In This Issue: Book reviews, videos you can use, and more
Reviewed by Marti Wade, Missions Catalyst
A Wind in the House of Islam: How God Is Drawing Muslims around the World to Faith in Jesus Christ, by David Garrison. Monument, CO: WIGTake Resources, 2014. 314 pages.
In more than 14 centuries of Muslim-Christian relations, tens of millions of Christians have been assimilated into the Muslim religion. During this same time period, we can document only 82 Muslim movements to Christ.
What’s most remarkable about this, says researcher and strategist David Garrison, is that 69 of history’s 82 movements have occurred in the past two decades alone. “We are living in the midst of the greatest turning of Muslims to Christ in history.”
To better understand and respond to this phenomenon, Garrison and his collaborators traveled to each corner of the Muslim world (which Garrison calls the nine rooms in the house of Islam) and conducted interviews with more than 1,000 former Muslims who have come to faith in Jesus within 45 of these movements. Garrison’s definition of a movement is a fairly modest one: at least 1,000 baptisms or 100 church starts among a Muslim people over a two-decade period.
The book includes a strong emphasis on context. It includes an extensive introduction and explanation of research methods and a historic survey of Christian outreach and Muslim response to the gospel both globally and in each of nine world regions. Details of each region’s history, peoples, religion, and political dynamics provide a backdrop for the stories of the Muslim-background believers who emerged from such contexts.
The book concludes with a tentative but insightful list of ten “bridges of God” (ways God is working among Muslims today) and five barriers to seeing movements like these flourish, along with five practical steps we can take right now that will align us with God’s redemptive activity among Muslims.
I finished this book somewhat disappointed, primarily because though the history was helpful, I was left wanting more: more quotes and contemporary stories, analysis of what God is using to reach Muslims today, and suggestions for the response of the global church. If the movements Garrison describes continue to grow and multiply, however, this will certainly not be the last we hear of them.
» Purchase this book for US$13.27 from World Christian (paperback and hardback editions only; no electronic versions available). See also the book website.
Sources: OMF, AIM, and Prayercast
Mongolia – An Off-road Vision Trip (OMF Media). Dream about using your media skills to tell the stories of the nations? Follow an OMF Media team into Mongolia, then check out the new Mongolia videos (and gems like The Task Unfinished) in OMF Media’s Vimeo stream.
The Distant Boat (AIM On-field Media). This feature-length drama is designed to stir the African church in its involvement in global outreach. You can watch the trailer online and download the film for US$5. (Thanks to Perspectives in Practice for bringing it to our attention.) See also other work by AIM’s media team.
His Praise Goes On (Prayercast). The praises of God’s people are lifted up in a never-ending stream that circles the globe daily. Watch this exquisite music video and be inspired. While you’re there, let videos guide you pray for Ukraine and South Sudan.
Source: DELTA Ministries
Are you in the “mission trip” business, sending out short-term teams through your church or organization? The Hub, a free monthly newsletter, is designed to serve as a gathering place for short-term mission articles, resources, tools, and opportunities. The goal is to equip churches, ministries, and individuals to conduct responsible short-term missions that glorify God.
» Learn more and/or subscribe. See also DELTA’s series of interactive Short-term Mission Webinars.
Source: Cross Conference
December 27-30, about 3,600 college students met in Louisville, Kentucky, to consider the global glory of Christ, the nature of Christ’s mission to the unreached peoples of the world, and the power of the Christian gospel. Recordings of many sessions, some in both video and audio form, are online. Highlights include:
The Chief End of Missions: The Supremacy of God in the Joy of All Peoples (John Piper)
The Life Worth Living for Christ Is a Life Worth Losing (Matt Chandler)
Mobilizing God’s Army for the Great Commission (David Platt)
» See additional media from the Cross Conference.
» Readers might also be interested in a new, free ebook with four messages presented by John Piper to the thousands of students at Passion Conferences. See An All-Consuming Passion for Jesus: Appeals to the Rising Generation (Desiring God).
Reviewed by Ted Esler, TedRead
Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes: Removing Cultural Blinders to Better Understand the Bible, by E. Randolph Richards and Brandon J. O’Brien. IVP Academic, 2012. 241 pages.
Not only do we have our own culture, but the Bible has its own as well. We must learn to understand the areas of our own cultural blinders and be able to see the Bible in its context. Simple enough, but rarely do I see this sort of analysis by Western theologians. This is a balanced, concise, and well-written treatment of the topic.
Richards served as a missionary in Indonesia, which colors the illustrations in a very helpful way, and O’Brien is an editor at Leadership Journal. They lead the reader through nine areas of caution in regard to understanding the Bible mono-culturally. The book is filled with excellent examples highlighting the arguments being made using both real-life experience and biblical texts.
» Read the rest of Esler’s review (which includes book notes and excerpts) and a related blog post, Read the Bible Like a Missionary.
» Browse the archives or subscribe to TedRead, which features reviews of Great-Commission-related books.
Source: Missions Catalyst Calendar
MissioNexus Webinars
Four online webinars on the following topics, designed for US mission and ministry leaders, are scheduled for February (and more throughout the spring):
February 6, Should Churches Fund Home Staff and Retirees?
