Category: Resource Reviews

EVENTS: Conferences and More

Source: Missions Catalyst Calendar

Yes, more events! Something else you’d like to see listed? We’re glad to help you spread the word. No money need change hands either. Just help us see it’s something that would interest and serve our readers.

October 31 to November 2 – Oasis Conference (Dallas, TX, USA). For Christians reaching out to Muslims in North America; provided by Crescent Project.

October 31 to November 3 – GO Equipped TENTmaking course (Gothenburg, Sweden). Provided by Global Opportunities.

November 7-9 – Global Missions Health Conference (Louisville, KY, USA).

November 7-9 – Simply Jesus Gathering (Centennial, CO, USA). For anyone interested in (re)discovering the ways of Jesus.

November 9 – Tulsa Mission Movement Conference (Tulsa, OK). Take a one-day, deep dive into the biblical basis for mission, the history of mission, the state of the world, and the world Christian lifestyle; Perspectives Course appetizer or refresher.

November 12-14 – Church Partner Forum (Orlando, FL, USA). A Pioneers event for sending and supporting churches

November 14-15 – Disciple Making Training (Plano, TX, USA). Sponsored by ActBeyond (formerly Mission to Unreached Peoples).

November 28 to December 1 – GO Equipped TENTmaking course (Stuttgart, Germany). Provided by Global Opportunities.

December 9-11 – Mobile Ministry Consultation (Orlando, FL, USA). On how to reach the next generation for Christ via mobile device strategies.

December 27-30 – Cross Conference (Louisville, KY, USA). A new student missions conference, for the global glory of Jesus Christ.

Missions Catalyst 9.25.13 – Resource Reviews

In This Issue: Eye-opening infographics telling the story of global mission

Missions Catalyst is a free, weekly electronic digest of mission news and resources designed to inspire and equip Christians worldwide for global ministry. Use it to fuel your prayers, find tips and opportunities, and stay in touch with how God is building his kingdom all over the world. Please forward it freely!

Marti WadeMarti Wade is a writer, speaker, and project manager for the Church Partnerships Team at Pioneers. As a mission mobilizer, she has also trained and sent out many short-term teams to do relationship-based research to serve among the world’s least-reached peoples.

Marti has managed and published Missions Catalyst since 2004 and is the author of Through Her Eyes, a book about the lives of women serving cross-culturally in the Muslim world. She and her husband Chris live in Oregon.

NEWSLETTER: Missiographics

Source: Global Mapping International

Trying to mobilize people into mission? Thinking through a challenging mission issue? Increasingly our culture is gaining valuable insights from visual presentations of data. Yes, infographics!

Missiographics, from the mission researchers at Global Mapping International, is a new twice-a-month newsletter designed to bring together mission data and powerful visuals. Each issue will include an infographic with a link to download it, plus suggestions to help you think through the implications it may have for your life and ministry. Sound like something you can use?

This publication will launch in October, but you can get a sample by signing up now. It’s free.

» Subscribe to Missiographics Email Newsletter.

» Note: See how Pioneers used infographic strategies to visually communicate the results of a complex ministry effort.

BOOK: Telling the Gospel through Story

Source: InterVarsity Press

Telling the Gospel Through Story: Evangelism That Keeps Hearers Wanting More, by Christine Dillon. InterVarsity Press, 2012. 224 pages.

From the publisher’s website: “In an age when prepackaged gospel formulations leave people cold, well-told Bible stories can be used powerfully by God to touch people’s hearts and draw them to himself.

“After ministry in both Western and non-Western contexts, church planter Christine Dillon has discovered that Bible storying is far more effective than most other forms of apologetics or evangelistic presentations. In fact, non-Christians actually enjoyed storying and kept coming back for more. Storying provides solid biblical foundations so listeners can understand, apply, and respond to the gospel, and then go on to fruitful maturity in God’s service.

