Category: Resource Reviews

Source: Gospel Mobilization Podcast

How many people groups are there in the world, and what do people need to know about them to take action? Hear about what’s happening at Joshua Project (including a big change in the works) and how you can best use the tools they provide. Chris Clayman, now the Executive Director, has some fun and inspiring stories to tell.

Listen to the episode. Also from Gospel Mobilization: Check out the mobilization continuum—a tool you could use to help someone express their posture toward world mission.

By the way, about 1,000 people have taken the Joshua Project Survey. Got five minutes? They especially want to hear from missiologists and mission educators, researchers, prayer coordinators, strategists, and tech workers.

If mission data is what you do, it’s not to late to sign up for the Mission Information Workers Conference (see calendar item below).

Sources: Various

1. Wonder how often a major earthquake, tsunami, or volcanic eruption happens? See the Days Since Incident dashboard (via Justin Long). Fun, in a dark sort of way, if you live in a region bracing for the next “Big One.”
2. Did you know the number of internally displaced people has grown 50% in the last five years? So says the International Displacement Centre in a recent report. That’s a new record and reflects a lot of people in need; more than 75 million. How can we respond?
3. More than 12,000 people were baptized over two days in what Baptize California organizers say is America’s largest baptism ever. They also announced plans for another event, Baptize America, scheduled for Pentecost Sunday, 2025. Look for a variety of reports online.

June 2-28, Equipping for Cross-Cultural Life and Ministry (Union Mills, NC, USA). Followed by a Field Security Seminar and a Language Learning Accelerator course, all from the Center for Intercultural Training.

June 3-5, Mission Information Workers Conference (online). Accelerate the development of mission information and the mission information community.

June 3 to August 6, Perspectives on the World Christian Movement (online). New online classes begin regularly.

June 5-6, The Mobilized Church (Denver, CO, USA). Discover keys to unlocking your church’s mission potential; offered several times a year by Sixteen:Fifteen.

June 6-8, ACMI Virtual Conference (online). An annual event for people ministering among international students. From the Association of Christians Ministering among Internationals.

June 22-23, Mission Agency Consultation (Littleton, CO, USA). Workshop for organizational leaders provided by Sixteen:Fifteen.

June 14-16, Rethinking Forum (Philadelphia, PA, USA and online). Hosted by the MARG Network for people who share both a love for Jesus and a love for Hindu people. This one’s been going for 20+ years now. Come early for meetings focused on Indian international student ministry, June 13.

June 17-21, Abide Debriefing (Joplin, MO, USA). Help for moving forward with hope and momentum; from TRAIN International (held multiple times a year; also June 24-28, July 22-26 and July 20 to August 2).

June 18, Contend: Monthly Day of Prayer For Mission Mobilization (global). Coordinated by GMMI and held on the third Tuesday of each month.

June 19-29, Breathe (Wilderswil, Switzerland). A retreat for mission workers offered annually by Catalyst International.

June 20, World Refugee Day (international). Many churches observe this with prayer on the Sunday before or after.

June 20, Launching Collaboration in the People Care & Development Community (online). From Missio Nexus.

June 25-27, Safe Travel in Risky Environments (Laurens, SC, USA). Security training for missionaries from Morton Executive Decisions.

June 27, The Ethical Edge—Leveraging AI for Authentic Content Strategy and Creation (online). Peer2Peer webinar for marketing and communications professionals from Missio Nexus.

June 28 to July 1, Field Security Seminar (Union Mills, NC, USA). Provided by Crisis Consulting International.

June 29, Day of the Christian Martyr (international). An annual event from Voice of the Martyrs.

June 30 to July 6, Wilderness Reboot (Blue Bronna, Alberta, Canada). Re-entry retreat for MKs/TCKs (aged 21-35) navigating the ongoing re-entry into Canadian society; an event for teens (17-20) will be held in August.

View the complete calendar. Submissions welcome.

1. Lyric Video: Lord, Send Me
2. Article: The Ends of the Earth
3. Download: Risk Management and Short-Term Missions
4. Book: Chasing Faith Among Yaks and Nomads
5. Events: Missions Conferences and More in May

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Source: Devin Belle and Jenn Bostic

Could you use this in your next global mission event?

Here I am Lord, send me / To make You known, for Your glory / All my life, ’cause You’re worthy / Here I am Lord, send me

See also a collection of more than 30 short mission videos to inspire outreach efforts (from various organizations but curated by Project Ablaze).

Source: Lausanne Movement

The phrase “ends of the earth” is used 46 times in the Bible. Sometimes the phrase speaks of approaching judgement on God’s people, as when God “stirs up from the ends of the earth” an army from Babylon or “from the north” (Jeremiah 6:22; 50:41). Other times, it forecasts foreboding, all-inclusive judgement on sinful humanity (Jeremiah 25:30-32).

Conversely, the prophets foresee a great salvific reversal! Gentile nations will one day “come from the ends of the earth and say, ‘Our ancestors possessed nothing but false gods, worthless idols that did them no good’…Therefore I will teach them—this time I will teach them my power and might. Then they will know that my name is the Lord” (Jeremiah 16:19-21).

