World News Briefs

Missions-Catalyst-no-tagline_largeMissions Catalyst News Briefs 9.2.15

  1. WORLD: A Time of Anguish for the Globally Displaced
  2. ALGERIA: Exponential Growth of Kabyle Berber Church
  3. MIDDLE EAST: The Middle Eastern Mesh
  4. CENTRAL ASIA: Share Tea, Share Life
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buypens

Image: Gissur Simonarson. This photo of a Syrian father selling pens in the streets of Beirut raised more than US$150,000 for the Syrian refugee.

Dear Readers,

Last month a viral Tweet changed the lives of a Syrian refugee and his daughter (pictured above) when thousands of dollars were donated to help the two. We read that thousands of Icelanders have offered to take refugees into their homes. Syrians at train station in Hungary did not fare so well.

Such glimpses into the life of refugees are powerful. I am also looking forward to the film Salam Neighbor coming out this fall; it follows the journey of Zach and Chris, the first two filmmakers allowed to register and receive a tent inside a refugee camp. You might also be interested in the story of a recent Bethlehem Bible College graduate who took a step of faith and led his entire youth group, Palestinians, on an eye-opening short-term trip to minister to Iraqi refugees in Jordan.

Here in the US, we are entering election season, and immigration is a hot and divisive topic. That may be why we don’t hear much about immigration from the pulpit, says Matt Soeren, who points us to studies and sermon resources that could turn that around (Leadership Journal).

Politics aside, mission leaders like J.D. Payne point out that international migration is at the nexus of many of the world’s most challenging problems. You might want to listen in on J.D.’s conversation about migration and missions with leading diaspora missiologist Enoch Wan.

Don’t know where or how to begin to help refugees? Check out Exodus World Service. Working with Exodus, members of The Village Presbyterian Church in Northbrook, Illinois recently delivered their 100th Welcome to America! Pack. The church’s dedication to welcoming arriving refugee families over the last decade is a wonderful demonstration of God’s faithful care and concern for the stranger in our midst.

Love sports? Read Sports, Soccer, and Boxing as they Relate to Diaspora Missions and Evangelism (Billy Graham Center for Evangelism). Amy Walters of SEND International provides some helpful tips on reaching out to refugees. However you reach out, keep in mind these best practices of immigrant ministry from the Wesleyan ministry Global Partners.

Finally, several years ago, faithful Missions Catalyst reader Neal Pirolo published a motivating book on reaching internationals who live among us, and it’s full of great ideas related to ministry among refugees, immigrants, international students, and more.

Blessings,
Pat

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