E-BOOK: Sharing the Gospel with Asian Atheists

Source: Brigada Today item, September 16, 2018

You’ve no doubt been following the crackdown on religion in China. In the face of all this persecution, Chinese Christians are becoming all the more bold in their willingness to speak out about Christ, while at the same time clarifying that they have no desire to overthrow the government. In fact, they are testifying that Christians pray for their leaders and try to be good citizens. Either way, in times like these, some find it easier to bring up issues of faith with their Asian friends. But how do we begin with an Asian friend who has atheistic world view? Our good friends at 10/40 Connections [Chad and Leslie Segraves] have made it easier for all of us by putting together this free e-book, about 50 pages long.

» Download Saving Face and All the Rest: Share the Gospel with Asian Atheists (PDF).

MOBILE APP: 10/10 Prayer and Fasting

Source: 10/10 Prayer and Fasting

A partnership of Christians desiring to see God draw Muslims to himself has an audacious goal: mobilize believers who will join together to pray 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for ten years, asking God for at least ten percent of the Muslim world to be saved by 2028.

What do you think? You in?

Earlier this year they released a mobile prayer app—10/10 Prayer and Fasting—which, if you turn on notifications, will send you a short prayer request each day and remind you to pray. Registration required.

» Learn more or get the app (Google Play). Thanks to Encountering the World of Islam for reminding us of this one.

EVENT: Hindu World Prayer Focus

Source: World Christian

The second annual Hindu World Prayer Focus, coinciding with the Hindu Festival of Lights (Diwali), is scheduled to take place October 28 to November 11. Copies of a 32-page booklet are being distributed globally and available in the US from WorldChristian.com for US$3 (with discounts for multiple copies). This is a great chance to help your church or group learn about and pray for the world’s more than one billion Hindus.

» To learn more, visit the international website.

» Also see Modeling Prayer for Hindu Background Believers (IMB).

EVENTS: Coming up in October

Source: Missions Catalyst Events Calendar

October 1 to February 10, Perspectives on the World Christian Movement (online).

October 2 to December 20, Serving Others Through Listening Well (online). Part of Sharpening Your Interpersonal Skills. Provided by International Training Partners.

October 3-5, The Patronage Symposium (Beirut, Lebanon). Exploring the gospel in patron-client contexts.

October 4, Welcoming the Stranger (online). Webinar from Missio Nexus.

October 5, Quarterly Update (online). A survey of trends affecting the unreached. From Justin Long.

October 12-14, EMS National Conference (Dallas, TX, USA). From the Evangelical Missiological Society.

October 17-18, Mission Agency Consultation (Albuquerque, NM, USA). Provided by Sixteen:Fifteen.

October 18, Stewarding the Purpose Inside Your People (online). Webinar from Missio Nexus.

October 11-12, Support Raising Bootcamp (Rogers, AR, USA). Provided by Support Raising Solutions.

October 18-20, B4T Expo (Kansas City, MO, USA). Business for transformation. Sponsored by OPEN USA (formerly NexusB4T).

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

October 19-20, MissionFest Toronto (Milton, ON, Canada). Free annual community missions event.

October 19-20, Check-IT-Out Fall Conference (Charlotte, NC, USA). For IT and software professionals and students on technology in missions/translation.

October 21-26, ABIDE (Joplin, MO, USA). Debriefing and reentry help for returning missionaries.

October 22 to November 17, COMPASS Prefield Training (Palmer Lake, CO, USA). Provided by Missionary Training International multiple times a year.

October 27, Heart for Muslims conference (New York, NY, USA).

October 28 to November 11, 15 Days of Prayer for the Hindu World (global).

October 30 to November 27, Using Mobile Phones in Missions (online). Mentored course to leverage ministry outreach using phones. Provided by Mission Media U.

» View the complete calendar. Please let us know about mistakes or omissions. For more details, contact the event organizers.

MUSIC: Urbana 2018 Master Song List

Source: Urbana Student Missions Conference

If you’re an American reader of Missions Catalyst, chances are good you have happy memories of something God did through an Urbana Student Missions Conference. The tagline for this year’s event, to be held in Saint Louis, MO, December 27-31, is “discern your place in God’s global mission.”

Worship leaders put together a playlist of music for this year’s event. Want to listen? Warning: You may have to get up and dance…

» Listen to the music on Spotify or learn more about Urbana. See also Songs That Sustain Mission and click on the links throughout the article (International Mission Board).

» Another student missions event is coming up January 2-5 in Louisville, Kentucky. It’s more focused and is meant for 18-25-year-olds and their leaders. Learn about the CROSS Conference.

