Category: Resource Reviews

Source: Caroline Cobb

Looking for music that tells the big story of redemption? In 2011, singer-songwriter Caroline Cobb gave herself a goal to write a song for every book of the Bible in a year. That year of writing set in motion a new passion to tell the stories of scripture through music.

Her latest work is a theologically rich, lyrical album called A Home and a Hunger: Songs of Kingdom Hope. It “traces the biblical themes of Eden and exile, restlessness and rest, and God’s upside-down kingdom.”

I found this artist through a music video of her song All the Stars, which is about God’s promise to bless the nations through Abraham (see Genesis 22:17-18). The video, below, marks the 25th anniversary of Frontline Mission and includes clips from their documentary series, Dispatches from the Front. You might check that out as well.

» Buy a physical CD for US$10 from the artist’s website or listen wherever you get your music.

Source: Universal Pictures

Enjoy watching and discussing films about people in other cultures? Check out The Breadwinner, an animated film adapted from a best-selling young-adult novel/series by Deborah Ellis. It tells the story of Parvana, a young girl in Afghanistan who disguises herself as a boy in order to provide for her family. We discovered it through a review of the film from the International Mission Board. This is an animated feature but not for young children.

» Purchase or rent the film in several formats through Amazon. Download a study guide from the film’s website.

Source: Missions Catalyst

Brad in Michigan asks, “What book do you recommend to a church when they need a short general intro to missions? Who writes this stuff in a really good way?”

I’m not sure how to answer, though I have some ideas. What are your thoughts? Let’s make a list together.

1. What timeless classics or gems of today would you commend to Brad?
2. If you bought one book by the caseload to give out wide and far, what would it be?
3. What would you give to your elders, pastors, or mission team?
4. Is there one that would make a good gift for your church’s graduating high school or college seniors this spring?

It’s probably best if these books are not too long, academic, or narrow in focus. Books can’t accomplish their mission if people don’t read them.

» Suggest a book (or second someone else’s suggestion) and tell us why you appreciate it. I’ll compile a short list to share in a future issue.

Source: Missions Catalyst Events Calendar

May 1-3, International Wholistic Missions Conference (Phoenix, AZ, USA). An annual event.

May 3, How Do I Get My Pastor Engaged in Missions? (online). Webinar provided by Missio Nexus.

May 4-5, Without Borders Women’s Conference (Sioux Falls, SD, USA). Training for ministering among Muslim women. Provided by Crescent Project.

May 7 to September 9, Perspectives on the World Christian Movement (online). Also offered June 4 to August 12 and with regular start dates throughout the year.

May 8 to June 6, Mobiles in Mission: Using the Tool in Everyone’s Pocket (online). Mentored course for field workers on leveraging outreach opportunities.

May 12, GOfest Global (Ware, Hertfordshire, UK). An annual missions conference.

May 15 to June 14, 30 Days of Prayer for the Muslim World (global). An annual prayer campaign.

May 16-17, Interchange Conference (Wayne, PA, USA). From Catalyst Services, bringing together church and agency mission leaders.

May 20, Global Day of Prayer (global). An annual event.

May 20, International Day for the Unreached (global). An annual event.

May 21-22, Personal Support Raising Boot Camp (Brea, CA, USA). Provided by Support Raising Solutions.

May 24, Partnership and the Strategic Role of Networks (online). Webinar provided by Missio Nexus.

May 31 to June 2, ACMI Annual Conference (Philadelphia, PA, USA). An annual event from the Association of Christians Ministering to Internationals.

1. VIDEO CURRICULUM: Our Gospel Story
2. DOCUMENTARY: Evidence for the Death of Christ
3. SIMULATION: How It Feels to Be a Refugee
4. BOOKS: New and Noteworthy
5. EVENTS: Upcoming Courses and Conferences

Greetings!

It’s been a while since we’ve talked about books; see brief blurbs below for some new and noteworthy volumes on a variety of topics. We’ve also got some free stuff for you, including an evangelism training course and instructions for a simulation of the refugee experience. Plus there are upcoming conferences and events. Is there something for you in this edition? Have a look.

Blessings,
Marti Wade

Source: Billy Graham Center at Wheaton College

How many people do you think you’ve shared the gospel message with this year? Twenty? Ten? Five? One? Zero? Research shows that 79% of unchurched people would engage in a faith conversation if their Christian friends asked; however, only 39% of Christians shared how to become a Christian with someone in the past six months.

Our Gospel Story is a free, online collection of related resources meant to move you to show and share the love of Jesus with those around you in winsome and creative ways. It includes an interactive video with evangelism scenarios, training videos, a downloadable curriculum, and other resources. The six-lesson curriculum can be used individually or with groups.

» Learn more or access the materials. Looks like these are very thoughtful and high-quality resources.

» You might also be interested in the Gospel Life Podcast.

Source: Ronald Clements, Malcolm Steer, and Roger Malstead

Jesus: Dead and Buried? is a 47-minute documentary that looks at the evidence, historical and medical, for the death of Jesus as a real event in history. Join Luke Waldock as he gets expert opinion and travels to Jerusalem to see the places where Jesus himself would have walked during the last few hours of his life.

Though this video can stand alone, it’s third in a series that addresses some of the most common objections or misunderstanding about Christianity in a positive and respectful way. The Jesus Accounts: Fact or Fiction? is focused on the reliability of the Gospels, while Jesus: Son of God? clarifies what Christians mean when we say Jesus is divine. Both are also free online in English and the languages of many of those most likely to struggle with these issues.

» Watch the trailer or order Jesus: Dead and Buried? on DVD. Not posted online yet, but I expect it will be and will let you know.

