Resource Reviews

EVENT: Debriefing Retreat for Missionaries

Source: Paracletos

Recalibrate! is a debriefing retreat for singles, couples, or families with children over 13 who have recently returned to the United States from the field, whether permanently or temporarily. They still have openings for this year’s event to be held November 6-12 near Cincinnati, Ohio. Hurry, though: registration closes August 31.

» Learn more or sign up. Also note that several of the events below relate to missionary debriefing, in case this one doesn’t fit your needs or schedule.

EVENTS: Conference, Training, and More

Source: Missions Catalyst Events Calendar

September

September 1, Ministry Evaluation Toolbox (online). Webinar provided by Missio Nexus.

September 6, Got Workers? Got Training? Equipping the Saints for Overseas Ministry (online). Webinar from Sixteen:Fifteen. Free and public.

September 8, Rethinking the Question: “Who Is a Missionary?” (online). Webinar provided by Missio Nexus.

September 12 to December 11, Encountering the World of Islam (online). Regularly offered course on embracing Muslims with the love of Christ.

September 14, Missionary Debriefing, an Essential and Valuable Gift (online). Free webinar from Sixteen:Fifteen.

September 14-15, Support Raising Bootcamp (Lombard, IL, USA). Provided by Support Raising Solutions.

September 14-20, Traction Conference for Men (Wilderswil, Switzerland). Provided by Catalyst International.

September 15 to October 13, Foundations of Media Strategy (online). Mission Media U course to develop outreach strategy and effective content.

September 16-18, BAM Conference (Los Angeles, CA, USA). For anyone interested in business as mission. Provided by the BAM Resource Team.

September 21 to October 19, Story in Ministry (online) Mission Media U course takes you from theory to project.

September 29 to October 1, Mission Leaders Conference (Louisville, KY, USA). Provided by Missio Nexus. Pre-conference workshops on various topics also planned.

September 30 to October 2, Entrepreneurial Readiness Workshop (Colorado Springs, CO, USA). Sponsored by The Navigators Global Enterprise Network.

October

October 3 to February 12, Perspectives on the World Christian Movement Course (online). Provided on a regular basis by the Perspectives Study Program.

October 5 to November 30, Mobilizer Equipping School (Chiang Mai, Thailand). Provided by Student Volunteer Movement 2.

October 7-8, Missions Fest Seattle (Bellevue, WA, USA). Annual community event.

October 8, Costly Call: Following Jesus in a Hostile World (Lynnfield, MA, USA). One-day event sponsored by New England Perspectives Study Program and the J. Christy Wilson, Jr. Center for World Missions.

October 10-11, Support Raising Bootcamp (Tulsa, OK, USA). Provided by Support Raising Solutions.

October 11-14, Support Raising Leaders Conference (Tulsa, OK, USA). Provided by Support Raising Solutions (and partners).

October 11 to November 8, Expand Your Mission Through Media (for Women) (online) Mission Media U course to develop a media project plan.

October 13, Protecting Your Ministry from Sexual Identity and Gender Issues (online). Webinar provided by Missio Nexus.

October 13-15, Open B4T Expo (Chicago, IL, USA). Transforming nations through business.

October 14-15, People Raising Conference (Oak Brook, IL, USA). Be equipped for raising personal support.

October 14-16, Evangelical Missiological Society (Dallas, TX, USA). Annual meeting.

October 16-21, ABIDE (Joplin, MO, USA). Re-entry and debriefing for singles, couples, and families provided by TRAIN International.

October 17-19, Excellerate Conference (Alpharetta, GA, USA). A mission conference for church leaders. Hosted by North Point Ministries.

» View the calendar or submit an addition or correction.

In this issue:

Greetings!

Does it seem as if every edition of Missions Catalyst goes out to a world characterized by more trouble than it was the week before? That’s probably an illusion! This week, though, we’re highlighting resources designed to speak peace and help us find purpose in the midst of chaos, and remember the words of Jesus from John 14:27:

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

Blessings,
Marti

VIDEO: Peace in the Midst of Chaos

Source: Moving Works

Though the world is by plagued by suffering due to the realities of sin, death, and evil, God is calling us to seek refuge in the only place it can truly be found. Be Still, a short video based on Psalm 46 from Moving Works, can spark discovery of God’s presence and purposes. Could you use it in your church, class, or group? The related discussion guide may help.

Other new short, inspirational films from Moving Works which you might be able to use include The Mustard Seed, about the nature of the kingdom of God, and Death Where Is Your Sting?, the testimony of a Buddhist woman who came to Christ.

» Learn more about Moving Works and watch or download videos.

BOOK: Far from Cold

Source: Peregrini Press

Far from Cold, by Gillian Newham. Peregrini Press, 2016. 208 pages.

This memoir tells the story of Mark and Gillian’s journey from Britain to Mongolia where they were part of the amazing early decades of the modern Mongolian church. The first-generation Mongolian believers and churches the Newhams serve among frequently struggle greatly and sometimes fall away or fall apart before coming back and moving from early enthusiasm to seasoned faith and maturity. This book illustrates what many frontier church planters experience: a ministry that can be amazingly rewarding but also humbling and frustrating: two steps forward, then three steps back.