“This book includes practical guidance on how to shape a good story, how to do evangelism through storying, and how to lead Bible discussions. With particular insights for trainers and those working in cross-cultural contexts, this guide provides you with concrete steps for sharing the Story that everyone needs to hear.”

Outreach Magazine named this book to its list of 2013 Outreach Resources of the Year. The author, an Australian, serves as a church planter in Taiwan with OMF International.

» Preview or purchase this book from Amazon for US$10.45; US$9.93 for the Kindle edition.

» See also the related website, Storying the Scriptures. It includes links, videos, and other helpful resources.

 

Quotable

“About two-thirds of the Bible is preparation for Jesus. But we have a tendency to jump straight to proclaiming him. After all, we know that Jesus is the most important. Jesus is indeed the central point of the Bible and, indeed, all of history. The problem is that when we go straight to Jesus, most people’s hearts aren’t prepared. We want to proclaim, ‘Jesus is the answer,’ but many people are still asking, ‘What’s the question?'”

Christine Dillon, Telling the Gospel through Story

 

ARTICLE: Creating Missions “On Ramps”

Source: Catalyst Services

“The variety of missions opportunities has exploded,” says Catalyst Services, introducing the September 2013 edition of the monthly newsletter, Postings. “Some are nearby, others on the other side of the globe. Some last one day, others a lifetime. Some are appropriate for kids, others for youth, young adults, families, or seniors. But how are we getting people out of their seat and into the action? Is your church building multiple on ramps to use the untapped resources of your people?”

Postings talked to three church missions leaders who are creating new missions “on ramps.” Their goal is to mobilize their congregation by matching the gifts and interests of various ages with global opportunities, particularly focusing on fresh ways to connect younger generations.

» Download a PDF of the article.

BOOK: Internationals Who Live among Us

Source: Emmaus Road International

Internationals Who Live among Us: Doing World Missions at Home, by Neal Pirolo. Emmaus Road International, 2013. 224 pages.

Neal Pirolo, author of Serving as Senders Today, The Reentry Team, and several other works has published a new book dealing specifically with welcoming (and ministering to) internationals. Pirolo divides them into seven distinct groups: international students, undocumented aliens, visitors, business people, refugees, established ethnic communities, and (perhaps surprisingly) returned missionary kids. Each group gets its own chapter in this book.

While much might be said about needs and opportunities within each of these populations, Internationals Who Live among Us provides a good introduction and may help readers with compassion for one group to discover some of the others. Interviews, anecdotes, and observations invite the reader to identify with internationals and consider how they and their churches might better understand and engage with these groups.

The book is directed solely to an American Evangelical Christian audience and written with some eccentricities of style which might put off some readers. It is, though, full of little gems – resources, insights, and practical ideas for becoming personally involved in global outreach without leaving your town.

» Learn more or purchase this book from ERI for US$10.95. It does not seem to be available from other online sources like Amazon. A more extensive review is posted at Worldview Church.

