Category: Resource Reviews

Source: Navigators

Did you know that kids spend almost 50 percent of their year at school? If we want to pray for our kids, then it’s important to include prayers for their schools as well. There are many opportunities for prayer for public schools, from the school administration to the student who is struggling.

According to 1 Timothy 2:1, God wants us to pray for all people, and that includes the public schools in our communities. Consider these prayers and the relevant Scriptures to ignite your prayers for the schools in your local community.

See the prayer guide. Note that this resource is also available as a two-page PDF, and you don’t have to sign up for anything.

Want to take it a step further? Consider adopting a school for prayer (Every Student Every School campaign, a project of Campus Alliance).

Source: Gospel Mobilization

“Only about one out of a hundred ‘missionary decisions’ results in actual career mission service.” – Ralph Winter

Long-time readers and mission mobilizers may remember the Launch Survey, a research project from about a decade ago which explored the most significant factors that help those who aspire to become full-time missionaries (like relationships with those who’ve done it) as well as the obstacles that hinder people from ever getting there (like concerns about raising support). Read the results.

Then, take a minute to think about how the world has changed since 2015. What would the survey say today? What are the trends and new obstacles or opportunities? How might what we learn change how we go about seeking to come alongside aspiring mission workers?

Maybe you serve in a sending organization that could help the researchers gather responses from two groups: those who have launched into international service within the last five years, and those who are still exploring what it would take to go.

The 2025 Launch survey is a project of Gospel Mobilization and Missio Nexus. Learn more about this project.

Gospel Mobilization is also planning The Mobilizer’s Retreat which will take place in North Carolina May 13-16 and could be just what you need to take your mission mobilization efforts to the next level.

Source: Global Frontier Missions

There’s a new mission conference in town—and not just your average conference. EXPLORE will take place January 5 and be hosted by Dunwoody Baptist Church. It’s designed to be a gathering for the next generation of world-changers—those who want to make a real difference and spread the love of Jesus to the ends of the earth.

There will be inspiring speakers, helpful breakout sessions, a coffee and coaching corner, an India VR experience, multi-cultural worship, and an agency fair with more than 20 missions organizations represented. Should be a great place to explore God’s Word, God’s world, and your role.

Interested? Register by October 15 for $10 off the $40 conference fee. Includes dinner.

By the way, GFM, which is primarily a missionary training organization, will be partnering with IBEC Ventures to launch a new business-as-mission program in the new year. Check it out.

Source: Missions Catalyst Events Calendar

October 2, Engaging Diaspora in Your Community (online). A Peer2peer virtual event for church mission leaders provided by Missio Nexus.

October 2-5, Christian Community Development Association National Conference (Portland, OR, USA). An annual event.

October 3, Creative Access Funding Using Digital Currency (online). Webinar from Missio Nexus.

October 3, Words That Serve You Well: The Editor as Curator, Refiner and Influencer (online). A Peer2peer virtual event for marketing and communication professionals provided by Missio Nexus.

October 4-5, Evangelical Missiological Society Annual Conference (Dallas, TX, USA).

October 4-6, Catalyze (Billings, MT, USA). Frontiers will host this three-day intensive to impart practical missional skills for disciple-making and engagement with least-reached peoples in the Muslim world.

October 5-26, CPx Church-Planting Experience (Kansas City, MO, USA). Training provided by AllNations; designed to teach you the heart of simple church planting.

October 7, Interrogation Management Workshop (Tiblisi, Georgia). Provided by Crisis Consulting International.

October 7-11, Engage Retreat (Union Mills, NC, USA). Spiritual retreats are provided regularly by the Center for Intercultural Training.

October 7 to February 9, Perspectives on the World Christian Movement (online). New online classes begin throughout the year.

October 8-9, Field Leaders Contingency Planning Workshop (Tiblisi, Georgia). Provided by Crisis Consulting International.

October 8-11, Pastoral Training in Member Care (Asheville, NC, USA). For anyone involved in caring for global workers; usually held annually.

October 10, Research Findings on the Evangelism Practices of Highly-Effective Disciple-makers (online). Webinar provided by Missio Nexus.

October 10, Personal Security Workshop (Tiblisi, Georgia). Provided by Crisis Consulting International.

October 12, Telling Jesus Stories (Kansas City, MO and online). Yes, you, too, can become a Jesus Story Ninja! Training provided by All Nations. Check out their self-guided training options, too.

October 13, Virtual Prayer Gathering: Call to Prayer (online). Provided by Missio Nexus; a monthly event.

October 13 to November 8, Equipping for Cross-Cultural Life and Ministry (Union Mills, NC, USA). Followed by a Field Security Seminar and Language Learning Accelerator course, all from the Center for Intercultural Training.

