February 2018 – Missions Catalyst

Videos to move people’s hearts | Resource Reviews

Hi, readers!

You told us you wanted to hear more about opportunities to reach “the nations in our midst” such as refugees, immigrants, and international students. This edition includes a short video you may be able to use to help mobilize people in your church for that kind of work.

We also came across several other new videos you might be able to use in something you’re doing, and a couple of articles on reshaping your local outreach efforts. Plus, there are upcoming conferences and events. Have a look. And may the Lord guide you and provide for you as you pursue his purposes

Blessings,
Marti Wade

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VIDEO: International Students in the US

Source: International Mission Board

You may find this simple, one-minute video helpful for casting a vision for ministering to international students in the US. It’s “branded” to the IMB but looks like the sort of thing that could be used in many contexts.

» International student ministry might also be a link between your local and international ministry efforts. See Four Ways to Unite Your Local and Global Missions Strategy (TEAM International).

VIDEO: One Life

Source: AsiaLink

Here’s another new video some of you might be able to use in your own context. It challenges us to live purposeful lives, using the days and resources that God has given us for his glory. “In a world where so much time is spent watching TV and scrolling through social media, how can we use our time to make Jesus known to those around us and to the ends of the earth?”

This one is a bit guilt-driven and includes a lot of statistics (sadly without attribution), both of which might limit its use and usefulness. Maybe not, though: Tears of the Saints, a similar video from almost a decade ago, has been quite popular.

» See more from AsiaLink.

VIDEO: All Praise to God Alone

Source: SIM International

SIM has now been serving in mission around the world for 125 years, and they are celebrating with a hymn specially written for their 125th anniversary. The hymn has been translated into multiple languages to express gratitude to God for His mighty work through SIM around the globe. But again, it’s the sort of thing any of us can use to celebrate what God is doing through his church among the nations.

Below is the sing-along version in English. Nice job, SIM.

ARTICLE: Reframing our View of Poverty for Local and Global Impact

Source: Catalyst Services Postings, February 2018

Fairhaven Church in suburban Dayton, OH was a model missions church in many ways. The economically comfortable congregation supported local ministries, global missionaries, and a host of short-term teams. But people didn’t often cross the river…the Little Miami River, that is. They were the “haves” on one side of the river. The economic “have nots” lived on the other side. The mission field was overseas, and the church’s role was to pray, send missionaries, and give.

Kirk Lithander, outreach pastor at Fairhaven, knew that the congregation needed to change the way they saw others, especially the poor, but how?

» Full article explains the process and resources which helped transform Fairhaven and reshape their outreach efforts. Take a look.

» Subscribe to Postings, a free, monthly newsletter with practical articles for church mobilization and consider attending the Interchange Conference May 16-17 in Philadelphia, which will explore this topic and others.

EVENT: Billy Graham’s Funeral on Friday, March 2

Source: Billy Graham Center at Wheaton College

Many are mourning the loss of Rev. Billy Graham and celebrating all that God did through him. You may want to tune in to the live radio coverage of Rev. Billy Graham’s funeral, beginning at 12PM EST this Friday, March 2nd, available on Moody Radio and other networks as well as by livestream at billygraham.org.

» Read more.

» Many articles about Billy Graham were published in the last week. Missions Catalyst readers may especially appreciate these three:

Graham Made an Incredible Impact on World Missions (IMB)
Lausanne Movement Pays Tribute to Billy Graham
How Billy Graham Brokered World Peace between Evangelism and Social Justice (Christianity Today).

EVENTS: Upcoming Conferences and Courses

Source: Missions Catalyst Events Calendar

March 1, So What? Answering a Donor’s Toughest Question (online). Webinar from MissioNexus.

March 4-10, Perspectives Intensive (Orlando, FL, USA). Provided by Perspectives on the World Christian Movement.

March 7-10, Field Security Seminar (Lake George, CO, USA). Prepare to live, work, and travel in high-risk environments.

March 8, The Crucible of the First Term (online). Webinar from MissioNexus.

March 9-13, GO Equipped Tentmaking Course (Bergen, Norway). Hosted by Tent Norway.

March 15, Partnering with Oral Learners (online). Webinar from Missio Nexus.

March 15-17, GO Equipped Tentmaking Course (Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic). Hosted by Tent Dominica.

March 16-17, Crescent ConneXion (Portland, OR, USA). Loving your neighbor from the 10/40 Window; a Mission ConneXion event.

