Source: Issachar Initiative
Issachar Initiative, a think-tank advocating for ministry to the world’s least-reached people groups, offers churches and individuals a free, six-week, small group curriculum about fulfilling the Great Commission. The Count for Zero curriculum includes high-quality video sessions, a participant guide, and sermon outlines. Registration required.
» Learn more or get started. Or just take a minute to watch the promotional video.
Source: Missions Catalyst Readers
Thanks for the great response to our recent feature article, Passing on Prayer: Practical Ideas on Praying for the World. Readers contributed a few more great suggestions we want to share as well:
1. Pray together
“Pray with others,” says Greg. “Something deep, powerful, and encouraging happens when we join with others to pray for the world.” Good word, Greg.
2. Pray through the newspaper
“This isn’t anything new, but it is a strategy we use in our Perspectives class prayer times, and that is to bring newspapers to class and pray through headlines in the news,” says David. “There is not a day goes by that you can’t find something in the headlines where God is at work.” David also encourages us to watch the video, Prayer Causes Things to Happen (John Piper). Thanks for the reminder, David.
3. iPray2014
“Thursday, May 1, has been set aside as a National Day of Prayer [in the U.S.],” writes Paul. “We’d like you to join us in prayer throughout that day. Pray for your family, neighborhood, classmates, co-workers, customers, or employees. Be intentional about connecting with God throughout this day as you continue doing what you’d normally do. To help remind you and direct your prayers, we’ll be sending out several text messages (that day only) to anyone who subscribes. All you need to do is text “iPray2014″ to 95577. We’ll send you encouragements, reminders, and suggestions for prayer.” Great idea, Paul.
4. 30 Days
“How could you forget the 30 Days of Prayer for the Muslim world?” asks Tamara. “For over 20 years this prayer movement has involved hundreds of thousands of believers from all over the world in loving and learning about Muslim people through prayer during the month of Ramadan. The beautifully illustrated prayer guide is available in over 35 languages, and there is also a children’s edition. The event starts June 28 this year, so, plenty of time to order guides for your family or prayer group!” We’re in, Tamara!
5. Prayercast
“I work for an organization called OneWay Ministries in a branch of their ministry called Prayercast,” says Liz. “You tapped right in to what we are trying to accomplish. You asked for any resources that people may have to help others pray. Well, Prayercast.com is a phenomenal resource and free for anyone to use. We currently have a Prayercast video and prayer resources for every nation on earth! We are working to expand these resources in BIG ways in the days ahead.” Looking forward to seeing what’s ahead, Liz; we love Prayercast!
6. 2Tim22.com
“2Tim22.com has a number of resources on prayer, much of it related to reaching the world of university students, but this can easily be adapted to other groups,” says Dennis. “In particular, I find helpful the reminder that we are joining God in what he is already doing.” Thanks for the link, Dennis!
Source: Missions Catalyst Calendar
May 8-10, Christian Community Health Conference (Atlanta, GA, USA).
May 16-18, The Journey Deepens (Fort Washington, PA, USA). Retreat for those considering missions. Sponsored by MissionNext.
May 19-21, COSIM Conference (Minneapolis, MN, USA). Annual gathering for the Coalition on the Support of Indigenous Ministries.
May 19-23, Christian Community Development Conference (near Stuttgart, Germany).
May 21-23, Global Children’s Ministry Equip Conference (Johannesburg, South Africa).
May 21-25, GO Equipped TENTmaking Course (Larsmo, Finland). Provided by Global Opportunities.
May 22, Faith-based Safety & Security Training (Columbia, SC, USA). Training for mission team personnel provided by an instructor from Fort Sherman Academy.
May 23-24, Al Massira training event (Scarborough, ON, Canada). Learn to share your faith with Muslim friends.
May 23-31, Single Vision (Lisbon, Portugal). Renewal for single missionaries.
May 28-29, Interchange 2014 (Philadelphia, PA). Bi-annual conference. This year’s theme is recruiting global workers in the church context. Sponsored by Catalyst Services.
May 29-31, Serving Internationals (Atlanta, GA, USA). Annual conference by the Association of Christians Ministering among Internationals (ACMI).
May 30-31, Al Massira training event (Ottawa, ON, Canada). Lean to share your faith with Muslim friends.
May 31, Frontiers Connect (Central Coast, CA, USA). Explore work among Muslims.
May 31 to June 8, Darshan training in outreach among Hindus (Chicago, IL, USA). Classroom training and daily guided Hindu community interaction. Provided by Christar.
In This Issue: Resources for collaboration, the changing face of persecution, and more
Source: Create International Taiwan, via visionSynergy
Mission historical Stephen Neill wrote that Christian missionary work is the most difficult thing in the world, adding that it is surprising that it should ever been attempted! Yet amazing things happen when Christians work together, don’t they?
Check out the short animated video Collaboration – Reaching the Unreached through On-field Partnerships (itself the product of several mission groups working together).
