In This Issue: Events, Websites, and More
- What’s Next for Missions Catalyst
- EVENT – World Evangelical Alliance General Assembly
- WEB SITE – Free Resources Support ‘Amazing Grace’ Film
- Help Build Missiopedia
- COMIC BOOK – Illustrated Version of ‘The Heavenly Man’
- EVENT – Retreat for Missionary Kids Heading to College in U.S.
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.
What’s Next for Missions Catalyst
Following the sudden demise of the ministry we have called home (Initiative360 having ceased operations February 13) Missions Catalyst is a bit up in the air. Looks like our web site will no longer be supported after March 1. I do believe we can come up with an alternate plan for publication and distribution without too much trouble, but as things stand, we do not yet have one!
So, we may be down for a week or two. We will be working on lining up our new technology and approach. Watch your in-box for the new-and-improved Missions Catalyst! And, if you would, keep us in your prayers.
Warmest blessings,
Marti Smith, Managing Editor
EVENT – World Evangelical Alliance General Assembly
From: Geoff Tunnicliffe, International Director, World Evangelical Alliance – February 19, 2007
The World Evangelical Alliance is pleased to announce that its next General Assembly will be held in Thailand, October 27-31, 2008. Please mark your calendar. This General Assembly comes at an important time for the global evangelical community. Much has happened in the world since the last assembly in 2001. It is critical that leaders of our national evangelical alliances, commissions, associate members, and global partners come together for training, vision building, and strategic networking. Specific details for this important gathering will be provided in the coming weeks and months.
SEE ALSO:
Missions Catalyst Events Calendar. [Note: link removed July 2009]
WEB SITE – Free Resources Support ‘Amazing Grace’ Film
From: World Evangelical Alliance – Press Release, February 11, 2007
The World Evangelical Alliance in partnership with Walden Media, is giving its full support to abolition film, “Amazing Grace: The William Wilberforce Story,” released in the United States on February 23 and scheduled for release in the United Kingdom and Canada on March 23.
In conjunction with the film’s producers, Walden Media, the WEA has launched the Amazing Grace Resource web site, which provides guides, sermons, video clips, and other tools to equip churches to impact the world for today’s global challenges.
“‘Amazing Grace: The William Wilberforce Story’ is a powerful story of how a person of faith can change the cultural and social landscape of an entire country,” said Geoff Tunnicliffe, International Director of the World Evangelical Alliance. “Every generation needs to be inspired by this remarkable story. I encourage all people, especially those of faith, to see this film. Go with your family. Go with your small group. Have your whole church attend. You will be encouraged and challenged to make a difference in the world.”
Help Build Missiopedia
From: Justin Long, Momentum Magazine – February 15, 2007
It’s been nearly seven years since the second edition of the World Christian Encyclopedia was published. My wife and I had just married when we moved to Richmond to help work on that project. We thought we’d be there for maybe a year, and we ended up there for four. That’s where I was bitten with the research bug.
The world has changed much since we started this journey (as have we). Today, we live in the age of Google, eBay, Amazon, YouTube, Yahoo, Skype, and more. We publish Momentum on the web and have over 15,000 readers around the world – with very little materials cost.
Wikipedia has proven that a reference work can be built on-line and contribute value. Can something similar be done for missions, from a mission perspective?
I have been experimenting with wikis for some time now. We’ve launched one for Momentum and are slowly migrating our back issues into that format. But we also have another site that we’ve been playing with, which we’ve opened up to the general public.
It’s called Missiopedia. For now, it’s under the Momentum web site (although we may try to get it on its own domain or connect it under the Network for Strategic Missions web site, which I help manage).
I’m writing this to invite you to take a look. See if there’s a place where you can contribute some little bit of information – perhaps a detail page on your organization, your denomination, the country you work in, or some topic you are interested in. We presently have over 230 articles, although many are essentially stubs. I am trusting that we will grow much larger!
Check it out here.
COMIC BOOK – Illustrated Version of ‘The Heavenly Man’
From: E-mail from Asia Harvest – December 4, 2006
“YUN: The Illustrated Story of ‘The Heavenly Man'”
By Brother Yun with Paul Hattaway
Since “The Heavenly Man” was first published in 2002, it has impacted the lives of hundreds of thousands of people around the world, been translated into more than 30 languages, and helped many people come to faith in Christ.
German evangelist Reinhard Bonnke says, “You may begin reading ‘The Heavenly Man’ on your sofa, but you will finish it on your knees. This is what happened to me. Anyone reading these pages will not remain the same. Brother Yun’s testimony wakes and shakes us up.”
Now, we are pleased to announce the release of “YUN: The Illustrated Story of ‘The Heavenly Man.'” YUN was produced in comic book form in an attempt to reach out to young people with this dramatic story of God’s grace and love. Our prayer is that unbelievers might be led to repentance and faith in Christ after reading YUN, while Christians would be strengthened and encouraged in their walk with God.
YUN was skillfully drawn in the contemporary comic style favored by teenagers today. Young people (and those young at heart!) who have been shown copies of YUN have been unable to put it down.
Monarch Books, 2006, 126 pages. Price: US$14 plus $3 postage to anywhere in the world ($17 total). Bulk prices are available. To order, click here.
SEE ALSO:
* The Heavenly Man (click on “Books and CDs”).
* Quotes from the Suffering Church.
* China’s mission force.
EVENT – Retreat for Missionary Kids Heading to College in U.S.
From: Amy Jackson, Missionary Resources Connection – February 15, 2007
To all missionary kids (MKs) who are seniors in high school preparing to transition to American college life, we are pleased to offer the sixth annual MK re-entry retreat in South Carolina. It runs August 6-14, 2007 in Gaston, South Carolina (30 minutes from downtown Columbia).
Mornings are filled with topical seminars and practical sessions, such as:
– Transition Effectively to the U.S.
– MK Identity Issues
– Handling Separation and Loss
– American Culture and Lifestyle
– Handling Your Own Finances in College
– Initiating Healthy Friendships
Activities include swimming, volleyball, soccer, canoeing, hiking, paintball, a zip line, ropes course, climbing wall, and much more.
The $350.00 fee covers meals, housing, activities, and materials. The registration deadline is June 1, 2007. Please be sure to register early to secure your spot. Please download the brochure and registration form from Missionary Resources Connection. Questions? Call 803.254.3313 or send an e-mail.
SEE ALSO:
* ORGANIZATION: Mu Kappa, a fraternal association for missionary kids on college campuses.
* BOOK: Third Culture Kids by David Pollock and Ruth Van Reken.
* ARTICLES: Caring for Missionary Children.
Questions? Problems? Submissions? Contact publisher/managing editor Marti Smith.