February 13, Meet Your Neighbors
February 20, Seven Models for Community Ministry
February 27, Common Challenges in Conflicting Cultures
Bridges Seminars (Crescent Project)
Four of these one-day seminars, designed to help participants learn to build bridges to reach Muslims, are scheduled for February (with more in March and April):
February 1, Joplin, MO, USA
February 8, Houston, TX, USA
February 15, Columbus, OH, USA
February 22, McAllen, TX, USA
February Conferences
February 5-8, International Conference on Computing and Mission (Mosbach, Germany). An annual event.
February 7-9, TRACTIONwest Gathering (Rocklin, CA USA). Young adults who want the Lord to ignite our passion to be “on mission” with God.
February 7-9, Missionfest Manitoba (Winnipeg, MB, Canada). Free, annual, community-based mission festival for all ages.
February 14-17, World Christian Conference (Boulder Creek, CA, USA). An annual West-coast event sponsored by The World Christian Fellowship – mobilizing Asian-American Christians (and those who identify with them) to disciple all nations.
February 17-19, Mission America Coalition Leadership Consultation (Charlotte, NC, USA). Loving America to Christ.
February 21-22, Midwest Conference on Missionary Care (St. Paul, MN, USA).
February 21-22, The Justice Conference (Los Angeles, CA, USA). Annual event to promote dialogue around justice related issues such as human trafficking, slavery, poverty, HIV/AIDS, and human rights. Also being simulcast to venues across the USA.
February 21-23, Missions Fest Alberta (Edmonton, AB, Canada). Free, annual, community-based mission festival for all ages. (Now in its 20th year!)
Retreats, Training and Other Events
February 5-9, GO Equipped TENTmaking Course (Malaga, Spain). Provided by Global Opportunities.
February 8, Frontiers Connect (Kansas City, KS, USA). Explore work among Muslims.
February 17-20, Thrive retreat (Antalya, Turkey). Encouragement for North American women serving cross-culturally.
February 21-22, Next Steps (Kansas City, MO, USA). Learn more about God’s heart for the world and your role in making disciples of all nations. Provided by Crossworld.
February 21-23, The Journey Deepens (Greenwood, IN, USA). Explore becoming a missionary. Sponsored by MissionNext.
In This Issue: Praying the way Paul told Timothy to pray
Greetings!
The apostle Paul instructed Timothy to pray for kings and those in high positions (1 Timothy 2:1-5). Today, will you join us in praying along those lines?
1. World leaders are meeting in Switzerland to discuss Syria. Since the beginning of the conflict three years ago, an average of 6000 people per day have fled the country. Pray for Geneva II and the formation of an interim government for Syria.
2. Also pray for the leaders meeting in late February in Nepal and Kyrgyzstan to discuss Religion, Security, and Citizenship.
3. In the US, January is now National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, per proclamation by the president. Much to pray about concerning those issues!
And finally, some cool tools to help us know the world better:
1. The Refugee Project is an interactive map that shows where refugees are coming from and where they are going.
2. Ever wonder what countries are friends with each other? A good indication is where they allow visitors to come from and where they allow their citizens to go. Check out Visa Mapper and The World’s Worst Passports for clues.
Pray for God-honoring relationships among the nations’ leaders!
Praying with you,
Pat
About Us
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!
Pat Noble has been the “news sleuth” for Missions Catalyst since 2004. In addition to churning out the news, she is working to create a SWARM (Serving World A Regional Mobilizers) in Northern New York using the NorthernChristian.org website. You can connect with her at www.whatsoeverthings.com.
Source: Mission Network News, January 7, 2014
The Awami League handily won Bangladesh’s [January 6] election, but the victory was marred by street fighting, low turnout, and a boycott by the opposition. Without a contender, the Awami League took more than two-thirds of seats in the contest.
Accusations over unfair process prompted strikes and protests, some of which turned into deadly clashes with police. Asian Access vice president for leader development Noel Becchetti says the process reveals an enmity that goes back decades.
Becchetti says, “When you have this kind of unrest, it puts pressure on everybody who’s simply a peace-loving citizen. When they strike in Bangladesh, most of the transportation shuts down. Most of the shopkeepers are afraid to open their stores for fear of violence. It really stops your ability to function.”
» Full story with pictures and prayer points. For history and analysis of the Bangladesh situation, read Genocide and Justice in Bangladesh.
» A great resource for prayer points on upcoming elections is The 10/40 Window Reporter.
Source: Lausanne Global Analysis, January 13, 2014
Human trafficking is a global crime affecting nearly all countries in every region of the world, and the statistics are simply staggering. Between 2007 and 2010, victims of 136 different nationalities were detected in 118 countries across the world.
Trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation accounts for 58% of all cases detected globally, while trafficking for forced labor accounts for 36 percent (double the 2008 percentage). Removal of organs, begging, forced marriages, illegal adoptions, participation in armed combat, and the commission of petty crimes are some of the other reasons for human trafficking.
The International Labor Organization estimates that 20.9 million people are victims of forced labor globally. Women account for about 60 percent of trafficking victims, and children 27 percent (two thirds of them girls).
» Read full story, including a call to the global church to respond.
» Related to human trafficking is the mistreatment of women. For stories to help you pray for and believe in change, see Deborah Meroff’s new blog, Women Without Borders.