JAPAN: Unlikely Encounter on a Frozen Volcano

Source: OMF International, September 27, 2019

Clouds came closing in fast, the visibility deteriorated within seconds. The wind picked up and the temperature dropped significantly. We were just below the 1,989-meter (6,277-foot) summit of Mt. Yotei and icicles were forming on my beard. I stopped and changed from my sweat-drenched clothes into some dry clothes.

My two friends and I were still shivering, but all set to make the descent on our snowboards, when I spotted someone crawling up the mountain on all fours. I was surprised, because he or she were alone and far from the regular hiking route, and obviously without snowshoes, skies, or a snowboard. I knew that being alone on a mountain like this could turn into a death trap very easily, especially in conditions we were experiencing at the time. After some quick turns on our snowboards we reached the young man and I couldn’t believe what I saw.

He was wearing gumboots, gardening gloves, and a normal winter parka, with a scarf wrapped around his head—absolutely unprepared to be in the mountains. Straight away we offered help and, as he had no provisions, he gladly received a spare sandwich and finished up our water supply.

[While] he gobbled down the yummy bacon, avocado, and egg sandwich, I scolded him for doing such a foolish thing. But after my initial rant I asked him why he was there. He told us that his girlfriend had broken off with him, and so he’d fasted for two days straight. Then he’d decided to climb Mt. Yotei in search of a spiritual experience, hoping for an awakening or some kind of enlightenment…

» Read full story and pray for those seeking spiritual truth, that they will encounter Christians at just the right time.

EVENT: 15 Days of Prayer for the Hindu World

Cover-1030x733Source: WorldChristian.com

Will you join Christians around the world in praying for the planet’s more than one billion Hindus during 15 days of prayer? This year’s event takes place October 20 to November 3 to coincide with Hindu festival season.

The 2019 prayer guide provides articles to encouraged informed prayer for various spheres of Hindu society, including family life, media, the arts, business, government, religion, and celebration, along with material about four major Indian pilgrimage sites: Puri in the east, Rameshwaram in the south, Dwarka in the west, and Badrinath in the north.

» Purchase the 32-page, full-color prayer guide booklet from WorldChristian.com for US$3.00 (with bulk discounts available) or download a PDF version for US$2.50. International distribution info also on the website. See other prayer guides, too.

» Want to pray without buying anything? Use this daily prayer summary. Designed for A4 paper but prints nicely on 8.5×11, too.

ONLINE COURSE: Intro to Missions Mobilization

Source: Globalcast Resources

Globalcast Resources and YWAM Frontier Missions have launched a brand-new online course in mission mobilization and advocacy. Designed with mobilizers from the Global South in mind, it’s built around 15 short video lessons you can work through at your own pace and a WhatsApp group for peer coaching and encouragement. The class is only US$20 with discounts available.

You’ll have to act fast, though. Enrollment closes at 4pm Central time, today, September 25. Participants will have ongoing access to the material, so if you think this is for you but don’t have time just now, you could sign up and go through it later.

» Learn more or register. You might also want to poke around the Globalcast Resources website or social media feeds.

MEDIA: Mission Leaders Conference on Future Mission

Source: Missio Nexus

We’re pleased to see media from the plenary sessions at last week’s Mission Leaders Conference (“Future Mission: A Challenging Look at the Future of Missions and the Great Commission”) are already posted online; no login required. Start with James Kelly on innovation in mission and K.A. Ellis on the future of persecution. There’s a thought-provoking piece from Ed Stetzer, two videos with Andrew Brunson, and more.

Missio Nexus member? You can log in and access audio recordings of most of the workshops, as well.

» Access conference media.

BOOK: The Only One

The Only ONe

Source: William Carey Publishing

The Only One: Living Fully in, by, and for God, by Curtis Sergeant. William Carey Publishing, 2019. 216 pages.

Want to live a God-centered life?

“Read this book slowly and prayerfully, writing your responses in a journal. Then get a second copy for a friend and reread it, discussing it together. This book is transformational,” says Rick Warren.“I wrote this book to share with you what I have learned about walking with Jesus from decades of pioneering mission work in some of the darkest places on earth,” says author and DMM trainer Curtis Sergeant. “Though the locations were exotic, the principles are universal. They apply to everyone who desires to follow Jesus.”

“I believe the greatest enemy of genuine discipleship in the US is the prevailing paradigm of what it means to follow Jesus. I pray that God will use this book to change that concept.”

Packed with scripture, this guide to what the author calls “theopraxy” is all about growing as a disciple, especially in community. It emphasizes learning to listen to God and rely on his power to do what he says, accountable to others doing the same. Great book.

Because of a special arrangement with the author, you can download a copy of the ebook for free. Contact the publisher to set up a code to give it as a gift to your staff, supporters, or congregation.

Learn more and get your electronic copy. You can also purchase paperback copies to use on your own or with a group for US$14.99 from William Carey Publishing.