Source: Women’s Missionary Union, via Loving the Stranger

“Refugee.” The very word evokes strong emotions. These emotions cross the spectrum from pity, doubt, and fear to love, compassion, and benevolence. How does your faith community respond?

Seeking Refuge: A Refugee Simulation is designed to help the American church empathize with refugees by understanding their experiences before they arrived in America. Use with students and/or adults, with suggested adaptations to help you customize the experience for your participants.

» Sign up for this free resource by email. You can learn more from an article at Loving the Stranger, a blog which also includes more great material about welcoming immigrants, etc.

Sources: various

Spirituality and Missions

Sojourner’s Workbook: A Guide to Thriving Cross-Culturally, by Connie Befus. BottomLine Media, 2018. 142 pages; paperback. Does it have to be this hard, or are there ways to make cross-cultural adjustment easier? The author, a skilled counselor, blends psychologically based coping skills with scriptural truth and spiritual disciplines. This book, built around seven goals for a missionary’s first year, might be especially effective in the hands of team and ministry leaders as they equip and encourage new workers.

Spirituality in Missions: Embracing the Lifelong Journey, edited by John Amalraj, Geoffrey W. Hahn, and William D. Taylor. William Carey Library, 2018. 438 pages; ebook or paperback. Authors from 18 countries give us their perspectives on biblical principles and cultural expressions of spirituality particularly as the church engages in God’s mission.

History and Global Christianity

Jerusalem to Timbuktu: A World Tour of the Spread of Christianity, by Brian C. Stiller. IVP Books, 2018. 248 pages; ebook or paperback. What led to the church’s vibrant growth throughout the “Global South”? Brian Stiller of the World Evangelical Alliance draws on extensive research to identify and describe five key factors that have shaped the church, from a renewed openness to the move of the Holy Spirit to the empowerment of indigenous leadership.

Stiller’s book arrived while I was reading two others that cover some of the same ground, both published by academic publishers in 2015:

Scott Sunquist’s The Unexpected Christian Century: The Reversal and Transformation of Global Christianity, 1900-2000 explains how “Christianity moved from being centered in Christian nations to being centered in non-Christian nations” with surprising rapidity and in the process became stronger than ever. Great book.

Douglas Jacobsen’s Global Gospel: An Introduction to Christianity on Five Continents provides a brief history of four Christian traditions and their historical and contemporary expression in Africa, Latin America, Europe, Asia and North America. (Prefer video? See the Global Christianity channel on YouTube for free videos designed to accompany Jacobsen’s book.)

Memoir

Love, Amy: An Accidental Memoir Told in Newsletters from China, by Amy Young. CreateSpace, 2017. 252 pages; ebook or paperback. This book sounds like a fun read, neatly providing three things: an epistolary memoir of one missionary’s experience, a window on life in China, and a tool to help cross-cultural workers write better newsletters to their supporters (with tips and tools at the end of each section).

Evangelism and Apologetics

A Christian Reads the Qur’an, by James Wright. CreateSpace, 2018. 290 pages; ebook or paperback. This unusual book, written primarily for those who revere the Qur’an but also for those who want to share the good news with them, is a conversation between a Muslim and a Christian walking through the pages of the Qur’an and bridging to an understanding of Jesus as revealed in the Gospels.

Education

Finally, here’s one for the homeschooling families. Mission: World Wonders Reading Plan is a curated reading list and curriculum integrating a study of world history, world missions, and world cultures. Quite the package!

Source: Missions Catalyst Events Calendar

April 5, Honor, Shame, and the Gospel course (online). Six sessions from Mission ONE’s Werner Mischke.

April 6-7, The Journey Deepens (Portland, OR, USA). A weekend retreat for prospective missionaries.

April 8-13, ABIDE (Joplin, MO, USA). Debriefing and reentry help for returning missionaries from TRAIN International.

April 10, OnMission 2018 (online). Free, three-hour streaming conference from Missio Nexus. Theme: partnership.

April 14, Refugee and International Student Ministry Conference (Atlanta, GA, USA). Sponsored by the Foursquare Church.

April 20, Innovation in Mission: Developing a Culture of Innovation (online). Live web event from InChrist Communications.

April 23 to May 6, ORIENT (Joplin, MO, USA). Missionary training from TRAIN International.

April 26-27, Support Raising Bootcamp (Rogers, AR, USA). Provided by Support Raising Solutions.

April 26 to May 24, Foundations of Media Strategy (online). Mentored course on using social media for deeper conversations and disciple-making.

April 30 to May 1, Standards Introductory Workshop (Phoenix, AZ, USA). Presented by Standards of Excellence in Short-term Missions.

May 1-3, International Wholistic Missions Conference (Phoenix, AZ, USA). An annual event.

May 4-5, Without Borders Women’s Conference (Sioux Falls, SD, USA). Training for ministering among Muslim women. Provided by Crescent Project.

May 7 to September 9, Perspectives on the World Christian Movement (online).

May 8 to June 6, Mobiles in Mission: Using the Tool in Everyone’s Pocket (online). Mentored course for field workers on leveraging outreach opportunities.

May 12, GOfest Global (Ware, Hertfordshire, UK). An annual missions conference.

May 15 to June 14, 30 Days of Prayer for the Muslim World (global). An annual prayer campaign.

May 16-17, Interchange Conference (Wayne, PA, USA). From Catalyst Services, bringing together church and agency mission leaders.

May 20, International Day for the Unreached (global). An annual event.

May 31 to June 2, ACMI Annual Conference (Philadelphia, PA, USA). An annual event from the Association of Christians Ministering to Internationals.

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