Month: September 2019
EVENT: 15 Days of Prayer for the Hindu World
Source: WorldChristian.com
Will you join Christians around the world in praying for the planet’s more than one billion Hindus during 15 days of prayer? This year’s event takes place October 20 to November 3 to coincide with Hindu festival season.
The 2019 prayer guide provides articles to encouraged informed prayer for various spheres of Hindu society, including family life, media, the arts, business, government, religion, and celebration, along with material about four major Indian pilgrimage sites: Puri in the east, Rameshwaram in the south, Dwarka in the west, and Badrinath in the north.
» Purchase the 32-page, full-color prayer guide booklet from WorldChristian.com for US$3.00 (with bulk discounts available) or download a PDF version for US$2.50. International distribution info also on the website. See other prayer guides, too.
» Want to pray without buying anything? Use this daily prayer summary. Designed for A4 paper but prints nicely on 8.5×11, too.
ONLINE COURSE: Intro to Missions Mobilization
Source: Globalcast Resources
Globalcast Resources and YWAM Frontier Missions have launched a brand-new online course in mission mobilization and advocacy. Designed with mobilizers from the Global South in mind, it’s built around 15 short video lessons you can work through at your own pace and a WhatsApp group for peer coaching and encouragement. The class is only US$20 with discounts available.
You’ll have to act fast, though. Enrollment closes at 4pm Central time, today, September 25. Participants will have ongoing access to the material, so if you think this is for you but don’t have time just now, you could sign up and go through it later.
» Learn more or register. You might also want to poke around the Globalcast Resources website or social media feeds.
MEDIA: Mission Leaders Conference on Future Mission
Source: Missio Nexus
We’re pleased to see media from the plenary sessions at last week’s Mission Leaders Conference (“Future Mission: A Challenging Look at the Future of Missions and the Great Commission”) are already posted online; no login required. Start with James Kelly on innovation in mission and K.A. Ellis on the future of persecution. There’s a thought-provoking piece from Ed Stetzer, two videos with Andrew Brunson, and more.
Missio Nexus member? You can log in and access audio recordings of most of the workshops, as well.
BOOK: The Only One
Source: William Carey Publishing
The Only One: Living Fully in, by, and for God, by Curtis Sergeant. William Carey Publishing, 2019. 216 pages.
Want to live a God-centered life?
“Read this book slowly and prayerfully, writing your responses in a journal. Then get a second copy for a friend and reread it, discussing it together. This book is transformational,” says Rick Warren.“I wrote this book to share with you what I have learned about walking with Jesus from decades of pioneering mission work in some of the darkest places on earth,” says author and DMM trainer Curtis Sergeant. “Though the locations were exotic, the principles are universal. They apply to everyone who desires to follow Jesus.”
“I believe the greatest enemy of genuine discipleship in the US is the prevailing paradigm of what it means to follow Jesus. I pray that God will use this book to change that concept.”
Packed with scripture, this guide to what the author calls “theopraxy” is all about growing as a disciple, especially in community. It emphasizes learning to listen to God and rely on his power to do what he says, accountable to others doing the same. Great book.
Because of a special arrangement with the author, you can download a copy of the ebook for free. Contact the publisher to set up a code to give it as a gift to your staff, supporters, or congregation.
Learn more and get your electronic copy. You can also purchase paperback copies to use on your own or with a group for US$14.99 from William Carey Publishing.
» The author compares this book to Steve Smith’s Spirit Walk. Readers might also be interested in some of the resources related to disciple-making movements recently highlighted in Brigada Today.
EVENTS: October Conferences, Courses, and More
Source: Missions Catalyst Events Calendar
October 4-5, The Mobilized Church: Keys to Unleashing Missionary Potential (Mill Creek, WA, USA). Provided by Sixteen:Fifteen.
October 4-6, Business as Mission Conference USA (Silicon Valley, CA, USA). An annual event.
October 7 to February 16, 2020, Perspectives on the World Christian Movement (online).
October 8-11, Pastors to Missionaries Conference (Ridgecrest, NC, USA). Pastoral training in member care, from Barnabas International; an annual event.
October 14-18, South Pacific Region Member Care Conference (Mosgiel, New Zealand).
October 15-18, Support Raising Leaders Conference (Scottsdale, AZ, USA). Provided by Support Raising Solutions.
October 17-19, Trauma and the Gospel (Greenwood Village, CO, USA). Seminar on offering healing and hope to children in crisis. Provided by Crisis Care Training International. More info.
October 19-20, Missions Fest Seattle (Bellevue, WA, USA). Free annual community missions event.
October 20-25, ABIDE re-entry debriefing for global workers (Joplin, MO, USA).
October 22-24, Crescent Project National Conference (Nashville, TN, USA). An annual event.
October 23-25, Refugee Highway Partnership North America Roundtable (Toronto, ON, Canada). An annual event.
