Category: Resource Reviews
Book: Living Your Love for God Out Loud
Source: Tyndale House
Living Out Loud: Letting Your Love for God Flow Into Your Everyday Language, by Kevin King with Christine Daniels. Tyndale House, 2024. 178 pages.
As Jesus prepared to send his followers ahead into towns he would soon visit, he encouraged them with one crucial detail that hasn’t changed in more than two thousand years. Simply this: The harvest is plentiful (Luke 10:2).
In Living Out Loud, Kevin King of International Project, shares from scripture and personal experience how and why we should work to overcome our tendency to keep our faith private and quiet. He addresses many of the most common obstacles and stumbling blocks and invites us to live our faith “out loud” so others can experience it, too.
This book is a winsome and practical read. Think about sharing it with someone in your church or going through it with a group. Although the book includes examples from the author’s work among internationals in New York City, it’s crafted for broad appeal, not just for missionary-types or American Christians. The authors also created a six-session discussion guide that you may find helpful.
It looks like you can get the first three chapters for free from International Project. But you may want to buy the book just for the “sidebar for introverts” and the short appendix on “bringing Shema statements into your daily language.” Good stuff and deliberately non-prescriptive.
See also a recent blog from International Project on how you can use Discovery Bible Studies to disciple non-Christians to Christ.
Books: Two New Titles About the Nations for Kids Today
Source: InterVarsity Press
Two interesting new books are coming out from IVP in May. Kaylee Prays for the World follows a young girl and her grandfather as they read and discuss the morning newspaper. While reading, they talk about suffering and brokenness and look for ways to pray for the children of the world.
Jesus Loves the Little Children re-imagines the classic (if now a bit outdated) song for kids today. After all “red and yellow, black and white” doesn’t quite cover it, does it? Listen to the new song, now with new verses, or just get the book. Better than ever or too “woke”? You decide.
Both are available for pre-order now.
Podcast Episode: Can AI Lead Someone to Jesus?
Source: Lausanne Movement
This thought-provoking episode of the Lausanne Movement Podcast, explores explore the emerging world of Christian AI and its potential to revolutionize ministry. Podcast guest Chase Cappo shares how technology can serve the church, foster trust, and guide people toward authentic encounters with Jesus.
You’ll hear powerful testimonies, hard questions, and hopeful answers as the conversation journeys through faith, tech, and global mission.
Learn more, listen to the episode and see the show notes or watch the video version, below (52 minutes).
Resource Roundup: Missions for Everyone
Sources: Various
Two Years Out of Twenty
What is the best way to spend your first few years out of college? Consider investing the first two years of your career based on the biblical concept of the tithe. Read Tithe Your Career (GoCorps). GoCorp’s Katy White has a new book coming out that uses the same title; we’ll let you know when it’s available.
Missions for the Middle-Aged
At the end of their careers, many Christians have more time, flexibility, and life experience than ever. Steve Richardson asks, why not harness those things to further the kingdom of God? Read Never Too Old: Missions for the Middle-Aged (Pioneers-USA).
A Mission of Faithfulness
For generations, men have been taught—subtly and explicitly—that their primary duty is to provide for their families. While provision is important, it was never meant to be a man’s ultimate mission. Read The True Mission of a Man: Faithfulness Over Provision and other articles related to stewardship and generosity from Chris McDaniel (Ignite Your Generosity).
Faith at Work
Global Day of Faith at Work (GDFW) is a new worldwide event held annually on May 1, which is also observed as International Labor Day. The first GDFW also coincides with the National Day of Prayer in the United States. Let’s pray together for effective ministry in every workplace, community, and nation. Find many helpful resources on the website (Lausanne Workplace Network). Many can be used at any time.
History Makers Leadership Podcast
What strategies, stories, insights, and values shape and inspire Christian leaders making a global impact? Hear a couple who pastor in the Global Methodist Church tell their story in episodes titled “Your Church Is a Launchpad, Not Just a Building” and “The Harvest Is Plentiful: Mobilizing Effective Missions.” Listen in (International Leadership Institute).
Events: Mission Conferences and More in May
Source: Missions Catalyst Calendar
May 1, National Day of Prayer (USA). An annual event.
May 1, Global Day of Faith at Work (international). Sponsored by the Lausanne Workplace Network and World Evangelical Alliance, and meant to be annual.
May 1, A Discussion about Member Care’s Future: The Shared Foundations Initiative (online). Webinar from Missio Nexus.
May 1-3, Engaging Islam Conference (Edmonton, AB, Canada). Learn proven tools to engage with your Muslim friends and neighbors. Hosted by Newcomers to Canada Project.
May 1-4, The Christian Medical and Dental Association National Conference (St. Charles, MO, USA). An annual event; largest of its kind.
May 2, Maximize Your Summer Fundraising (online). Webinar from Tailored Fundraising.
May 5 to July 20, Perspectives on the World Christian Movement (online intensive). New online classes begin regularly.
May 8, BAM Global Summit (online). A Lausanne Movement gathering.
May 12-16, Engage Spiritual Retreat (Union Mills, NC, USA). Sponsored by Mesa Global and the Center for Intercultural Engagement.
