In This Issue: What Does It “Look” Like to Live by Faith, Not by Sight?
- VIDEO: A New Short from Deidox
- VIDEO: “Most Depressed City” Now “City of Hope”
- BOOK: “Ask a Missionary” Now Free to Download
- BOOK: Spiritual Warfare and Missions
- BOOK: Where There Was No Church
- BOOK: A Church’s Guide to Preparing Missionary Candidates
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!
Resource Reviews, edited by Marti Smith, are published once a month.
VIDEO: A New Short from Deidox
Alyssa invites you to explore with a teen-aged girl what it means to live by faith, not by sight. And, at less than five minutes long, it’s easy to fold into your own presentation.
>> Currently, you can watch it online for free. Downloads available at different prices depending on image quality and intended purpose.
>> See other short films from Deidox. They are excellent.
VIDEO: “Most Depressed City” Now “City of Hope”
An Appalachian Dawn is a new video from The Sentinel Group. Its story begins in what was a dark corner of rural America – Clay County, Kentucky.
“By the early 2000s, the situation was so bleak that any family that could was fleeing to greener pastures. Those who stayed behind fought a running battle with hopelessness as illicit drugs threatened to consume an entire generation.
“And then it happened. As a desperate band of believers cried, ‘Enough!’ the presence of God descended on the town of Manchester, and transformed it into the City of Hope.”
>> Two-hour documentary video available on DVD for US$22.95. Visit the Glow Torch website to see a 17-minute trailer which stands well on its own. See also the related article Manchester, City of Hope.
>> Something else that might interest you: Our friends at Delta Ministries are releasing a documentary about work in Haiti. See Unshaken Faith (HT an item in Brigada).
BOOK: “Ask a Missionary” Now Free to Download
Ask a Missionary: Time-Tested Answers from Those Who’ve Been There, edited by John McVay. Colorado Springs, CO: Authentic, 2010. 224 pages.
God says to go into all the nations, but how do you get there from here? Ask a Missionary is a very practical and comprehensive resource that will focus your call to the nations and help you determine if a missions-related ministry would be a place for you.
This started as a website and after 10 years was distilled into an excellent paperback book – still my favorite version. But now you can get the e-book for free!
>> Download 2.34 MB e-book (2.34 MB).
BOOK: Spiritual Warfare and Missions
Spiritual Warfare and Missions: The Battle for God’s Glory among the Nations, by Jerry Rankin and Ed Stetzer. Nashville: B&H Publishing, 2010. 309 pages.
“International Mission Board president Jerry Rankin and noted missiologist Ed Stetzer call out Satan’s ongoing strategy to convince Christians that the Great Commission is optional.”
I haven’t read this one yet, but it looks interesting. The Gospel Coalition published a helpful review.
>> Learn more or purchase a copy for US$19.99 from B&H.
>> Find a broad selection of books on spiritual warfare (including this one at a lower price) from WorldChristian.
BOOK: Where There Was No Church
Where There Was No Church: Postcards from Followers of Jesus in the Muslim World, edited by E.J. Martin. Learning Together Press, 2010. 218 pages.
Haven’t read this book yet either, but it’s on my list! Where There Was No Church “brings together stories that show what God is doing through his people among Muslims, and brings to life fruitful practices that have helped followers of Jesus invite Muslims to follow him, too.”
“If you work in the Muslim world or are interested in doing so in the future, you will find this an excellent resource. The principles illustrated through the stories will also be of value to anyone living among other peoples where there is no church. Questions for reflection, excellent for personal and group reflection, are included to help readers further their understanding of the concepts illustrated in each story.”
>> Learn more or order now from Learning Together Press at the introductory price of US$7.00 if you act quickly. An electronic version and bulk discounts are also available.
BOOK: A Church’s Guide to Preparing Missionary Candidates
Skills, Knowledge, Character: A Church-Based Approach to Missionary Candidate Preparation, by Greg Carter. Valparaiso, IN: Turtle River Press, 2010. 198 pages.
This manual provides a systematic approach to missionary candidate training within the context of the local church. Designed for mid-sized churches with lay-led mission programs, it provides careful documentation and lots of detail for mentoring missionaries and includes extensive resource lists and evaluation forms for each stage of preparation.
Unfortunately there’s no website for this book, but I think it’s such a helpful resource that I posted a flier with more information and a table of contents on our own site.
>> Purchase this book from Turtle River Press for US$17.00 (including shipping) by PayPal or send a check to: Turtle River Press, 153 Bedford Court, Valparaiso, IN 46383. Tel: 219.241.4426, [email protected].
Dear readers,
Just wanted to let you know that the “Appalachian Dawn” documentary we wrote about in the second item is two hours and seven minutes long. Got that info after we went to press. If you’re looking for something that explores the roots of community problems and how a work of God can overcome and/or transform them, that’s a common theme in the content from Sentinel Group. You may remember their “Transformations” videos from some years ago which have been used to sow hope around the world. Those are also available on the site.
Blessings,
Marti