EVENTS: Upcoming Training, Retreats, and Conferences

Source: Missions Catalyst Calendar

Our mission events calendar is full of events right now. Here’s what we have for October!
October 3 – Webinar: Contracting for Technical Solutions (online). Provided by Missio Nexus.
October 3-5 – OPEN Expo (Bentonville, AR, USA). Provided by the OPEN Network.
October 5 – Bridges Seminar (Grand Rapids, MI, USA).  A training event to help Christians connect with Muslims; provided by Crescent Project.
October 5 – Ignite Conference (Lancaster, PA, USA). Designed to assist church leaders to think intentionally and strategically to develop an increased capacity for sending missionaries. Sponsored by Calvary Church.
October 8-9 – Personal Support Raising Bootcamp (Harrisburg, PA, USA). Provided by Support Raising Solutions.
October 8-10 – Faith Reliance Symposium (Cary, NC, USA). Topic: Instilling healthy interdependency. Sponsored by Trans World Radio.
October 10-12 – North American Central Asia Forum (Portland, OR, USA).
October 12 – Bridges Seminar (Pomona, CA, USA).  A training event to help Christians connect with Muslims; provided by Crescent Project.
October 13-16, 17-20 – Thrive Southeast Asia Retreats (Bali, Indonesia). Designed to refresh and encourage North American women serving cross-culturally. Provided by Thrive (formerly Women of the Harvest).
October 16-19 – COMMA Consultation (Lexington, MA). Learn about ministry to Muslims from Muslims who have come to Christ.
October 16-20 – GO Equipped TENTmaking Course (Fort Myers, FL, USA). Provided by Global Opportunities.
October 18-19 – ENGAGE Missional Life (Fresno, CA, USA).
October 18-19 – Missions Fest Seattle (Seattle area, WA, USA). Free, community-based mission festival for all ages.
October 19 – Children’s Mission ConneXion (Powell Butte, OR, USA). Learn how to nurture children’s heart for the world.
October 22-25 – Destination Zero (Minneapolis, MN, USA). The annual roundtable of the Global Muslim Ministries Network. Designed for senior and missions pastors, agency leaders, and missions advocates for the Muslim world.
October 23 – Raising Support for Short-term Missions (online). Provided by Delta Ministries.
October 25-26 – People Raising Conference (Oakbrook, IL, USA). Provided by People Raising.
October 31 to November 2 – Oasis Conference (Dallas, TX, USA). For Christians reaching out to Muslims in North America. Provided by Crescent Project.
October 31 to November 3 – GO Equipped TENTmaking course (Gothenburg, Sweden). Provided by Global Opportunities.

Missions Catalyst 8.21.13 – Resource Reviews

In This Issue: Explaining the world, expecting great things, and more

Missions Catalyst is a free, weekly electronic digest of mission news and resources designed to inspire and equip Christians worldwide for global ministry. Use it to fuel your prayers, find tips and opportunities, and stay in touch with how God is building his kingdom all over the world. Please forward it freely!

Marti WadeMarti Wade is a writer, speaker, and project manager for the Church Partnerships Team at Pioneers. As a mission mobilizer, she has also trained and sent out many short-term teams to do relationship-based research to serve among the world’s least-reached peoples.

Marti has managed and published Missions Catalyst since 2004 and is the author of Through Her Eyes, a book about the lives of women serving cross-culturally in the Muslim world. She and her husband Chris live in Oregon.

MAPS: Forty that Explain the World

worldmap

 

Source: Washington Post and others

Have you seen the Washington Post’s collection of 40 Maps that Explain the World? It was inspired by the more light-hearted (but sometimes a bit offensive) 40 Maps They Didn’t Teach You in School and probably the Business Insider’s 36 Maps that Explain the Entire World. See also a discussion of the Washington Post maps and what they mean, which includes a video and some additional links.

William Carey (see below) said, “to know the will of God we need an open Bible and an open map.” Do any of these maps open the world to you? How could we (appropriately) use them in our speaking, writing, and blogging? Have you already done so?

» Comment on this item below.

BOOK: Expect Great Things

Source: William Carey Library

Expect Great Things: Mission Quotes that Inform and Inspire, compiled by Marvin J. Newell. William Carey Library, 2013. 368 pages.

Expect Great Things includes 700 quotations from 250 former and contemporary missionaries, statesmen, teachers, and preachers, from pithy one-liners to thought-provoking paragraphs. It doesn’t provide a lot of context, but it cites original sources, organizes the quotes into 70 categories, and includes an index. Its biggest selling point may be its reliability as a reference. Each quotation has been carefully verified as to its source and wording.

“Read them for personal encouragement,” urges Newell, the Senior Vice President of Missio Nexus. “Paste them on your website, blog, or other social media. Tweet them to a friend. Include them in sermons, speeches, newsletters, and lesson plans. Pass them along to others to encourage them along their way to Great Commission familiarity and commitment. ‘How good is a timely world’ (Proverbs 15:23).”

» Purchase this book for US$19.99 from the publisher or elsewhere. Also available from William Carey is the newly revised Writing Exceptional Missionary Newsletters.