In this edition:
Month: July 2019
VIDEOS: Missionary Explainer Series
Source: Pioneers USA
Pioneers recently released a series of videos you may find helpful. Each one addresses a mission-related question people may have a hard time asking or struggle to explain to others. The videos have some Pioneers branding, but it’s fairly low-key. Topics:
- Who are the lost vs. the unreached? (what does “unreached” mean?)
- What is church planting? (especially cross-culturally?)
- Who is a missionary? (or are we all missionaries?)
- Why go with a mission agency? (instead of going without one)
- Why do I need a sending church? (how goers count on senders)
Know someone with questions like these? Share these videos with them.
» Watch all five videos through the Pioneers USA YouTube playlist or the Facebook page. You can also find them on the Pioneers USA website with links to related content.
» See also the explainer videos from Global Frontier Missions. These are great! I’m told they’ve been updated, too.
ARTICLE: Senior Pastor Perspective
Source: Catalyst Services, July 2019
Are senior pastors too busy to lead their churches in global outreach? In this month’s Postings, two lead pastors describe why missions is a priority for them. They also explain how they ignite vision and serve as the #1 cheerleader for missions without being #1 worker.
At the end of the article, you will find (1) practical ideas for pastors who want to better shepherd their church’s global vision and (2) suggestions for a missions team that wants to strengthen their pastor’s global vision.
» Read the article. It includes links to other resources. Then browse the Postings archives for lots more great content.
SURVEY: Growing Global Kids
Source: Missions Catalyst
There’s still time to complete our survey about helping kids grow in their global vision. We’d love to hear your thoughts on that. Read this article to get your mental wheels turning.
» Take the survey. One respondent will get a $25 Amazon gift card.
Have you subscribed to Muslim Connect, from Missions Catalyst’s own Shane Bennett? This weekly email is written to help people like us understand and connect with Muslims and equip others to do so as well. Just 300 words, it’s practical, pithy, and fun.
If you sign up now, you’ll get a free PDF called, “Ten Simple Ways Normal People Can Be Nice to Muslims. With a Danger Rating for Each!”
» Subscribe to Muslim Connect. See back issues at shanebennett.com.
PODCAST: Recently Heard
Sources: Various
If one of these topics catches your attention, click through to listen. Like what you hear? Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.
- The Unstoppable, Global Gospel, with Tim Keese (The Gospel Coalition Podcast). Conference message; refers to Tim’s new book.
- The Future of the Missions Organizations, with Eric King (The Upstream Collective Podcast). Emphasizes that churches, not organizations, need to own the mission.
- The Rise and Fall of Movements, with Steve Addison (Engaging Missions Podcast). Also the title of Steve’s new book; get a taste.
- It’s Tea Time Somewhere: All about Expectations (Taking Route Podcast). Women living cross-culturally talk about comparison.
EVENTS: Conferences, Classes, and Retreats
Source: Missions Catalyst Events Calendar
August 2-9, ReBoot Re-entry Program (Calgary, AB, Canada). For returning missionary kids, ages 17-20, transitioning to life in Canada. Held in two locations each summer.
August 5 to December 8, Perspectives on the World Christian Movement (online). Another class will take place August 12 to December 15. Live classes will be launching in many locations throughout the month.
August 10, Reaching Your Hindu Neighbors (King of Prussia, PA, USA). A one-day training where you discover simple ways to share your faith with Hindus via everyday relationships.
August 12-16, Cubs to Lions (Vancouver, BC, Canada). Discipleship for Christians with a Muslim background. From Horizons International. Similar events held worldwide.
August 15, Circle Up! (online). Part of a series of “nugget” trainings for disciplemakers; this one about coaching circles. Provided by Beyond.
August 16-17, One More Conference (Rome, GA, USA). Weekend conference on missions for lay leaders as well as professionals.
August 17, An Introduction to Bible-based Trauma Healing (Clarkston, GA, USA). One-day course from the Trauma Healing Institute.
August 19 to December 6, Christian Engagement with Muslims (online). Course provided by the Lilias Trotter Center, in partnership with Wesley Biblical Seminary.
August 22, Spiritual Direction: A Growing Practice in Missions and Member Care (online). Webinar from Missio Nexus.
August 26 to September 6, Engaging Islam Institute (Beirut, Lebanon). Training event from Horizons International.