October 14-17, Thrive Retreat (Sicily, Italy). For North American women serving cross-culturally. Retreats offered in different locations every year.

October 14-18, Abide Debriefing (Joplin, MO, USA). Help for moving forward with hope and momentum; from TRAIN International (held multiple times a year).

October 16-18, The Missionary Conference (Jacksonville, FL, USA). “Promoting a biblical understanding of the Great Commission” and commemorating the 500th anniversary of William Tyndale’s English Bible translation.

October 18-19, Missions Fest Seattle (Renton, WA, USA). Free, annual, and community-wide mission conference.

October 21 to November 16, COMPASS (Palmer Lake, CO, USA). Language and culture acquisition provided by Missionary Training International.

October 22-23, Amplify Outreach Conference (Wheaton, IL, USA). An annual event from the Billy Graham Center at Wheaton College.

October 24, Lausanne Recap and Look to the Future (online). A webinar from Missio Nexus.

October 24-27, Haven Retreat (Mellieha, Malta). For kingdom-minded women serving overseas from various nations. Provided by Azmera.

October 29, Digital Disciplemaking Network Meetup (online). Using digital media to identify and disciple people on a spiritual journey to Jesus? Connect with other practitioners.

October 29 to November 1, Support Raising Leaders Conference (Black Mountain, NC, USA). Provided by Support Raising Solutions.

View the complete calendar. Submissions welcome.

1. Editor’s Note: Talking about Unreached People Groups
2. Infographic: Status of World Evangelization
3. Video: How to Prepare for a Mission Trip
4. Prayer: A Liturgy for Struggling to Love Where You Live
5. Article: Responding to Initial Missions Interest
6. Events: Conferences, Classes, & More in September

Read or share the email edition or scroll down to read everything here.

Greetings, readers!

A pastor wanted advice on how to talk to his church about unreached people groups. “Do people still talk about the 10/40 Window?” he asked. “Not like they used to,” I said, and glibly trotted out some of the latest jargon, messages, and models, then dove down a few rabbit holes with my own critique and commentary developed by decades of debate. “But keep it simple,” I concluded, realizing my little speech had been anything but.

What would you tell my friend? If you were talking about the least-reached in a church service or in front of a class or small group today, what would your message be? Maybe you’ve done this recently. I’d love to hear your talking points and how you balance clarity with nuance, to empower rather than overwhelm.

Next month I will attend the annual Mission Leaders Conference from Missio Nexus and hope to see some of you there. This year the conference will explore what’s happened with the unreached people paradigm in the last 50 years, how we understand it now, and what the future holds for this kind of thinking. So that may help with my question.

Along those lines, see Ted Esler’s recent article with four reasons to prioritize the unreached as well as one on why closure missiology is bad theology. You might also want to read Len Bartotti’s upcoming book, People Vision: Reimagining Missions to Least Reached Peoples (William Carey Library).

Such topics should also be part of the conversation at the Lausanne Congress coming up. If you’re heading to Korea for that (or attending the interactive online conference), let us know how it goes!

Grateful to partner with you,
Marti

Source: Joshua Project

Looking for a roundup of info all on one page that you can use as a reference or send home with people after an event? Consider this piece from Joshua Project.

Download Status of World Evangelization 2024 (or click on the image below) and browse other graphics created or curated by Joshua Project.

By the way, did you know more than half the world’s population lives in ten countries?

Source: Ben White, CORE Missions

Say you had less than ten minutes to share the most important aspects of preparing for a mission trip. What would make the list? I don’t know Ben or his ministry, but thought this video covered the bases pretty well. (Thanks to MissionGuide for the recommendation.)

See also 5 Reasons Our Short-term Mission Trip Was Successful (A Life Overseas) and Raising Support for Short-Term Missions (Ignite Your Generosity).

Source: Liturgies for a Life Abroad

I know, dear Lord
that no place on this
spinning globe
is without challenge—
the biggest cities to the
most remote villages
each come with a unique
list of difficulties.
And right now
this place,
where I’ve unpacked my bags
and set up a home,
is feeling especially hard to love.

Read the whole prayer (Instagram; also on Facebook). Maybe you can share it with a friend serving cross-culturally or struggling to readjust to their passport country.

See also the related book Liturgies and Laments for the Sojourner.

Source: Catalyst Services Postings, July 2024

“I might be interested in missions,” a young person—or a not-so-young person—tells you. How would you respond? What questions would you ask? What resources would you recommend?

Ellen Livingood from Catalyst Services has some great ideas for responding to initial interest in missions from people in various situations and stages of life.

Read the article.

See also the August Postings, in which three church leaders discuss ways they integrate mission outreach with discipling their congregations.