This video also provides a nice example of storytelling through visual communication, too. Maybe, after watching it, you could take a moment to pray for Create’s (YWAM) School of Cartooning and Animation for Missions which is currently being offered in Taiwan, in Chinese and English. May God use it to equip and reach many.
» See also visionSynergy’s partnership resource repository, with ebooks, case studies, courses, field guides, and more.
Source: Family Research Council, March 19, 2004
In what countries are Christians most likely to be persecuted? Who is being persecuted, and by whom? According to Todd Johnson, patterns have changed radically in the past 100 years.
In a Washington D.C. lecture, Johnson, Director of the Center for the Study of Global Christianity at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, draws on research from The Atlas of Global Christianity and Persecuted: The Global Assault on Christians to provide a thoughtful overview of shifts within both global Christianity (e.g., from north to south) and global persecution (e.g., from state-sponsored to society-based) as well as offering ways we can respond.
This presentation may be particularly helpful if you write or speak on these or related topics, as the contents are both well researched and clearly communicated.
» Watch the video (47 minutes).
» See also Ed Stetzer’s recent interview with Dr. Philip Jenkins about global Christianity (Christianity Today).
Source: B&H Publishing Group
When Missions Shapes the Mission: You and Your Church Can Reach the World, by David Horner. B&H Publishing Group, 2011. 261 pages.
Veteran senior pastor David Horner here addresses fellow pastors and church mission leaders about the low level of commitment to the biblical mandate for global missions in our churches. He paints a sometimes painful picture of the current situation in many of our churches and denominations, where even those who seem to be leading the way in missions giving and sending are in fact investing resources disproportionately in their own contexts (e.g., doing more to support nearby Christian colleges and local programs than global outreach).
Horner also helps the reader recognize the major obstacles to kingdom-focused ministry and lessons to be learned from past mission movements.
Finally, he describes the results of a survey of 100 evangelical (North American) churches sharing their top ten best practices in fostering a strong missions culture, sharing some of the specific tactics as well as addressing objections and concerns in each area.
When Missions Shapes the Mission is a challenging and ultimately persuasive and practical book for churches discontent with their status quo and wanting to move forward.
» Learn more or get a copy for US$12.72 from Amazon (or elsewhere). Kindle edition is US$9.99.
Source: Mission Nexus
Mission Nexus, in partnership with Church-based Immigrant Ministry Coalition and World Relief, invites pastors, church planters, and mission leaders to a one-day regional event to explore approaches, resources, and partnerships for developing church-based ministry to immigrants, refugees, and international students. Meetings are planned for Baltimore (June 5), Los Angeles (June 12), Toronto (June 17), Chicago (June 19), and Atlanta (June 26).
Each event will include case studies from churches in the U.S. and Canada and presentations by leaders with on-the-ground experience as well as table-group discussions exploring practical application and next steps. Registration includes lunch and a copy of Strangers Next Door: Migration, Immigration, and Mission by J.D. Payne (also one of the presenters).
» Learn more or register. You can also download a free, related article by World Vision’s Jenny Yang, Immigrants in the US: A Missional Opportunity.
» See also the Association of Christians Ministering to Internationals, sponsoring a national conference in Atlanta, GA May 29-31, and take a look at J.D. Payne’s recent (free) ebook, Unreached Peoples, Least Reached Places: An Untold Story of Lostness in America.
Source: Missions Catalyst Calendar
April 2-5, iDisciple Conference (Kansas City, MO, USA). Focused on Disciple Making Movements. Provided by Cityteam.
April 4-5, MissionFest Toronto (Toronto, ON, Canada). Free, annual, community-based mission festival for all ages.
April 5, Bridges Seminar (Toronto, ON, Canada). Building bridges to reach Muslims. Provided by Crescent Project.
April 8 to May 19, Mobile Ministry Training Course (online). Six-week class. Learn how to use mobile technology for evangelism.
April 11-12, T4T Training (Lebanon, TN, USA). Be trained in effective practices for church-planting movements at home and around the world.
April 12, Bridges Seminar (Omaha, NR, and Silver Spring, MD, USA). Building bridges to reach Muslims. Provided by Crescent Project.
April 12, Care ConneXion: Missionary Care 101 (Beaverton, OR, USA). A Mission ConneXion event.
April 14, Global Day of Prayer for the 4/14 Window (global). Praying for the world’s children (especially those aged 4-14).
April 24-46, iSpectra, Igniting Multicultural Discipleship (Los Gatos, CA, USA). Bay Area’s first global multiethnic discipleship conference, in conjunction with The Harvest Group.
April 26, Frontiers Connect (Chicago, IL, USA). Explore work among Muslims.
April 30 to May 2, International Wholistic Missions Conference (Peoria, AZ, USA). From the Global CHE Network.
April 30 to May 2, Northwest Mission Pastors Conference (Raymond, WA, USA). Coordinated by WorldVenture.
April 30 to May 4, GO Equipped TENTmaking Course (Bergen, Norway). Provided by Global Opportunities.
In This Issue: Seek God for the city, the not-for-parents travel book, and more