Category: Resource Reviews
VIDEOS: Virtual Vision Trip to Bangladesh
Source: Jeannie Marie
One of the best ways to experience a place or people group is to take a short trip and go there. But that’s not so easy to do during a pandemic. You can go along with Jeannie Marie and a few friends on a (pre-pandemic) survey trip to see for yourself what she describes as one of the most unseen—and beautiful—places on earth: the southern districts of Bangladesh.
» Gather your family or small group and watch the series of 10 videos.
» While we’re in South Asia, jot yourself a note that 15 Days of Prayer for the Hindu World is coming up, November 8-22. You can order prayer booklets from William Carey Publishing (and other places).
NOVEL: The Red Book
Source: Bespoke Christian Publishing
The Red Book, by Gillian Newham. Bespoke Christian Publishing, 2020. 342 pages.
A nineteenth-century missionary spends 20 summers among Mongolian herdsmen, seeing no fruit but leaving behind a precious Mongolian Bible with a holy man who was his friend.
Nearly a century later, we meet a family in the same area, still keeping their herds and living much as their ancestors did, but in a changing Mongolia. The novel focuses on several members of the family questioning if there is something more than their traditions and way of life and seeking truth and purpose.
Though the world has lots of Christian fiction, novels about missions are few and far between and sometimes don’t ring true. I was impressed with this one. It provides a loving look at Mongolian thinking, culture, experience, and spirituality and will be welcome to those who know or want to know more about Mongolia, though the unfamiliar Mongolian names and phrases might lose a reader not willing to persevere.
The author and her husband live and serve in Mongolia.
» Purchase the Kindle edition for US$9.99; also available in paperback. Read an interview with the author or read her previous book (a memoir) Far from Cold.
VIDEO: Status of Global Evangelization in 2020
In this short video, Steve Schirmer of Silk Road Catalyst explains and responds to data about the status of global evangelization compiled by Joshua Project—including the estimate, published in 2007, that 86% of Muslims, Hindus, and Buddhists do not personally know someone who follows Christ. Is that still true?
» Check out other videos on SRC’s YouTube channel.
CORRECTION: After contact with Joshua Project, we’ve discovered that the percentage of Muslims, Hindus, and Buddhists who personally know someone who follows Jesus has actually gotten a bit worse, rather than better. Too bad! If you click on the link above it will take you to a newly revised version of the JP handout.
Need the details? A JP data hound directed us to what the newest edition of World Christian Encyclopedia says about the matter, in a table titled Personal Contact, 2020. This lists by region how many Buddhists know a Christian, how many Hindus know a Christian, how many Muslims know a Christian, and a catch-all group “All non-Christians.”
“Personal contact in the second table measures the number of non-Christians who personally know a Christian by applying a formula to each ethnolinguistic people group. Values for each country, region and continent produce a global total. Although these numbers are estimates, they offer a preliminary assessment of a critical shortfall in Christian mission. Globally, 87% of Buddhists, Hindus and Muslims have relatively little contact with Christians.” (p. 943)
Note the language has changed a bit, too. WCE’s summary statement says “Have relatively little contact,” rather than “personally know,” as in previous statements Though they are still using the term “personal contact” in the same discussion.
Need a source you can cite? Here you go:
Todd M. Johnson and Gina A. Zurlo, World Christian Encyclopedia 3rd Edition, Edinburgh University Press, 2019. 943.
TRAINING: Trends and Issues in Mobilization
Source: Center for Missionary Mobilization and Retention, Trinity Bible College and Graduate School
Could you or someone you know use additional training as a mission advocate and missionary mobilizer? This school in North Dakota now offers a Master of Arts in Intercultural Studies with an optional track in missions mobilization.
To help with missionary retention, Trinity Bible College and Graduate School is offering free continuing education for missionaries. Any current missionary can take (audit) one of Trinity’s graduate school classes free of charge. These classes take place at various times all over the world.
This fall, they’re also offering one of their courses in an intensive format free of charge to anyone who would like to try it out. Join via Zoom.