Metaphorically, “ends of the earth” means “as far as one can go.” All the world. All humanity, and all compartments of humanity. Every race, nationality, ethnic and language group. All peoples everywhere.

“As far as one can go”—that’s something to think about! It is likely far, far away from our home zone or comfort zone, and Christianized contexts where the church is domestic and the gospel (often) domesticated by a one cultural group or setting. “The ends of the earth” challenges us to consider: How far are we willing to go—geographically, culturally, socially, in prayer, service, suffering, and sacrifice—to ensure that all peoples everywhere have a witness to the gospel?

Read more. You may be able to borrow some of author Len Bartlotti’s content for a project or presentation of your own.

While you’re at it, check out a major new publication from Lausanne, a newly released multi-author and data-rich report on the State of the Great Commission.

Source: Missio Nexus

In partnership with Brotherhood Mutual, Missio Nexus gathered data from 120 mission agencies and 220 church mission leaders related to their experience and perspective in managing risk related to short-term missions. Two recent reports (excerpt below) offer strategies and best practices for mission leaders, volunteers, and other stakeholders.

Learn more or get the reports. They are free, but you will need an account to log in to “purchase” them.

See also the book Facing Danger: A Guide Through Risk, by Anna Hampton. It’s now in its second edition from William Carey Publishing. WCP has several new books that might interest you, including Anita Rahma’s Downward Discipleship: How Amy Carmichael Gave Me Courage to Serve in a Slum.

Chasing Faith Among Yaks and Nomads: A Memoir, by Ann Wyse. Central Asia Publishing, 2022. 276 pages.

At 26, Ann moved to China and began seven years living and sharing Jesus with Tibetan Buddhists. We see her wrestle with and learn to appreciate a culture, context and religion very different from her own, make friends, and grow in her walk with God first as a single woman, then married, and briefly as a young mother. A fun and interesting read. I would recommend it for anyone who has spent time in the Tibetan Buddhist world.

Purchase the ebook for $9.99 from Amazon or elsewhere or listen to an interview with Ann telling her story on the Colson Center’s Strong Women podcast.

Source: Missions Catalyst Events Calendar

May 1-2, The Mobilized Church (Baltimore, MD, USA). Discover keys to unlocking your church’s mission potential; offered by Sixteen:Fifteen.

May 2, National Day of Prayer (USA).

May 2, Jesus on the Gen Z Road (online). Ignite online training from All Nations.

May 2-5, The Christian Medical and Dental Association National Conference (Blackville, NC, USA). An annual event.

May 7-9, Standards of Excellence introductory workshop (online). Provided regularly by MissionExcellence, a ministry of MissionWorks.

May 9, BAM Global Summit (online). A Lausanne Movement gathering.

May 9, Is the UPG Paradigm the Only Way to Think About Missions? (online). Webinar from Missio Nexus with Nathan Sloan and Bradley Bell of Upstream.

May 12-17, Debrief Retreat (Union Mills, NC, USA). Provided by the Center for Intercultural Training.

May 13-17, Storytelling Training (online). Get hands-on experience with oral Bible storytelling with five three-hour sessions provided by Story Runners.

May 13-26, Orient Pre-field Training (Joplin, MO, USA). Provided by TRAIN International. Another will be held September 2-15.

May 14-17, Gear Up: Training for New Mobilizers and Mobilization Ideation (Plano, TX, USA). Come to one or both. Note that through a partnership with MissioNexus, organizers are now able to “certify” trainees in mobilization.

May 15-17, International Wholistic Mission Conference (Phoenix, AZ, USA). An annual event. Seeking lasting change for the least and the lost.

May 19, International Day for the Unreached (global).

May 20 to June 15, COMPASS (Palmer Lake, CO, USA). Language and culture acquisition provided by Missionary Training International.

May 20 to August 4, Perspectives on the World Christian Movement (online). New online classes begin regularly.

May 21, Contend: Monthly Day of Prayer For Mission Mobilization (global). Coordinated by GMMI and held on the third Tuesday of each month.

May 22-24, Support Raising Bootcamp (online). Provided by Via, formerly Support Raising Solutions. More classes held around the world throughout the year.

May 22-23, Ministry Mental Health Summit (Toronto, ON, Canada).

May 27-31, Engage Retreat (Union Mills, NC, USA). Spiritual retreats are provided regularly by the Center for Intercultural Training.

May 30, Video Storytelling for Missions (online). Peer2Peer webinar for marketing and communications professionals from Missio Nexus.

View the complete calendar, updated regularly. Submissions welcome.

1. Download: The Ultimate Missions Checklist for Your Church
2. Book: Anthropology (and More) for Missionaries
3. Training: Cultural Awareness for Short-Term Teams
4. Stories: The Yemen Listening Project
5. Quick Takes: Focus on Easter
6. Events: Missions Conferences and More in April

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Editor’s Note: Missions Catalyst will be on spring break for the next two weeks. Look for us again April 17.