August 28-29, Support Raising Bootcamp (Charlotte, NC, USA). Provided by Support Raising Solutions.
August 28, The Sending Triangle: Missionary, Church, Agency (online). Free webinar from Sixteen:Fifteen.
August 29, Stewardship of Short-Term Missions with an Emphasis on Discipleship (online). Webinar from Missio Nexus.
» View the complete calendar. Additions welcome. Want to know more about a specific event? Contact the event organizers.
Iraq, Iran, and Afghanistan: God at Work | World News Briefs
In Iraq, Iran, and Afghanistan, it sometimes seems all hope that the gospel will penetrate is lost. But God is at work, and the church is growing. See related story below (International Mission Board).
In this edition:
IRAQ, IRAN, AFGHANISTAN: God Is at Work
Source: International Mission Board, July 19, 2019
Iraq: Northern Iraq has appeared in a lot of headlines over the past few years. As ISIS inches its way closer and closer to Iraqi Kurdistan, stability in the region deteriorates. Military checkpoints dot the land and make land travel long and stressful. [Yet] many say the region is more open to the gospel than it has been in a thousand years.
Iran: Forty years ago, the Islamic Revolution swept [Iran]. Since then, many Iranians have come to a place of spiritual openness. They are fed up with Islam and eager for other options, including Eastern religion and New Age philosophies. Within this spirit of exploration, an overwhelming number of Iranians are finding the truth of Jesus Christ and putting their trust in him.
Afghanistan: War has ravaged the country of Afghanistan for over forty years. The constant change of new regimes and power brokers has worn the people down. Yet the church in Afghanistan is growing. In today’s global environment, even the poorest of the poor own a mobile phone. People are accessing Scripture on their phones and coming to faith in Jesus.
» Full story includes links, stories, and prayer points. Encouraging!
» Another thought-provoking IMB article: Staying on Mission: What Missionaries Can Teach Us in Post-Christian America.
SOUTHEAST ASIA: First Fruits in a Mountain Town
Source: Pioneers USA, July 8, 2019
Jay lives in one of Asia’s poorest and least-developed countries. It’s home to more than 100 people groups and further divided by variations in culture and dialect. The gospel does not easily cross such barriers. The church there was weakened when, decades ago, two-thirds of the Christians and most of the trained pastors left after facing government pressure.
But things are starting to change. Poverty and isolation are lessening. The church, though persecuted, is growing. And groups of foreign and local believers focused on church planting are working together and seeing the gospel start to go places it hasn’t gone before.
We’re encouraged to hear what God is doing in Jay, a young man from one of the people groups we’re praying for. A few months ago, Jay decided to become a Christian. Recently, he shared with his family that he is now a follower of Jesus and is planning on being baptized. They responded to this news surprisingly well… in fact, they are open to hearing more about the gospel of Jesus.
Jay is one of the first in his people group to become a believer.
CUBA: To the Nations
Source: Assembly of God World Missions, July 22, 2019
Missionaries Don and Jacquie recently finished training 300 Cuban global missions workers, 80 of whom were commissioned for worldwide service at Cuba’s Assemblies of God General Council this year.
“Everywhere we go, a vision for missions is being birthed in this nation,” says Don. “Jacquie and I have traveled this island end to end multiple times. There’s not a place we go that we don’t see God awakening a burden for missions. The church is just exploding.”
In the process of training candidates for missions, Don and Jacquie have discovered a wealth of highly skilled Cubans.
“We know chemical engineers, English professors, lawyers, doctors, and more who are called to go to the nations,” they share.
Cuban culture places a high premium on education, and this cultural value is reflected in the church. Cubans’ professional training strategically equips them to reach sensitive contexts.
And for the first in time in over 50 years, Cubans are now allowed to leave the country for up to two years at a time, providing the first official opportunity to release these uniquely gifted and highly equipped Cuban missionaries.
“It’s like God in the last 60 years has just been training a huge missionary force,” Don and Jacquie state.
» Read full story. It also describes a decades-old prophecy of all this.
» Also from Cuba, we read that a religious freedom defender in Cuba has been released after seven days in prison (Christian Solidarity Worldwide).
» Readers may be encouraged to hear that Christianity has continued to grow in Nepal, despite persecution, with more than 8,000 churches established and over a million converts to Christianity since 2008 (Premier).