In this edition:
Day: May 27, 2020
FREE EBOOK: Global Transmission Global Mission
Source: Operation World
Global Transmission Global Mission: The Impact and Implications of the COVID-19 Pandemic, by Jason Mandryk. Operation World, 2020. 53 pages.
Earlier this year Operation World began sharing updates about the COVID-19 crisis in different countries around the world, eventually launching a new website with that focus. As a result, editor Jason Mandryk was asked to write a short opinion/editorial article about how the worldwide Church—and world mission in particular—was being affected by the unfolding global pandemic.
“Like many of us, I have been reading voraciously of late, and my understanding of zoonotic diseases, epidemiology, public health policy, quantitative easing, supply chain management, etc. has graduated from generally oblivious to dangerously sophomoric,” he admits. “However, OW has the privilege of being connected to Christian leaders and international networks in the spheres of mission, research, prayer, and beyond, involving people in and from virtually every country on Earth.”
Mandryk was unable to provide an article under the word limit and before the deadline—there was just too much to say. Hence this publication: a 53-page book with 80 points related to the global church, mission mobilization, missionary sending, mission field realities, media opportunities, and more. It’s a bit rough in spots, and of course the situation continues to develop. Still, very thoughtful and well-informed and includes supporting links.
» Download and read the whole thing. No registration required.
» See also OW’s new COVID-19 prayer site, which follows the Operation World prayer calendar but adds urgent, COVID-related prayer points from each country. You can find them on social media, too.
RESOURCES: Related to Mission Trips
Sources: Various
What’s going on in the short-term mission movement now that most trips are canceled? Missio Nexus did a survey of short-term mission sending agencies and published a report. Today (May 27) Missio Nexus will host an online discussion about this research and about COVID-19 and short-term missions in general. Sorry for the last-minute mention, but you can probably find the recording later.
Yesterday (May 26) The Standards of Excellence in Short-Term Mission did a webinar encouraging us all to ask why we do mission trips and if we can accomplish these purposes without people traveling. You can watch it on their Facebook page or on Vimeo, or find the recording on their website later. It’s called “You Don’t Have to Go to Give.” (No, the bottom line wasn’t “just send us your money.”)
The Upstream Collective is giving away a seven-page PDF download exploring how and why you might want to take your people on a virtual short-term trip. No cost, but you’ll have to give them your contact info.
See also this roundup of articles (including one of ours) about coronavirus and canceled travel from Rachel Pieh Jones.
TRAINING: Ignite Church Planting Movements
Source: All Nations
Do you know the mission agency All Nations in Kansas City? They focus on making disciples and training leaders to ignite church-planting movements among neglected peoples. And their excellent training is open to the whole body of Christ.
Early last year, All Nations started to offer free Ignite Online Trainings about once a month. These 90-minute sessions cover topics ranging from storytelling and loving Buddhists to sending and abiding in Christ. They also have a whole series on the DNA of movements.
They also one-day, three-day, and three-week training sessions that go deeper on these topics. Maybe you know someone who could use their three-day Church Multiplication Training. In the past these have all happened in Kansas City, but now some are also online. Popular sessions include a Storytelling Workshop and People of Peace: How to Reach Your Muslim Neighbors.
» Learn about upcoming Ignite training sessions or browse the archives of recorded sessions. Other offerings are under the tab “Train and Go.”
» Other mission agencies that have generously opened up training opportunities along these lines include Beyond (we’ve mentioned their “Nugget Trainings” before) and Team Expansion (now expanding their online learning offerings). If you are aware of others, let us know!
DEBRIEFING: 2020 Mini-Debriefing Guide
Source: Returning Well
I know, 2020 isn’t done with us yet. But maybe you or someone you love—like a missionary making an unwanted, extended visit to their home country—could use some help processing all that’s come our way. The folks from Returning Well have put out a mini-debriefing guide.
» Learn more or download the guide. You might also want to look at the book Returning Well: Your Guide to Returning “Home” After Serving Cross-Culturally.
EVENTS: Happening (Mostly Online) in June
Source: Missions Catalyst Missions Events Calendar
Event organizers canceled or postponed most face-to-face events on our June events calendar, but online events go on and have multiplied. I likely missed some.
Classes and Longer Training Events
June 1 to August 3, Kairos Course Online.
June 1 to August 9, Perspectives Intensive Course Online.
June 1 to October 4, Perspectives Online Course.
June 2 to August 25, Perspectives Virtual Course (out of Fulton, MD).
June 16-18, Sahara Challenge (Crescent Project; ministry to Muslims).
June 16-19, Support Raising Virtual Bootcamp (Support Raising Solutions).
June 16-24, Standards Introductory Workshop (Standards of Excellence in Short-Term Mission; making mission trips better).
Online Debriefing
June 22-26, ABIDE. Re-entry for global workers (TRAIN International).
Webinars and Short Online Events
June 3, Church Missions Leaders Peer2Peer Virtual Gathering. Topic: missionary care in light of COVID-19 (Missio Nexus, with Jeff Jackson).
June 9, Leveraging Youth Mission Trips for Long-Term Spiritual Growth (Standards of Excellence in Short-Term Mission).
June 10, CEO Thought Leader Briefing. Topic: Self-care for CEOs (Missio Nexus, with Roy King).
Conferences Now Online
June 4, Mobilization Ideation Atlanta (online). An annual regional event.
June 24-26, The National African-American Mission Conference. Annual event moved online and free this year.
Face-to-Face Events
We believe the following events are not canceled or moved online.
June 7-13, Perspectives Intensive (Schooleys Mountain, NJ, USA).
June 28 to July 24, Equipping for Cross-Cultural Life and Ministry (Union Mills, NC, USA). Provided by the Center for Intercultural Training. This class is full, but there are openings for classes like this in the fall. Also check out prefield training options from MTI and TRAIN.
Other Events
June 6-7, World Weekend of Prayer for Children at Risk.
June 20, World Refugee Day.
» View complete calendar. Submissions and corrections welcome. We will continue to make updates about canceled and postponed events.