DEVOTIONS: YouVersion Reading Plans

Source: YouVersion

Looking for devotional material or Bible studies for your mission team? Here’s a free and easy alternative to creating or purchasing them. The YouVersion Bible app offers hundreds of daily reading plans for your phone or mobile device, some with daily devotionals from a variety of ministries and organizations. You should be able to find one that is the right length and focus for you or your group. A few caught my eye:

  • Discover Your Role in God’s Mission (7 days, Southeast Christian Church). Discover God’s heart for the nations and your role in helping finish the task of global evangelism.
  • God Use Me—Devotions for Your Mission Trip (10 days, Compassion International). Use this plan as your pre-trip planning and post-trip debrief. You’ll find helpful Scripture, insightful commentary from experienced trip leaders, and thought-provoking prayers. Use journaling and discussion questions to dig deeper.
  • Helping without Hurting: The Bible and the Poor (10 days, The Chalmers Center). Explore the depth of God’s concern for the poor and what it might look like for you to answer that call in your own life.

You’ll have to download the app, set up an account, and be logged in to browse the plans. Readers, what other plans would you suggest?

» Comment on this article on our website or Facebook page.

TRAINING: What US Colleges Teach Missions?

Source: Cappex, via Brigada Today

Cappex.com did a study of 137 schools [colleges and universities] in the US offering missions classes and a missiology major. You can filter results by tuition costs, college type, and state (location). You can see stats about the number of students, campus life, and even your chances of getting admitted. In many cases, there are personal reviews and even tweets and pictures. You can also see if the college is affiliated with a certain denomination and, in most cases, start your application directly from the listings. And in some cases, Cappex has negotiated scholarships with the college if you apply through the Cappex site.

» Learn more. Thanks, Cappex and Brigada! The August 12 edition of Brigada Today highlighted a number of resources worth knowing about.

» Editor’s note: Mission training may take many forms. Don’t dismiss the value of more secular degrees and/or experiential training.

DOCUMENTARY: Our Man in Tehran

Source: PBS Frontline

Iran watchers might be interested in this: Thomas Erdbrink is one of the last Western journalists living in Iran. In this two-part series, he takes viewers on a rare journey into a private Iran often at odds with its conservative clerics and leaders. Iranians share their stories, hopes, and fears with him over the course of four years of filming.

I haven’t watched this yet, but a like-minded friend raves, “This was SO good! You will laugh and you will cry, but most of all, it will make you fall in love with the wonderful people of Iran!”

You may be able to watch the documentary online or on your local PBS station/app if you’re in the US. Available on DVD in October.

» Learn more.

» Readers, what other cultural films and documentaries (from a Christian perspective or otherwise) do you recommend? Comment on this article on our website or Facebook page.

EVENTS: Coming up in September

Source: Missions Catalyst Events Calendar

September 3-14, Great Commission Leadership Institute (Chiang Mai, Thailand). Provided by SVM2.

September 3-16, ORIENT (Joplin, MO, USA). Missionary training.

September 3 to January 6, Perspectives on the World Christian Movement (online). New classes start nearly every month.

September 6, A Missionary Pipeline for your Church (online). Webinar from Missio Nexus.

September 6-8, Multiply: Disciple-making Movements Summit (Wheaton, IL, USA). Organized by the Ephesus Partnership.

September 10-14, Global Member Care Network Conference (Quito, Ecuador). Bilingual in English and Spanish.

September 10 to October 6, COMPASS Prefield Training (Palmer Lake, CO, USA). Provided by Missionary Training International multiple times a year.

September 10 to December 9, Encountering the World of Islam (online).

September 13, Spirituality in Cross-Cultural Mission (online). Webinar from Missio Nexus.

September 13-14, Support Raising Bootcamp (Vancouver, WA, USA). Provided by Support Raising Solutions.

September 13 to October 11, Foundations of Media Strategy (online). Mentored course on using social media for deeper conversations and disciple-making, from Mission Media U.

September 17-18, International Orality Network Annual Conference (Orlando, FL, USA). Followed by Simply the Story Orality Training.

September 19-20, Standards Introductory Workshop (Orlando, FL, USA). Presented by Standards of Excellence in Short-term Missions.

September 19-25, Traction (Wilderswil, Switzerland). Renewal conference for men serving cross-culturally.

September 19 to October 17, Introduction to Story in Ministry (online). Mentored course to better communicate the message of Christ (oral, written, or filmed), from Mission Media U.

September 20-22, Missio Nexus Annual Conference (Orlando, FL, USA). Includes lots of side meetings this time; check it out.

September 21-23, Business as Mission Conference (Philadelphia, PA, USA).

September 28-29, People Raising Conference (Oak Brook, IL, USA). Be equipped for raising personal support.

» View the complete calendar. Please let us know about mistakes or omissions. For more details, contact the event organizers.