In This Issue: The Journey Deepens, Dreams DVD, and More
- EVENT – ‘The Journey Deepens’ Retreats
- DVD – More Than Dreams
- CD – Responding to Tibetan Buddhism
- WEB SITES – HumaniNet, Etnopedia
- NEW FROM INITIATIVE360 – Coloring Book for Kids, Videos on DVD
- PUBLICATION – Bulletin Inserts from Mission Network News
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.
EVENT – ‘The Journey Deepens’ Retreats
From: John McVay, The Journey Deepens
The Journey Deepens is a weekend retreat to help you explore what it’s like to be a missionary, discover whether a missionary or sender role is God’s fit, and connect with mission agencies. These retreats are for college students, young professionals in their 20s and 30s, adults in their 40s and 50s, and high school seniors willing to explore becoming a missionary.
Each retreat of 50 participants and 10 experienced missionaries from multiple agencies is highly relational with extended worship, small group discussions, personal reflection, and much prayer. Discussions include guidance, finances, singles/families, etc.
The 2007 retreats will be October 5-7 in Pasadena, California, and October 26-28 near Atlanta, Georgia. Presented by MissionsFocus International and cosponsored by Initiative360, Finishers Project, MissionNext, In His Image International, Perspectives, and the U.S. Center for World Mission.
Learn more here.
DVD – More Than Dreams
From: More Than Dreams
For decades, a phenomenon has been recurring in the Muslim world. Men and women – without any knowledge of the gospel and without any contact with Christians – have been forever transformed after experiencing dreams and visions of Jesus Christ. Reports of these supernatural occurrences often come from “closed countries” where preaching the gospel is forbidden and where converting to Christianity can invoke the death sentence. A common denominator appears to be that the dreams come to those who are seeking to know and please God.
“More Than Dreams” captures some of these stories and uses them as a witnessing tool to reach Muslims all over the world.
The producers selected five true-life stories of former Muslims who now know Jesus as their Savior – from Egypt, Iran, Turkey, Nigeria, and Indonesia. “More Than Dreams” recreated each of these stories, producing each in its original language (Arabic, Farsi, Turkish, Hausa, and Indonesian respectively) with English subtitles in a docu-drama format, shot in high-definition video. The movies include a ministry segment explaining what it means to follow Christ and leading viewers in the salvation prayer.
EDITOR’S NOTE: We’re impressed! You can watch these video testimonies (ranging from 29 to 46 minutes) for free on the web site. At the end of each description, click on “more,” then choose “Watch this video.” You can order the DVD for US$19.99. The producers are also looking for partners who can distribute, translate, or broadcast these videos in different parts of the world. Reach them at 718.554.1468 or by e-mail.
CD – Responding to Tibetan Buddhism
From: Clare Curtis, who can be reached through the Editor
“The Dalai Lama will address the State legislature,” proclaims your city newspaper. The local, historically Christian college invites Tibetan Buddhist monks to share the secrets of life with the student body. Colorful sand paintings (mandalas) are being constructed by Tibetan Buddhist monks at the nearby public library; the “blessed” sand will be poured into your harbor.
Large audiences are attracted, consisting primarily of curious seekers, disenchanted Christians, Westerners who have converted to Tibetan Buddhism, and Tibetans themselves. Ceremonies like the construction of mandalas are a means of inviting their deities and spirits to dwell in the community.
What do you think and feel about these events? Vaguely anxious? Bewildered? Angry? Indifferent? You and your Christians friends can actively welcome them in the love and power of Christ.
An evangelical Christian active in Tibetan ministry has produced “Welcome with Love,” a resource CD of background and practical information that will enable any Bible-believing Christian to gather with others to address sensitively the issues and upcoming events. There are book excerpts and articles by experts and descriptions of strategies that have been used by experienced North American Christians.
To request a copy of the “Welcome with Love” CD, in the U.S. send a check for $5 made out to “AFM,” and addressed to: Welcome with Love, 7438 Conner Road, Copper Hill, VA 24079. Please include your name, mailing address, and telephone number or e-mail address, along with the name of and contact information for the Christian church with which you are involved so your identity can be verified.
WEB SITES – HumaniNet, Etnopedia
From: Global Mapping International
HumaniNet is a nonprofit organization supporting humanitarian and mission teams with practical assistance in global information and communication technologies (ICT). The HumaniNet team has assisted more than 300 missionaries, relief teams, and NGO managers since its founding in 2002. All mission and humanitarian organizations are welcome to contact HumaniNet for assistance, at no cost.
Etnopedia is a Spanish-language web site focused on the unreached ethnic groups of the world. This site was created by COMIBAM, in cooperation with numerous other evangelical agencies, for the purpose of gathering and disseminating information about unreached people groups. COMIBAM hopes the site will generate prayer and encourage mission from the Spanish-speaking world to these people who do not know Christ.
EDITOR’S NOTE: One of our readers also recommends Worldometers for global statistics on all kinds of things, updated in real time.
NEW FROM INITIATIVE360 – Coloring Book for Kids, Videos on DVD
Kids Around the World THUMB Coloring Book
Take your kids beyond the ordinary to the amazing spectrum of peoples and cultures in the world with the new “Kids Around the World THUMB Coloring Book.” Each page has fun drawings of kids representing vibrant people groups – from South America, Africa, and Asia. Activities will engage kids ages 5-10 in learning about these unique groups and their need to hear the life-changing gospel message of Christ.
With focused prayer points and a world map indicating where each people group lives, this coloring book is a great tool for families, home school, Sunday school, Christian school, mid-week programs, and camps. Order here.
Unreached Peoples DVD Collection
Journey beyond the ordinary, to the people and places farthest removed from the gospel. Brilliant images and intimate storytelling bring you face-to-face with their need for the love of Christ.
This collection represents 25 years of research among unreached peoples. Included are 46 videos about people groups from 15 different countries spanning from North Africa to East Asia. There are short videos (around three minutes) designed for church or large-group settings, and long videos (around 18 minutes) designed for home, classroom, and small-group settings. These four DVDs are also available separately: East Asia, Central Asia, plus South Asia and Africa set. Order here.
PUBLICATION – Bulletin Inserts from Mission Network News
From: Mission Network News
Mission Network News (MNN) exists to tell the missions story and to help Christians everywhere become an active part of that story as God moves them. News and information provided is timely, urgent, and pertinent. Acquaint yourself with the scope and depth of these efforts by checking out the MNN web site.
Consider partnering with MNN to make your congregation more aware. A monthly, full-color bulletin insert highlights current mission events. The inserts feature unique mission activities and opportunities that are happening right now. The inserts inform your congregation, moving them to more effective prayer and encouraging them to think outside the church walls, reaching out in your own neighborhood or across the seas.
See a sample and order bulletin inserts here, or call 616.942.1558 (800.284.9361 toll-free in the U.S. and Canada).
EDITOR’S NOTE: Pat, our news sleuth, used to use our News Briefs to create something like this for her local church. Readers are welcome to reprint Missions Catalyst items freely in church bulletins, personal newsletters, etc. Just make sure you credit the original source and say you read it here, in Missions Catalyst!
Questions? Problems? Submissions? Contact publisher/managing editor Marti Smith.