is not pinning his hopes on God’s plan for a new Heaven and a new Earth.

He is offering an astonishing and remarkably detailed Plan B: to escape the confines of Earth before the apocalypse arrives, colonize Mars, and eventually move out to other planets and stellar bodies in the far reaches of our solar system.

Musk sees two paths diverging in the years ahead. “History is going to bifurcate along two directions: One path is we stay on Earth forever, and then there will be some eventual extinction event—I don’t have an immediate doomsday prophecy—but eventually … there will be some doomsday event,” he declared.

“The alternative is to become a space-faring civilization and a multi-planet species, which I hope you agree that is the right way to go.”

He delivered these remarks in a 63-minute talk, “Making Humans a Multi-planetary Species” before the 67th International Astronautical Congress in Guadalajara, Mexico on September 27.

From a secular perspective, it might be considered one of the most momentous talks in human history. The audience greeted Musk like a rock star, interrupting his remarks on numerous occasions with boisterous cheers as they began to grasp this daring plan for humanity’s future.

His plans are so detailed and so far along in the implementation, they cannot be dismissed as the wild musings of someone obsessed with sci-fi fantasy. No, Musk is well on his way to achieving his objective, bankrolled initially by contracts with NASA and his own billions.

» Read full story.

» Watch an interview on TED; Mars plan discussed at the 30-minute mark.

GERMANY: Six Modern Idols in the Land of the Reformation

Source: International Mission Board, October 9, 2017

Idol worship is alive and well in Germany, the land of the Reformation, as well as in cities across Western Europe. Often idol worship isn’t as obvious as it would be in a Buddhist temple in Thailand or Hindu temple in Kuala Lumpur, but it’s no less enslaving.

The apostle Paul described those who worship idols as having “exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and [having] worshiped and served something created instead of the Creator, who is praised forever” (Romans 1:25).

Take a walk through Frankfurt, Germany, and discover some of the idols tempting people here.

» Read full story. Unfortunately, you might recognized some of these idols. They are worshipped in many other contexts as well.

» You might appreciate the new documentary, A Return to Grace: Luther’s Life and Legacy. Or read how Africa’s “reverse missionaries” are bringing Christianity back to the United Kingdom (Quartz Africa).

CENTRAL ASIA: “I Want to Know What I am Saying”

Source: Operation Mobilization, October 7, 2017

Islam is considered part of one’s cultural identity in much of Central Asia. However, many people leave religious practice to the elderly. Often, when people turn 50, they begin searching for forgiveness of sins. For Muslims, that means going to the mosque.

Aslan’s mother was no exception. An older woman looking for spiritual peace, she had started attending a mosque and reciting Islamic prayers. But she wanted a translation of the Arabic prayers. “I am [Central Asian], and I want to know what I am saying to God,” she told a Muslim religious leader.

During that time, some relatives living in a nearby city approached Aslan’s mother. “We found a group of people who are reading, worshipping, and praying in our language. Can we go and see these people?”

The discovery of that Central Asian church transformed Aslan’s family. His mother, touched by prayer and teaching she could understand, became a believer. Over the next seven years, the rest of the family followed.

» Full story illustrates how Scripture and related literature distribution is making a difference in Central Asia.

» You might also appreciate and want to share the following articles about helping people discover God’s Word for themselves: Frontiers workers involved in a Bible discussion group explain Why We Stopped Leading; a Pioneers worker in West Africa often asks, Can I Tell You a Story?