Course: Trends and Issues in Mobilization
Dates: November 17-19, 2020
Description: Students will critically engage and analyze issues that both contribute to the decline of missionaries sent from the US and influence one’s decision to serve as a long-term missionary. Special consideration will be given to the factors that often influence the missionary call, as well as current barriers that prohibit an aspiring missionary from getting to the field. Other topics presented in this course such as short-term mission trips and missionary influence may adjust as mobilization trends and issues develop.
» Register for this course or explore other training offerings.
» Looking for something less formal? Check out the Online Missionary Training School from Global Frontier Missions or various offerings from Global Mission Mobilization Initiative.
EVENTS: Happening Online in October
Source: Missions Catalyst Events Calendar
October 1, MultiplyUs. First in what is meant to be a series of online events featuring early examples of disciple-making movements in the USA. Sponsored by 24:14 in partnership with MoreDisciples.com.
October 5 to February 14, 2020, Perspectives on the World Christian Movement. Next class starts November 2.
October 6, Accountability with a Small Staff and a Small Budget. Webinar from Missio Nexus, with Capin Crouse. This is part of a finance series which also includes a webinar about PPP loan forgiveness on October 27.
October 7, The Future of Missions. Webinar from Missio Nexus in partnership with Sixteen:Fifteen; guest presentation from Barna.
October 8, How Digital Media Is Accelerating Disciple Making Among the Unreached. Webinar from Missio Nexus.
October 8, Discerning Your Calling. Webinar from Sixteen:Fifteen.
October 9-10, Evangelical Missiological Society National Conference. Includes tracks on arts, history, orality, short-term mission, and more. Cost goes up after September 30.
October 9-11, Ask2020. Weekend of prayer for the Middle East coordinated by Arab World Ministries. Download materials to help you and your church pray for Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Lebanon.
October 13, Circumventing the Mission Agency; Navigating the System. Webinar from the Standards of Excellence in Short-Term Mission. A November 10 webinar will focus on preparing youth for missions.
October 20-21, Support Raising Bootcamp, provided by Support Raising Solutions. A similar virtual event is planned for November 11-13.
October 20-28, Standards Introductory Workshop. Ten-hour interactive seminar on making mission trips better from Standards of Excellence in Short-Term Mission. A similar event will be held November 16-18.
October 22 to November 19, Strategic Storytelling for Movements (new online course). For field workers and content creators to find and create media stories for ministry, from Missions Media U.
October 24, Northwest Regional Refugee Roundtable. Provided by the Refugee Highway Partnership.
October 29, Transformation of the Church. Webinar from Sixteen:Fifteen.
» View complete calendar. Submissions and corrections welcome. We will continue to make updates about canceled and postponed events.
Missions Catalyst Calendar | Mobilization Resources
VIDEO: How Your Prayers Help
Source: Wycliffe Bible Translators
Maybe you—or people who support your work—struggle to pray and know prayer makes a difference. Some Pioneers colleagues introduced me to this short video from Wycliffe. We’re going to try to do something like it to honor our own prayer partners. Maybe it will inspire you, too.
» See also Wycliffe.org/prayer.
BOOKS: Good Stories
Source: William Carey Publishing
Every now and then we just need some inspiration from brothers and sisters who have gone before us to do something awesome with the Lord. This is a collection of some of those great stories (about a dozen books in all). The prices are good, too. We’ve reviewed many of these in Missions Catalyst.
» Learn more.
» Know George Verwer of OM? He says a dream of his has come true: all but one of his books are now available for free download from georgeverwer.com and royhessionbooktrust.org.
ARTICLE: Five Ways to Share Your Faith Online
World Venture, August 10, 2020
Paul followed God’s calling to Antioch, Syria, Turkey, and Greece. And he wrote letters from prison. If Paul had the same access to the internet we have, what would he have done with it? Here are some ways to share your faith online:
- Rethink how you can use social media tools.
- Consider your motivation in online ministry.
- Use watch parties and “rooms.”
- Watch for gift opportunities.
- Choose your photos more intentionally.
» Complete article includes tips in each of these areas.
» See also Maintain Your Momentum (“25 ways to move church missions forward during COVID…and eight types of people who might do it”). Great ideas from our friends at Catalyst Services.