In This Issue: Picturing the global village, insights into TCKs, and more
- TEACHING MATERIALS: Picturing the World as 100 People
- ARTICLE: Factors Leading to Conversion of Muslims to Christ
- BOOK: A Third Culture Kid’s Journey Through Cultural Transition
- EVENTS: Missions Catalyst Calendar
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!
TEACHING MATERIALS: Picturing the World as 100 People
Source: Stand4Kids
If the world’s population could be reduced to 100 people, what could we say about them? How many would be Buddhist, or African, or speak Hindi? Maybe you’ve seen this infographic or read a list like this one. Perhaps you’ve used something like this in a missions class or presentation.
If the World Were a Village: A Book about the World’s People by David J. Smith is a book for kids with the same thrust. It’s a good tool for expanding kids’ view of the world.
This book was also the basis of Small World, a resource from Stand4Kids designed to introduce elementary-age children to the “global village.” This fun, interactive lesson that shrinks the world population to 20 people, since 100 is difficult number for young, concrete thinkers to imagine. Children learn about the major languages spoken in the world, inequities in resources like food and water, and the spiritual condition of the peoples of the world.
The downloadable lesson (PDF format) is designed to take about 30 minutes. Include it in a home school lesson, children’s church or Sunday school, or as a chapel activity in a Christian school setting.
» Learn more about Small World or purchase and download it for US$5 from Stand4Kids.
ARTICLE: Factors Leading to Conversion of Muslims to Christ
Source: Biblical Missiology
Georges Houssney of Horizons International has interacted with hundreds of Muslim converts from many nations around the world. Hearing testimonies by Muslims of how they have come to Christ, he decided to conduct more formal research into factors that led to their conversion. So Houssney prepared a 10-question survey and over a three-year period, asked 100 converts to complete it. Among his findings:
“This research clearly demonstrates that conversion to Christ is more driven by the positive aspects of Christianity than the negative aspects of Islam. Muslims are primarily drawn to Jesus because of his love and the love of his people. God is drawing Muslims to himself by appearing to them in dreams and visions.”
“Regardless of what factors drew Muslims to Christ, the Bible was always an important factor. Without a copy of the New Testament or the entire Bible, all the other factors would not have been enough. In all situations all converts had a personal relationship with a Christian who was involved in helping them understand God’s plan of salvation.”
» Learn more about Houssney’s survey and the results.
BOOK: A Third Culture Kid’s Journey Through Cultural Transition
Source: Pioneers
Hidden in My Heart: A TCK’s Journey Through Cultural Transition, by Taylor Murray. BottomLine Media, 2013. 107 pages.
“When [nine-year-old] Taylor Murray arrived in Japan, she felt like she was on an adventure – an adventure that God had called her family to take. The unique food, the strange language and the foreign culture were exciting and new.
“But the novelty of life overseas wore off, and Taylor became overwhelmed with frustration, loneliness and the sorrow of leaving everything she knew – the States, her home, her extended family – for everything she didn’t know. She kept these emotions hidden in her heart until they reached a boiling point.
“Written as a series of individual prayers to God, Hidden in My Heart tells Taylor’s story as she transparently unloads her grief and anger on him and, surprisingly, finds him willing to listen and bring her to a place of healing and – ultimately – joy.”
“What an amazing book!” says TCK specialist Ruth Van Reken. “The writing and insights expressed demonstrate an intellectual and spiritual maturity well past the author’s 14 years of age. Taylor’s writing speaks to all who have known the paradox of living in this world of rich experience, yet felt the pain of never belonging in one place or the other.”
» Learn more or preorder the book for US$8.99 from Pioneers. (Actual release date is May 1). I found it very well written. Includes good discussion questions to help missionary kids talk about their own experiences. The Pioneers article Making Tear Soup features Taylor and talks about issues TCKs face.
» See also a recent blog post about the TCK experience at A Life Overseas.
EVENTS: Missions Catalyst Calendar
Source: Missions Catalyst Calendar
Please scan this list of items from our calendar for May and June 2013. There are some gems – maybe some you need to know about or share with a friend.