March 18 to April 13, Equipping for Cross-Cultural Life and Ministry (Union Mills, NC, USA). Provided by the Center for Intercultural Training.

March 23-25, Jesus to the Nations (Halifax, NS, Canada). Free, annual, community-based mission festival for all ages.

March 23-24, Check-IT-Out Spring 2018 Conference (Charlotte, NC, USA). For IT and software professionals and students on using technology in missions, particularly Bible translation.

March 26-27, Support Raising Bootcamp (Clyde, NC, USA). From Support Raising Solutions.

April 5, Honor, Shame, and the Gospel course (online). Six sessions from Mission ONE’s Werner Mischke.

April 6-7, The Journey Deepens (Portland, OR, USA). A weekend retreat for prospective missionaries.

April 8-13, ABIDE (Joplin, MO, USA). Debriefing and reentry help for returning missionaries.

April 10, OnMission 2018 (online). Free, virtual conference from Missio Nexus. Theme: partnership.

April 23-26, Thrive Retreat (Puerto Vallarta, Mexico). For North American women serving cross-culturally.

April 23 to May 6, ORIENT (Joplin, MO, USA). Missionary training.

April 26-27, Support Raising Bootcamp (Rogers, AR, USA). Provided by Support Raising Solutions.

April 30 to May 1, Standards Introductory Workshop (Phoenix, AZ, USA). Presented by Standards of Excellence in Short-term Missions (followed by International Wholistic Missions Conference in the same location).

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

Where medicine is magic | World News Briefs

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20170804HJH2436-1 A three-week-old baby recovers after surgery to correct a complication caused by a traditional cure that almost took her life. See related story below. Source: William Haun, International Mission Board.

PAKISTAN: Historic Fatwa Condemns Blasphemy Attacks

Source: Global Christian News via Barnabas Fund, February 8, 2018

The Pakistan government has unveiled a historic fatwa (religious ruling) condemning Islamic extremism and vigilante “blasphemy” attacks, in a potentially positive development for the country’s minority Christian community.

By issuing the fatwa with the support of 1,829 religious leaders—who are signatories to the document officially released on January 16—the Pakistani government is addressing extremism from a religious perspective.

The fatwa declares that terrorist activity against the state, and in particular suicide bombings, are haram (forbidden under Islamic law). It also states: “We believe that spreading sectarian hatred, armed sectarian conflict and imposition of one’s religious ideologies by force are contrary to the Shariah/teachings of Islam,” adding that there is a “religious obligation” to confront “evil” extremist ideology.

It should be noted however that “extremism” in the context of the ruling is defined as views deemed to be outside the body of mainstream Islam—this differs from typical Western definitions, which define “extremism” in relation to issues such as democracy, human rights, and freedom of religion.

The document also says it is “unacceptable in Islam” that any group “takes [the] law into its own hands, [and] declares people infidels” —a statement which is understood to refer to the country’s controversial “blasphemy” laws. Instead, the fatwa asserts that “only the State has the right to implement punishments on citizens.”

» Read full story.

» See also Ahmed’s Lawyer Beaten During Blasphemy Trial (Mission Network News). Wondering about China’s changing religious policies? Get some clues and links in Religious Regulations and the Cross (China Source).

GHANA: The Christian Ministry of Healing Where Medicine Is Magic

Source: International Mission Board, February 19, 2018

In the Mampruli language, the word for medicine also means “magic.” In this culture, anything with healing or supernatural powers is considered to be or have tiim. When westerners first showed up and offered suffering patients small white pills that relieved pain, they were called “magic.” The only word for pharmacist in the local language—tiimdaana—means the “magic guy” when translated literally. Every time I prescribe medication to patients in the local language, I have to tell them to go buy some “magic” (tiim) from the “magic guy” (tiimdaana).

West African healers often tout the fact that their cures are “all-natural.” It’s true that they know of many roots, barks, and leaves with legitimate curative properties. But in practice, mixing those ingredients into medicine is usually accompanied by a sacrifice to ancestral spirits. If the cure fails to work, it’s not seen as the fault of the local healer or the medicine but a failure of the patient or family caretaker to appease the spirits.

» Full story provides some great illustrations of what happens when cultures clash and tips for Christian doctors serving in contexts with similar traditional healing practices.

» See also Witch Doctor Pastors Selling “Miracles” Contrary to Teaching of Jesus (Global Christian News). This month the Global Prayer Digest is all about West Africa. Subscribe here.