Category: Resource Reviews

ARTICLE: Is This the Team for Me?

Source: Catalyst Services

Prospective missionaries often invest considerable time and effort in choosing the right mission agency. This is essential, but joining the right team may be even more important. The June edition of Postings, Is This The Team for Me? (PDF), explores questions that can help a missionary candidate learn if a specific team is a good fit. A blog post, Is This the Team for…Them?, provides additional ideas about how church leaders can coach prospective workers in this decision process.

Catalyst’s Postings e-newsletter is a monthly publication designed for mission agency personnel and local church leaders involved in collaborative global efforts. Practical articles highlight what churches and agencies are doing to mobilize believers, especially those of younger generations, to expand the Kingdom. It’s free.

» See also the May edition, Tap into Mobilizer Expertise (PDF), which illustrates how local churches can benefit from the skills of mission agency representatives nearby.

BOOKS: Insight on World Religions

Sources: Bethany House, CrossBooks, and P&R Publishing

Three books published in 2013 have come our way in recent months (e.g., free copies from the publishers!) Would any of these interest you as well?

What Every Christian Needs to Know about the Qur’an, by James R. White. Bethany House, 2013. 320 pages.

This book, published in May, focuses on what Islam’s sacred texts teach about the key areas of conflict between Islam and Christianity, including Christ, salvation, the Trinity, and the afterlife. The author is the director of Alpha and Omega Ministries, a Christian apologetics organization. He writes with purpose, clarity, and confidence. See the Amazon reviews for praise and helpful analysis.

True Jihad: Winning the Battle for Muslims, by Mark S. Pfeiffer. CrossBooks, 2013. 130 pages.

This book, published in March, provides a brief but readable introduction to Islam’s history, central teachings, and contemporary issues, along with some helpful advice on building relationships and answering Muslims’ concerns. The author attempts to provide a balanced, respectful path for Christians to relate with Muslims and share the gospel with them. Pfeiffer directs the Christian Institute of Islamic Studies at Baptist University of the Americas. Learn more at the book’s website.

Christianity and World Religions: An Introduction to the World’s Major Faiths, by Derek Cooper. P&R Publishing, 2013. 215 pages.

This one is designed to offer students (and other readers) a guided tour of six “rival stories” of the world: Hinduism (“the story of diversity and devotion”), Buddhism (“the story of enlightenment”), Confucianism and Daoism (“the stories of order and nature”), Judaism (“the story of tradition and identity”), and Islam (“the story of submission”). It also describes the range of Christian responses to these stories. The author is a professor at Biblical Seminary in Pennsylvania, where he specializes in history and world religions.

Here’s one more resource that might interest you, and this one is a free download. The 92-page report Christianity in its Global Context, 1970-2020: Society, Religion, and Mission offers an overview of the changing demographics of Christianity and Christians’ activities since 1970 (Center for the Study of Global Christianity).

EVENT: Praying for the Muslim World

Source: 30-Days Prayer Network

30-Days of Prayer is an international movement of intercession for the Muslim world. It coincides with the Ramadan fast – this year July 9 to August 7. If you haven’t already acquired materials and made plans for how you will participate, now’s the time.

Each year a new illustrated prayer guide booklet is published in dozens of languages and locations around the world. The booklet contains daily reading pages with prayer points, informative background articles, and resources for further study and involvement.

» Order the full-color, 56-page North American edition for US$3.00 (bulk discounts and children’s versions also available). Me, I plan to pray through the email edition; sign up here.

This year another prayer campaign is happening at the same time: Open Doors is calling for 30 days of prayer for persecuted Christians. Will you do both?

» Have plans for creative prayer or outreach during this season? Share them with our readers (comments below).

EVENTS: Upcoming Training, Retreats, and Conferences

Source: Missions Catalyst Calendar

July 2013

July 8 to August 2, Strategic Institute for Muslim Studies (Boulder, CO, USA). Provided by Horizons International.

July 9 to August 7, 30 Days of Prayer for the Muslim World (global). Join the millions of Christians around the world who have participated in this largest ongoing international prayer focus on the Muslim world.

July 20-27, The New Wilmington Mission Conference (Western Pennsylvania, USA). Week-long multi-generational mission conference with a focus on youth 12-24. A tradition for more than 100 years.

July 21-26, ReBoot (Kitchener, ON, Canada). For missionary kids who have completed their high school education overseas and are transitioning to life in Canada.

July 22-26, LeaderLink (Bangalore, India). Five-day workshop-based leadership training program for missionaries. Provided by MissioNexus.

July 26-26, North America Refugee Roundtable (Vancouver, BC, Canada). Provided by the Refugee Highway Partnership.

August 2013

August 1-3, Connext Conference (Chicago, IL, USA). National Leadership Conference For South Asian Christian leaders.

August 1-3, All-Africa Tentmaking Conference (Dar Es Salam, Tanzania). Provided by Global Opportunities.

August 4-10, Perspectives on the World Christian Movement Leader’s Intensive Class (Pittsburgh, PA, USA).

August 5-13, MK/TCK Re-Entry Retreat (Gaston, SC, USA). Retreat designed for teens transitioning to college from missionary families.

August 8-10, 7th Annual Christian Storytelling Conference (Peoria, IL, USA). Provided by the Christian Storytelling Network.

August 20-21, Personal Support Raising Bootcamp (Albany, NY, USA). Provided by Support Raising Solutions.

Missions Catalyst 5.22.13 – Resource Reviews

In This Issue: Can you tell the story in your own words?

  • BOOK: The Mystery of the Gospel
  • FAMILY CURRICULUM: Around the World in 60 Days
  • SUBSCRIPTION: Follow-up Tool for Mission Trip Participants
  • BOOK: Ministering to Children with Disabilities
  • EVENTS: Missions Conferences, Training, Retreats, and More

Continue reading Missions Catalyst 5.22.13 – Resource Reviews

Missions Catalyst 4.24.13 – Resource Reviews

In This Issue: Picturing the global village, insights into TCKs, and more

  • TEACHING MATERIALS: Picturing the World as 100 People
  • ARTICLE: Factors Leading to Conversion of Muslims to Christ
  • BOOK: A Third Culture Kid’s Journey Through Cultural Transition
  • EVENTS: Missions Catalyst Calendar

Continue reading Missions Catalyst 4.24.13 – Resource Reviews

Missions Catalyst 3.27.13 – Resource Reviews

In This Issue: Nine skills that apply to Christians everywhere

  • BOOK: Basic Missionary Skills for Christians Everywhere
  • EVENT: Global PrayerCast
  • BOOKLET: Raising a Support Team
  • BOOK: Mondays in the Middle East (Free Ebook Edition)
  • EVENTS: Missions Catalyst Calendar

Continue reading Missions Catalyst 3.27.13 – Resource Reviews

Missions Catalyst 2.27.13 – Resource Reviews

In This Issue: Predictions for Persia, activities for language learning, and Mondays in the Middle East

  • REPORT: Predictions for the Persian World
  • VIDEOS: Mission Trip Music
  • BOOK: Activities and Strategies for Everyday Language Learners
  • BOOK: Mondays in the Middle East
  • EVENTS: Missions Catalyst Calendar

2013 Calendar of Events

calendar pagesGreetings!

Interested in what’s coming up for 2013?

As a service to readers, Missions Catalyst compiles and maintains an online calendar of mission-related events across the US and around the world.

Maybe you’d like to attend some of these events or tell a friend about them. Perhaps you’re planning an event of your own and wonder what else might be going on that weekend. Or it could be that you know about an event that would interest other reader and should be added to our calendar! Let us know.

Marti Smith