October 25–27, Mountain Feet Weekend (Choctaw, OK, USA). Discern and respond to God’s invitation on your life. From Beautiful Feet Boot Camp.
October 28 to November 23, COMPASS (Palmer Lake, CO, USA). Language and culture acquisition provided by Mission Training International.
October 29 to November 26, Hands-On Media Ministry in a Mobile World (online). Mentored course to leverage ministry outreach using mobile phones. Offered by Mission Media U.
October 29-30, Support Raising Bootcamp (Fayetteville, AR, USA). Training provided by Support Raising Solutions.
October 31 to November 3, Catalyze Pacific Northwest (Camas, WA, USA). Three-day intensive designed to impart practical missional skills. Provided by Frontiers.
» View the complete calendar. Additions welcome. Want to know more about a specific event? Contact the event organizers.
Big steps for new believers | World News Briefs ????
MIDDLE EAST: A Wave of Baptisms as Refugees Turn to Christ
Source: SEND International, September 5, 2019
A year ago, we asked you to pray for the hundreds of thousands of Muslim immigrants and refugees who had recently arrived in Europe, most of them fleeing war and civil unrest. We wrote about their tremendous needs and about the tremendous opportunities for us Chris
Our awesome God is answering our prayers in ways almost beyond belief! Hundreds of former Muslims are stepping forward and not only giving their lives to Christ, but also being baptized.
Baptism is a very hard step for many former Muslims to take; historically, there have been some who have professed faith in Christ, but who delay baptism. Almost all Muslims see Christian baptism as the final severing of any ties to Islam, a step that once taken, is irrevocable. There is no more fence-sitting once you have been baptized, and ostracism and persecution are almost certain to follow.
However, amazingly, in one European country in particular, Muslims are accepting Jesus as their Lord and Savior, being baptized, gathering together, and even meeting openly as churches.
» Full story addresses the issue of false conversions (there are some) and includes ways to pray for these refugees and those serving among them.
» Read how a worker with the International Mission Board describes what discipling Muslims really looks like in his context and how baptism is seen.
LEBANON: State of Economic Emergency
Source: Mission Network News, September 10, 2019
[On September 2], Lebanon declared a state of economic emergency. This could be mistaken for a state of emergency, but a state of economic emergency allows a government to implement economic emergency measures. Per the Associated Press, Lebanon has one of the highest public debts in the world. The country is hurting.
“Because of the Syrian refugee crisis, and the economic impact that’s having on the country, [Lebanon] has been on the verge of bankruptcy. And this is just one more step in that process. The Prime Minister, [a] couple [of] weeks back, was in the United States. He’s been all over asking the other nations to help them financially help take care of this crisis, and nobody is,” [says Tom Atema of Heart for Lebanon].
“When in great hardship, great persecution…there’s a there’s a wide-open door for the gospel like never before. I don’t want to lose sight of that in all the negativity of this topic. Muslims are coming to Christ like never before, and reaping a tremendous harvest,” Atema explains.
Heart for Lebanon is in the process of opening its new Hope Ministry Center, which officially opens October 1. This center serves the refugee community in the Bekaa valley with Bible studies, informal education for the children, job training, and more. In being the hands and feet of Christ to people who fled their homes, Heart for Lebanon is also helping relieve some of the economic pressures the Syrian refugee crisis has placed on the Lebanese people.
CENTRAL ASIA: A Bold Witness
Source: International Mission Board, September 11, 2019
[When Ruslan] first heard the gospel from relatives in the big city, he couldn’t sleep for days. On the fourth day, he visited their church and heard the truth about Jesus again. In tears, he repented and believed in Christ for salvation.
Ruslan is now a married father of four, an evangelist, and a church planter. Many people have come to Christ through his obedience to boldly and faithfully share the gospel at every opportunity. He fasted and prayed ten days for the salvation of his mother, who came to faith. His older brother also repented and believed through Ruslan’s witness.
Another Christian met Ruslan at a wedding and asked him to share the gospel with his antagonistic older brother. The older brother had been threatening to inform the police about the Christians. Ruslan was hesitant and said he would share with the older brother during his next visit.
The other Christian disregarded Ruslan’s offer to follow up later, and he brought the older brother into their conversation right there at the wedding. Despite his fear, Ruslan shared the gospel with the man and talked for an hour about Islam and Christianity. Ruslan noticed a phone in the man’s chest pocket but assumed it was off.
A couple of days later, Ruslan learned the man recorded their entire conversation on his phone. Ruslan’s first reaction was fear, but he gave it to the Lord and prayed, “Use this for good. May your will be done.” He later found out that instead of giving the recording to the police, the man listened to the gospel message again and again. He too believed.
» Full story goes into further detail about the risks and tensions associated with sharing the gospel in sensitive contexts.
» You might also read The Risk of Reaching the Unreached: Finding the Balance Between Safety and Compassion (Lausanne Global Analysis).