Missions Catalyst 10.26.11 – Resource Reviews

In This Issue: Teaching Kids, Bite-sized Pieces of Operation World, and a Closer Look at Contextualization

• CURRICULUM: Downloadable Mission Resources to Use with Children
• DVD: Contextualization, a Closer Look
• EVENTS: Three in California
• WEBINAR: When Missions Vision Is Bigger Than Missions Budget
• BOOK: Operation World Profiles
• REPORTS: Strategy Reports and Cultural Descriptions

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!

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CURRICULUM: Downloadable Mission Resources to Use with Children

Source: Stand4Kids

Our friends at Stand4Kids have launched a new series of downloadable mission lessons for children – nine so far with more to come. Most are geared for elementary ages, but a few are designed for preschool and junior high. Like the earlier “Kids Around the World” series (Caleb Project), some lessons highlight unreached peoples and THUMB (tribal, Hindu, unreligious, Muslim, and Buddhist). Others focus on prayer, holidays, and children-at-risk issues. Most lessons include Bible exploration and prayer activities. Skits, object lessons, simulations, and stories keep these lessons interactive.

According to Karen at Stand4Kids:

“We’ve heard from many people in small churches and homeschooling groups who desire to teach their children about missions, but can’t afford a full-blown curriculum. We hope these downloadable resources help meet an expressed need.”

Lessons were field-tested in church classes, but should work in Christian schools and homeschooling co-ops as well.

>> Learn more or download lessons.

DVD: Contextualization, a Closer Look

Source: Pioneers

How do believers of Muslim backgrounds understand their new identity in their home culture and in the Christian community? The answer to this question has become a topic of debate among pastors, missionaries, and theologians as they wrestle with the line between contextualization and syncretism in sharing the gospel and planting churches in Muslim communities around the world.

Pioneers hosted a forum with church leaders and mission practitioners of diverse perspectives to explore the topics of evangelism, discipleship, and church planting as they intersect the current issues of contextualization and insider movements.

Video recordings from more than six hours of “A Closer Look” are now available and include theological analysis, case studies, perspectives from field workers and sending churches, and panel discussions. A 95-page PDF includes articles on topics discussed.

>> Learn more or purchase for US$25 from Pioneers. Data DVD includes video files in QuickTime format to view on a computer or download. The material is also available on a US$35, two-DVD set for your standard DVD player.

>> Editor’s note: Readers might also enjoy a recent article in Christianity Today, Missionaries to Muslims Agree to Soften Criticisms of Each Other (“Ten years after 9/11, the heated debate over contextualization is about to get more civil”).

EVENTS: Three in California

Source: OC International

Our friends at the mission agency OC International are planning three events coming up soon in Southern California:

November 10 – Getting to Know OC International (Long Beach, CA). Lunchtime gathering; meal provided.
November 11 – Partnering with God’s Global Workforce (Sierra Madre, CA). Lunchtime gathering, meal provided.
November 12 – Millenials and the Art of Organic Mentoring (Bellflower, CA). Three-hour seminar.

>> Learn more about all three events.

>> View the Missions Catalyst calendar and/or let us know about your event.

WEBINAR: When Missions Vision Is Bigger Than Mission Budget

Source: Sixteen:Fifteen

Does your church’s passion for missions exceed the limitations of your missions budget? Sixteen:Fifteen’s free webinar on 11-11-11 (2:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time) may inspire you to trust God to do the impossible while gaining practical insights on more effectively mobilizing the assets of your congregation – assets which are often hidden in plain sight. The webinar features Virgil Dugan of Tijeras Foundation and investment advisor John Moore.

Sound interesting? I think so. Members of my ministry team and I plan to attend, and I’m hoping to find something helpful for my church.

>> There’s not a website with more information about this specific event, but it’s easy to contact Sixteen:Fifteen or just register for the webinar.

>> Readers might also be interested in the podcast The Worst of Times Are the Best of Times for Giving, from Sixteen:Fifteen’s Matthew Ellison, and Chris McDaniel’s blog Igniting a Life of Generosity (as well as the book of the same title, previously reviewed in Missions Catalyst).

BOOK: Operation World Profiles

Source: Global Mapping International

At more than 1000 pages, the seventh edition of Operation World can overwhelm. Need the profile for one country or a few? Consider purchasing PDF versions of separate countries or regions. These thoughtful and thorough profiles are useful for prayer, education, reference, and mobilization. They cost between US$.99 and US$3.99 and can be reproduced within the constraints of copyright policies.

If you want all the contents of Operation World but don’t have that much room in your suitcase or briefcase, consider the ebook version, available for US$19.99.

REPORTS: Strategy Reports and Cultural Descriptions

Source: Pioneers

Here are some more resources from the vault! Strategy reports and cultural descriptions reflect the qualitative research and analysis of ethnographic research teams sent out by Caleb Project over a period of several decades. Now they’re all available electronically through the Pioneers store.

Those interested must apply for permission to access these documents due to their sensitive nature. In many cases prayer guides or videos were done in conjunction with this research, and these can be circulated more freely.

Reports available include:

Acehnese of Sumatra, Indonesia (1994) – 107 pages
Albanians of Macedonia  (2009) – 60 pages
Azerbaijanis of Azerbaijan (1995) – 159 pages
Baluch of Karachi, Pakistan (1985) – 63 pages
Bangkok, Thailand (1988) – 91 pages
Banias of Delhi, India (2003) – 132 pages
Brahmins of Rajasthan, India (2009) -165 pages
Dai of Dehong, China (2006) – 89 pages
Dai of Xishuangbanna, China (2006) – 38 pages
Delhi Squatters of India (1984) – 156 pages
Esimbi of Cameroon (2005) – 127 pages
Istanbul, Turkey (1987) – 121 pages
Kazakhs of Kazakhstan (1992) – 112 pages
Madurese of Indonesia (1997)  – 58 pages
Malay of Pontianak, Indonesia (2010) – 46 pages
Muslims of Adana, Turkey (1990) – 119 pages
Muslims of Alexandria, Egypt (1984) – 128 pages
Muslims of Bombay, India (1988) – 171 pages
Muslims of Calcutta, India (1990) – 97 pages
Muslims of Damascus, Syria (1990) – 128 pages
Muslims of Delhi, India (1988) – 97 pages
Muslims of Irbid, Jordan (1987) – 57 pages
Muslims of Patna, India (1990) – 81 pages
Rajputs of India (2002) -179 pages
Sourashtras of South India (1988) – 123 pages
Tunisian Arabs of Kairouan (2008) – 50 pages
Turkmen of Turkmenistan (1994) – 130 pages
Urban Malays of Malaysia (1989) – 99 pages
Uzbeks and Tajiks of Uzbekistan (1992) – 198 pages

>> Learn more or purchase a report for US$20 from Pioneers.

What, your favorite people group is not on the list? Ask people who share your interest in that group what materials might be available and in quiet circulation. Or maybe God would call you to do some research. Exploring the Land  (co-authored by our very own Shane Bennett) will teach you some of the skills you may find most helpful. See also our page, Training: Workshops and Seminars.

Marti Smith is a writer, speaker, and project manager for the Church Partnerships Team at Pioneers. Since the mid-90s she has helped prepare cultural research teams to explore unreached communities and mobilize efforts to serve them.

Marti manages and publishes Missions Catalyst and is the author of Through Her Eyes, a book about the lives of missionary women in the Muslim world.