May 13-16, The Mobilizer’s Retreat (near Asheville, NC, USA). Sponsored by Missio Nexus and Gospel Mobilization/World Gospel Mission.
May 14, Unlocking the Power of Holism in Ministry Partnerships: Empowering the Global South Church for Great Commission Engagement and Sustainability (online). Webinar from Missio Nexus.
May 18 to June 13, Equipping for Cross-Cultural Life and Ministry (Union Mills, NC, USA). Provided regularly by the Center for Intercultural Training, and followed by a language-learning acquisition course.
May 19-21, Support Raising Bootcamp (online). Provided by Via in various locations throughout the year.
May 20, Contend: Monthly Day of Prayer for Mission Mobilization (global). Coordinated by GMMI and held on the third Tuesday of each month.
May 20-22, Ministry Mental Health Summit (Toronto, ON, Canada).
May 21, Recruiting Gen Z: What Urbana’s Latest Research Says About the Attitudes and Behaviors of this Emerging Generation (online). Webinar from Missio Nexus.
May 26 to June 21, COMPASS (Palmer Lake, CO, USA). Language and culture acquisition provided by Missionary Training International.
May 29, Marketing, Biblically (online). Webinar from Missio Nexus.
May 30 to June 28, Chinese Worldviews Virtual Seminar (online). Provided annually by China Academic Consortium.
View the complete calendar, updated throughout the year. Your submissions are always welcome.
New Mission Books, Podcasts, Articles & Events
In this edition of Resource Reviews:
Invitation: Join a Scripture Memory Challenge
Source: Navigators
Dawson Trotman said there is no other spiritual discipline that gives you more bang for your buck than Scripture memory.
You can do it on your own, but it’s more fun (and often more effective) with a bit of accountability.
For the last year, Navigators has been offering a seven-day Scripture memory challenge. Want to join them? It’s just one verse a month.“Our community has slowly grown as people have discovered how helpful this method is,” they write. “Now thousands of people are committing to memorizing one verse a month together.”
Sign up for text messages and join the April challenge.
Don’t have a U.S. number or rather not sign up for anything new? Here’s the verse for April:
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” – Hebrews 11:6
Roundup: Resource for Parents, Families, and Young Adults
Sources: Various
Short training courses for parents
Via Families is releasing easy-to-use online courses designed to help busy parents raise children who love Jesus and love the nations. So far, Frameworks includes three, half-hour courses and they are free. More courses are on the way.
- Spiritual Development Ages 2-3
- Creating Meaningful Family Traditions
- The Power of Everyday Moments
Poke around the Via site for other great resources relating to raising globally minded kids.
Podcast on mobilizing families
Mission mobilizer Dave Jacobs and his son, Pastor Sam Jacob, recently shared a fun conversation about experiences that helped set the direction of Sam’s life direction and obstacles he’s faced, along with eight things you can do to mobilize families to the nations.
Two podcast episodes on engaging the next generation
On her Leading Tomorrow podcast, Jolene Erlacher recently interviewed Jayelle Dolan about Encouraging Spiritual Disciplines in the Next Generation. I found this episode inspiring and practical, especially given the distractions and fragmentation so many of us wrestle with now, no matter our age.
I encourage you to listen to an episode of the One Collective podcast, Innovate for Good. In The Decision Dilemma: Why Too Many Options Leave Us Stuck, Jenny Collins of Taylor University shares how young adults can break free from indecision, take meaningful steps forward, and trust that God will guide them along the way.
Two articles about training young adults
Ted Esler of Missio Nexus recently wrote about trends in missionary training. As Bible colleges close or close their missionary training programs, unaccredited residential training programs have helped fill the gap. He includes a short list and readers suggested a few more in the comments. Read The Jesus School.
Similarly, Andrea Kroeze, a youth ministry leader with Touch the World, wrote Why a Gap Year Might Be the Right Step for Your Young Adult.
Know someone who could benefit from the gap year program at Touch the World? Or maybe you’d like to learn from their model and set up something in your context. Go for it! As the Lord leads, that is.
Book: Worlds Here and There—A Handbook for International Transition
Sources: Worlds Here and There
Worlds Here and There: A Handbook for International Transition, by Paul Snider and Donna Kushner, Lulu.com, 2024. 65 pages.
If you’ve moved to another country, you know it can feel like entering a new world. Your culture, climate, and community all change drastically. And in transition, it can feel like you’re stuck in between different worlds.
This activity book provides ways to identify and process the differences between those worlds and helps the reader develop self-understanding, connect with their team, family, or community, and take steps towards healthy transition.
The book includes six different activities, prompts for reflection, questions for discussion or sharing with others, and instructions for leading the main activity as a family or for a large group. It’s meant for missionaries, military personnel, and international workers and can be used with families, individuals, and teams.
Learn more or buy the book (US$15.99; paperback only). I have not seen the book myself, but it comes with good endorsements. Take a look. The authors serve TCKs/MKs through Cru. Check out their MK resource list.
You might also be interested in this collection of books on preparing and sending missionaries (William Carey Publishing) or this informative article: When Counseling Missionaries, Please Remember These Six Things (Jonathan Trotter, Remnant Counselor Collective).