Note that this book comes from the new, small publishing group that brought us Forged on the Field, Letters from Global Mission Leaders. Expected to be first in “a series of books sharing authentic stories of honest Christian pilgrims,” this one is well worth reading, especially if you have a heart for this part of the world about which relatively little has been written.

» Learn more or purchase this book from Amazon (or elsewhere) for US$9.99 (Kindle edition) or US$16.99 (paperback).

ARTICLE: Take Time to Refresh Your Missions Team

Source: Catalyst Services

Serve in church leadership or on a church mission team or committee? Check out the latest edition of Postings. This one’s for you.

“Summer may be a busy time for your church missions leadership team. But summer is also a crucial time to refresh your team for the coming year. Here are 12 ideas to reenergize the hearts and minds of your leaders.”

» Read the article (a three-page PDF). See also other editions in the Postings gallery of archives.

BOOK: Seeking Refuge

Seeking Refuge Source: World Relief and Moody Publishers

Seeking Refuge: On the Shores of the Global Refugee Crisis, by Stephan Bauman et al. Moody Publishers, 2016, 224 pages.

“We can’t ignore the refugee crisis… but how do we even begin to respond to something so massive and complex?” Here three World Relief leaders draw from their own experience and extensive research to lay a foundation for understanding, answer key questions American Christians have, and describe ways to respond to refugees coming to America.

Though parts of this book feel like an infomercial for World Relief, the agency does offer a great deal of experience and many helpful resources to those with whom they partner. Visit their website for information about forming a “Good Neighbor Team” at your local church to welcome and walk alongside a newly arrived refugee family in your community, put together welcome kits, and more. You can also download a free Church Leader’s Tool Kit on the Syrian Refugee Crisis.

» Learn more or purchase this book from Amazon (or elsewhere) for US$7.90 (Kindle) or US$8.92 (paperback).

» Readers might also be interested in another short, practical book which covers some of the same ground, Jessica Udall’s Loving the Stranger: Welcoming Immigrants in the Name of Jesus.

EVENTS: Conferences, Courses, and More

Source: Missions Catalyst Events Calendar

August

August 1-4, CROSS & Crescent Conference (Louisville, KY, USA).

August 1-5, Kairos Course (Louisville, KY, USA). Other classes with varying durations and locations also listed on the Kairos website.

August 1 to December 4, Perspectives on the World Christian Movement Course (online). Provided by the Perspectives Study Program. (Another online class starts August 15.)

August 5-6, Without Borders (Hawthorne, NJ, USA). A conference for Christian women (on reaching out to Muslim women), provided by Crescent Project.

August 6-12, ReBoot Reentry Program (Calgary, AB, Canada). Annual event for returning missionary kids, ages 17-20, transitioning to life in Canada.

August 17, Releasing Radical Missions Generosity (online). Free webinar from Sixteen:Fifteen.

August 17-19, Crisis Management Seminar (Plano, TX, USA). Provided by Crisis Consulting International.

August 18, Trends and Needs in Mission Training (online). Webinar provided by Missio Nexus.

August 25, Home Office Morale Busters (online). Webinar provided by Missio Nexus.

August 27, Bridges Seminar (Oklahoma City, OK, USA). Building bridges to reach Muslims. Provided by Crescent Project.

August 29-30, Support Raising Bootcamp (Rogers, AR, USA). Provided by Support Raising Solutions.

September

September 1, Ministry Evaluation Toolbox (online). Webinar provided by Missio Nexus.

September 12 to December 11, Encountering the World of Islam (online). Course on embracing Muslims with the love of Christ.

September 14, Missionary Debriefing, an Essential and Valuable Gift (online). Free webinar from Sixteen:Fifteen.

September 14-15, Support Raising Bootcamp (Lombard, IL, USA). Provided by Support Raising Solutions.

September 14-20, Traction Conference for Men (Wilderswil, Switzerland). Provided by Catalyst International.

September 16-18, BAM Conference (Los Angeles, CA, USA). An event for anyone interested in business as mission; provided by the BAM Resource Team.

September 29 to October 1, Mission Leaders Conference (Louisville, KY, USA). Provided by Missio Nexus. Pre-conference workshops on various topics also planned.

September 30 to October 1, Entrepreneurial Readiness Workshop (Colorado Springs, CO, USA). Sponsored by The Navigators Global Enterprise Network.

» View the calendar or submit an addition or correction.

Resource Reviews

In This Issue: Prayerwalking your neighborhood

CURRICULUM: Exile Night

Source: Voice of the Martyrs

Exile Night is an opportunity for churches, youth groups, and student groups to identify with their persecuted family members in a tangible way, experiencing a small piece of what displaced believers face every day. Participants will eat what they eat, sleep how they sleep, and be inspired that faith in Christ is what matters—even when it costs everything.

Exile Night is an overnight event that can be done indoors or outdoors. Whether inside or outside, the goal of Exile Night is for attendees to gain an understanding of what Christian refugees experience, to be encouraged by their faith in Christ, and to stand with their persecuted family in a practical way.

» Learn more or get suggestions and materials, most of them free.

» See also Voice of the Martyrs’ review of an interesting new book, They Say We Are Infidels: On the Run from ISIS with Persecuted Christians in the Middle East, by Mindy Belz.