In this edition:
Day: April 24, 2019
VIDEO: Reaching the Unreached
Source: LifeNet Media Resources/Global Net
Have you seen this new, three-minute video designed to inspire a commitment to prayer and unity to reach the unreached? There’s also a longer version (nine minutes).
Could you show one of these to your church or group, then pray?
» See other short videos about the unreached—most of which we’ve featured here—as well as videos on related topics. Handy to have them in one place. Thanks, Joshua Project!
VIDEO SERIES: Love Muslims
Source: Prayercast
On May 5, as Ramadan is about to start, Prayercast will begin releasing 130 new, short videos designed to stimulate focused, strategic, passionate prayer for the Muslim world.
Each video is four to five minutes long and led by a former Muslim who now follows Jesus, many sharing stories of healing and transformation. Prayercast will send you an email reminder each day of Ramadan with a brand new video to inspire you to praise and prayer.
Know someone you can invite to watch and pray with you?
» Learn more and sign up or look at other resources from Prayercast.
» See also 30 Days of Prayer for the Muslim World.
BOOK: Serving Well
Source: Resource Publications (Wipf and Stock)
Serving Well: Help for the Wannabe, Newbie, or Weary Cross-cultural Christian Worker, by Elizabeth and Jonathan Trotter (Resource Publications, 2019). 378 pages.
Serving cross-culturally or planning to? You’ve got to read this book!
With more than 100 chapters, it covers everything from how prepare well to how to return well, with reflections and insight on moving overseas; taking care of your heart, marriage, and children; relationships, communication, pitfalls, and what to do when things don’t go as planned.
An emphasis on cultivating self-knowledge and emotional awareness comes through strong.
The book is comprehensive, funny, deep, and well written. I think it would be a good one to read or even read aloud with a spouse, friend, or teammate. You could use chapters to stimulate team discussion. Pastors and member-care types might want to read it, too, and use it as a resource to share with others.
The Trotters serve in Cambodia. Both write for the great collaborative missions blog A Life Overseas. Elizabeth is the editor-in-chief. Jonathan spends his days as a pastoral counselor.
» Learn more or purchase this book from Amazon. The Kindle edition is going for US$9.99. Want the paperback? Wipf and Stock is selling it for US$20, a 20% discount on the cover price.
» Another new missions book is making a strong debut. The title suggests a quite different tone. See A Company of Heroes: Portraits from the Gospel’s Global Advance, by Tim Keesee.
PODCASTS: A Roundup
Sources: various
God Network News, now up to 100 episodes, shares news and stories of what God is doing around the world. They are running a series of testimonies and stories from the Middle East.
Global Missions Podcast features interviews to help Christians participate more effectively in local and global ministry, also reached 100 episodes not long ago. The producers shared a list of their favorite episodes.
Engaging Missions recently put out two episodes on loving Muslims and several more about depending on God.
Missions Pulse is an interesting new missions podcast from prolific author and mobilizer David Joannes.
Moving a bit out of the “missions” world, you might check out Bob Goff’s Dream Big podcast, or Five Minutes in Church History.
» What have you been listening to? Let us know through comments on our website, Facebook, or Twitter (or of course by responding to this email).
EVENTS: Coming up in May
Source: Missions Catalyst Events Calendar
Note: USA-based mission mobilizers may also be interested in Mobilization Ideation events planned across the country during the month of May. I’ll be joining the one next week in Atlanta. Any of you planning to be there?
May 2, National Day of Prayer (USA).
May 2, Mapping Church Missions: A Compass for Ministry Strategy (online). Webinar from Missio Nexus.
May 2-5, Christian Medical and Dental Association (Ridgecrest, NC, USA). National Convention; an annual event.
May 2-30, Foundations of New Media Strategy (online). Mentored course on using social media for deeper conversations and disciple-making. Offered by Mission Media U.
May 3-5, BAM Conference Europe (Bucharest, Romania). Business as Mission.
May 6-7, Support Raising Bootcamp (Winter Park, FL, USA). Provided by Support Raising Solutions.
May 6 to June 4, 30 Days of Prayer for the Muslim World (global). An annual prayer campaign.
May 6 to September 8, Perspectives on the World Christian Movement (online).
May 7 to June 4, Using Mobile Phones in Missions (online). Mentored course to leverage ministry outreach using mobile phones. Offered by Mission Media U.
May 9-12, GO Equipped Tentmaking Course (Atlanta, GA, USA).
May 19 to June 14, Equipping for Cross-Cultural Life and Ministry (Union Mills, NC, USA). Provided by the Center for Intercultural Training.
May 20 to August 18, Encountering the World of Islam (online).
May 24-25, Engaging Islam Weekend (Dearborn, MI, USA). Provided by Horizons International.
May 27-31, Engaging Islam Institute (Dearborn, MI, USA). Provided by Horizons International.
May 31 to June 2, Everywhere to Everywhere (Sioux Falls, SD, USA). Missional training and outreach event.
May 31 to June 2, Invitation Prayer Retreat (Choctaw, OK, USA). Introduction to contemplative prayer from Beautiful Feet Boot Camp.
» View the complete calendar. Contact us to suggest additions. Want to know more about a specific event? Contact the event organizers.