May 3-6 – GoFest 2013 (Bulstrode, Bucks, UK). A leading UK missions festival, held annually. This year’s theme: healing a broken world; you can make a difference.
May 6 – Developmental Leadership (online). Webinar provided by Missio Nexus; this one hosted by Steve Moore.
May 6-9 – Women of the Harvest Retreat (Guatemala City, Guatemala). Encouragement for North American women serving cross-culturally. (WOTH has also recently had a name change. Learn more about Thrive.)
May 8-12 – Tentmaking Business as Mission Course (Bergen, Norway). Use your profession or business skills to reach cross culturally. Provided by Global Opportunities.
May 9 – Expectations and Burnout: Women Surviving the Great Commission (online). Webinar provided by Missio Nexus; this one hosted by Sue Eenigenburg and Robynn Bliss.
May 9-10 – Mobilization Ideation (Elgin, IL, USA). Collaborative dialogue for mobilizers to brainstorm solutions to common problems, share best practices, and discuss emerging trends facing mobilization work today.
May 9-11 – Christian Community Health Conference (Atlanta, GA, USA).
May 14-15 – Church. Agency. Now. (Kansas City, MO, USA). Avant Ministries conference explores new ways churches and mission agencies can partner together to build the kingdom.
May 16 – Are All Translations Considered Equal? (online). Webinar provided by Missio Nexus; this one hosted by Dave Brunn.
May 17-18 – Muslim ConneXion (Beaverton, OR, USA). Featuring Don McCurry.
May 17-19 – The Journey Deepens (Philadelphia area, PA, USA). Sense God is calling you into missions, but need help in discerning your direction? The Journey Deepens Retreat is a great next step.
May 19 – Global Day of Prayer (international).
May 21-24 – Call2All Global Congress (Chiang Mai, Thailand). Bringing together top Christian leaders to focus and strategize together on completing the Great Commission in our lifetime.
May 26-31 – From Cubs to Lions (Boulder, CO, USA). Discipleship course for new and maturing converts from Islam. Provided by Horizons International.
May 30 to June 1 – Global Children’s Ministry EQUIP Conference (Bogota, Colombia). Preparing children’s leaders around the world for cutting edge, frontline ministry to today’s children and families.
May 30 to June 2 – Association of Christians Ministering to Internationals (ACMI) Annual Conference (Columbus, OH, USA). Theme: Discovering new frontiers in ministering to internationals.
June 1-2 – World Weekend of Prayer for Children at Risk (global).
June 10 to August 26 – Encountering the World of Islam (online). Twelve-week course will help you discover God’s heart for Muslims.
June 10-15 – International Conference on Computing and Mission (Upland, Indiana).
June 13-15 – Conference: Making Disciples among Muslims (Edmonton, Canada). Establishing and strengthening converts in their faith. Sponsored by Horizons International. Provided by Horizons International.
June 14-22 – Single Vision (Gibraltar). Retreat, renewal for single missionaries.
June 17-21 – Engaging Islam (Dearborn, MI, USA).Training in evangelism with outreach every afternoon. Provided by Horizons International.
June 17-22, 25-30 – Renewal Retreats (Huron City, MI, USA). Designed for missionaries and other global workers, including pastors and agency staff.
June 19-29 – “Breathe” Conference (Wilderswil, Switzerland). A ten-day retreat designed to refresh and renew cross-cultural workers. Provided by Catalyst International.
June 21-23 – Traction for God (Rocklin, CA, USA). Young adults ‘on mission’ for God; ignite your vision.
» View the whole calendar or tell us about a mission event.
Marti Wade is a writer, speaker, and project manager for the Church Partnerships Team at Pioneers. As a mission mobilizer, she has also trained and sent out many short-term teams to do relationship-based research to serve among the world’s least-reached peoples.
Marti has managed and published Missions Catalyst since 2004 and is the author of Through Her Eyes, a book about the lives of women serving cross-culturally in the Muslim world. She and her husband Chris live in Oregon.
Hi Marti,
Just wanted to say thanks for including the link to A Life Overseas in your list of resources for TCK. I also very much appreciate your tweets to the site. Thanks!
Glad to, Angie. I read all you post with interest, and many of the Missions Catalyst readers have similar interests!