» The author compares this book to Steve Smith’s Spirit Walk. Readers might also be interested in some of the resources related to disciple-making movements recently highlighted in Brigada Today.

EVENTS: October Conferences, Courses, and More

Source: Missions Catalyst Events Calendar

October 4-5, The Mobilized Church: Keys to Unleashing Missionary Potential (Mill Creek, WA, USA). Provided by Sixteen:Fifteen.

October 4-6, Business as Mission Conference USA (Silicon Valley, CA, USA). An annual event.

October 7 to February 16, 2020, Perspectives on the World Christian Movement (online).

October 8-11, Pastors to Missionaries Conference (Ridgecrest, NC, USA). Pastoral training in member care, from Barnabas International; an annual event.

October 14-18, South Pacific Region Member Care Conference (Mosgiel, New Zealand).

October 15-18, Support Raising Leaders Conference (Scottsdale, AZ, USA). Provided by Support Raising Solutions.

October 17-19, Trauma and the Gospel (Greenwood Village, CO, USA). Seminar on offering healing and hope to children in crisis. Provided by Crisis Care Training International. More info.

October 19-20, Missions Fest Seattle (Bellevue, WA, USA). Free annual community missions event.

October 20-25, ABIDE re-entry debriefing for global workers (Joplin, MO, USA).

October 22-24, Crescent Project National Conference (Nashville, TN, USA). An annual event.

October 23-25, Refugee Highway Partnership North America Roundtable (Toronto, ON, Canada). An annual event.

October 25–27, Mountain Feet Weekend (Choctaw, OK, USA). Discern and respond to God’s invitation on your life. From Beautiful Feet Boot Camp.

October 28 to November 23, COMPASS (Palmer Lake, CO, USA). Language and culture acquisition provided by Mission Training International.

October 29 to November 26, Hands-On Media Ministry in a Mobile World (online). Mentored course to leverage ministry outreach using mobile phones. Offered by Mission Media U.

October 29-30, Support Raising Bootcamp (Fayetteville, AR, USA). Training provided by Support Raising Solutions.

October 31 to November 3, Catalyze Pacific Northwest (Camas, WA, USA). Three-day intensive designed to impart practical missional skills. Provided by Frontiers.

» View the complete calendar. Additions welcome. Want to know more about a specific event? Contact the event organizers.

MIDDLE EAST: A Wave of Baptisms as Refugees Turn to Christ

Source: SEND International, September 5, 2019

A year ago, we asked you to pray for the hundreds of thousands of Muslim immigrants and refugees who had recently arrived in Europe, most of them fleeing war and civil unrest. We wrote about their tremendous needs and about the tremendous opportunities for us Chris

Our awesome God is answering our prayers in ways almost beyond belief! Hundreds of former Muslims are stepping forward and not only giving their lives to Christ, but also being baptized.

Baptism is a very hard step for many former Muslims to take; historically, there have been some who have professed faith in Christ, but who delay baptism. Almost all Muslims see Christian baptism as the final severing of any ties to Islam, a step that once taken, is irrevocable. There is no more fence-sitting once you have been baptized, and ostracism and persecution are almost certain to follow.

However, amazingly, in one European country in particular, Muslims are accepting Jesus as their Lord and Savior, being baptized, gathering together, and even meeting openly as churches.

» Full story addresses the issue of false conversions (there are some) and includes ways to pray for these refugees and those serving among them.

» Read how a worker with the International Mission Board describes what discipling Muslims really looks like in his context and how baptism is seen.

LEBANON: State of Economic Emergency

Source: Mission Network News, September 10, 2019

[On September 2], Lebanon declared a state of economic emergency. This could be mistaken for a state of emergency, but a state of economic emergency allows a government to implement economic emergency measures. Per the Associated Press, Lebanon has one of the highest public debts in the world. The country is hurting.

“Because of the Syrian refugee crisis, and the economic impact that’s having on the country, [Lebanon] has been on the verge of bankruptcy. And this is just one more step in that process. The Prime Minister, [a] couple [of] weeks back, was in the United States. He’s been all over asking the other nations to help them financially help take care of this crisis, and nobody is,” [says Tom Atema of Heart for Lebanon].

“When in great hardship, great persecution…there’s a there’s a wide-open door for the gospel like never before. I don’t want to lose sight of that in all the negativity of this topic. Muslims are coming to Christ like never before, and reaping a tremendous harvest,” Atema explains.

Heart for Lebanon is in the process of opening its new Hope Ministry Center, which officially opens October 1. This center serves the refugee community in the Bekaa valley with Bible studies, informal education for the children, job training, and more. In being the hands and feet of Christ to people who fled their homes, Heart for Lebanon is also helping relieve some of the economic pressures the Syrian refugee crisis has placed on the Lebanese people.

» Read full story.