Month: April 2025
Book: Living Your Love for God Out Loud
Source: Tyndale House
Living Out Loud: Letting Your Love for God Flow Into Your Everyday Language, by Kevin King with Christine Daniels. Tyndale House, 2024. 178 pages.
As Jesus prepared to send his followers ahead into towns he would soon visit, he encouraged them with one crucial detail that hasn’t changed in more than two thousand years. Simply this: The harvest is plentiful (Luke 10:2).
In Living Out Loud, Kevin King of International Project, shares from scripture and personal experience how and why we should work to overcome our tendency to keep our faith private and quiet. He addresses many of the most common obstacles and stumbling blocks and invites us to live our faith “out loud” so others can experience it, too.
This book is a winsome and practical read. Think about sharing it with someone in your church or going through it with a group. Although the book includes examples from the author’s work among internationals in New York City, it’s crafted for broad appeal, not just for missionary-types or American Christians. The authors also created a six-session discussion guide that you may find helpful.
It looks like you can get the first three chapters for free from International Project. But you may want to buy the book just for the “sidebar for introverts” and the short appendix on “bringing Shema statements into your daily language.” Good stuff and deliberately non-prescriptive.
See also a recent blog from International Project on how you can use Discovery Bible Studies to disciple non-Christians to Christ.
Books: Two New Titles About the Nations for Kids Today
Source: InterVarsity Press
Two interesting new books are coming out from IVP in May. Kaylee Prays for the World follows a young girl and her grandfather as they read and discuss the morning newspaper. While reading, they talk about suffering and brokenness and look for ways to pray for the children of the world.
Jesus Loves the Little Children re-imagines the classic (if now a bit outdated) song for kids today. After all “red and yellow, black and white” doesn’t quite cover it, does it? Listen to the new song, now with new verses, or just get the book. Better than ever or too “woke”? You decide.
Both are available for pre-order now.
Podcast Episode: Can AI Lead Someone to Jesus?
Source: Lausanne Movement
This thought-provoking episode of the Lausanne Movement Podcast, explores explore the emerging world of Christian AI and its potential to revolutionize ministry. Podcast guest Chase Cappo shares how technology can serve the church, foster trust, and guide people toward authentic encounters with Jesus.
You’ll hear powerful testimonies, hard questions, and hopeful answers as the conversation journeys through faith, tech, and global mission.
Learn more, listen to the episode and see the show notes or watch the video version, below (52 minutes).
Resource Roundup: Missions for Everyone
Sources: Various
Two Years Out of Twenty
What is the best way to spend your first few years out of college? Consider investing the first two years of your career based on the biblical concept of the tithe. Read Tithe Your Career (GoCorps). GoCorp’s Katy White has a new book coming out that uses the same title; we’ll let you know when it’s available.
Missions for the Middle-Aged
At the end of their careers, many Christians have more time, flexibility, and life experience than ever. Steve Richardson asks, why not harness those things to further the kingdom of God? Read Never Too Old: Missions for the Middle-Aged (Pioneers-USA).
A Mission of Faithfulness
For generations, men have been taught—subtly and explicitly—that their primary duty is to provide for their families. While provision is important, it was never meant to be a man’s ultimate mission. Read The True Mission of a Man: Faithfulness Over Provision and other articles related to stewardship and generosity from Chris McDaniel (Ignite Your Generosity).
Faith at Work
Global Day of Faith at Work (GDFW) is a new worldwide event held annually on May 1, which is also observed as International Labor Day. The first GDFW also coincides with the National Day of Prayer in the United States. Let’s pray together for effective ministry in every workplace, community, and nation. Find many helpful resources on the website (Lausanne Workplace Network). Many can be used at any time.
History Makers Leadership Podcast
What strategies, stories, insights, and values shape and inspire Christian leaders making a global impact? Hear a couple who pastor in the Global Methodist Church tell their story in episodes titled “Your Church Is a Launchpad, Not Just a Building” and “The Harvest Is Plentiful: Mobilizing Effective Missions.” Listen in (International Leadership Institute).
Events: Mission Conferences and More in May
Source: Missions Catalyst Calendar
May 1, National Day of Prayer (USA). An annual event.
May 1, Global Day of Faith at Work (international). Sponsored by the Lausanne Workplace Network and World Evangelical Alliance, and meant to be annual.
May 1, A Discussion about Member Care’s Future: The Shared Foundations Initiative (online). Webinar from Missio Nexus.
May 1-3, Engaging Islam Conference (Edmonton, AB, Canada). Learn proven tools to engage with your Muslim friends and neighbors. Hosted by Newcomers to Canada Project.
May 1-4, The Christian Medical and Dental Association National Conference (St. Charles, MO, USA). An annual event; largest of its kind.
May 2, Maximize Your Summer Fundraising (online). Webinar from Tailored Fundraising.
May 5 to July 20, Perspectives on the World Christian Movement (online intensive). New online classes begin regularly.
May 8, BAM Global Summit (online). A Lausanne Movement gathering.
May 12-16, Engage Spiritual Retreat (Union Mills, NC, USA). Sponsored by Mesa Global and the Center for Intercultural Engagement.
May 13-16, The Mobilizer’s Retreat (near Asheville, NC, USA). Sponsored by Missio Nexus and Gospel Mobilization/World Gospel Mission.
May 14, Unlocking the Power of Holism in Ministry Partnerships: Empowering the Global South Church for Great Commission Engagement and Sustainability (online). Webinar from Missio Nexus.
May 18 to June 13, Equipping for Cross-Cultural Life and Ministry (Union Mills, NC, USA). Provided regularly by the Center for Intercultural Training, and followed by a language-learning acquisition course.
May 19-21, Support Raising Bootcamp (online). Provided by Via in various locations throughout the year.
May 20, Contend: Monthly Day of Prayer for Mission Mobilization (global). Coordinated by GMMI and held on the third Tuesday of each month.
May 20-22, Ministry Mental Health Summit (Toronto, ON, Canada).
May 21, Recruiting Gen Z: What Urbana’s Latest Research Says About the Attitudes and Behaviors of this Emerging Generation (online). Webinar from Missio Nexus.
May 26 to June 21, COMPASS (Palmer Lake, CO, USA). Language and culture acquisition provided by Missionary Training International.
May 29, Marketing, Biblically (online). Webinar from Missio Nexus.
May 30 to June 28, Chinese Worldviews Virtual Seminar (online). Provided annually by China Academic Consortium.
View the complete calendar, updated throughout the year. Your submissions are always welcome.
Apostasy in Mauritania, the Jihadist Who Came Back to Life + More
South Africa: Hope for Crime-Ridden Nation After Kidnapped Pastor’s Rescue
Source: Mission Network News, April 18, 2025
The rescue of kidnapped American pastor Joshua Sullivan in South Africa has drawn attention to the crime-ridden nation.
South Africa ranks in the top five countries with the highest crime indexes in the world. Police statistics between 2023 and 2024 data periods show a nearly 19% rise in commercial crimes. Kidnapping shot up by 8% during that time as well. Carjacking, murder, and armed robberies are also ills that plague the nation.
Marietjie Prollius of Trans World Radio says the increasing violent crime isn’t so much driven by political anger as by life in poverty.
“Part of it is also that there’s a lot of influx from other [African] countries. People come here to make a better living, but then they don’t find jobs, and then they’re kind of destitute here.”
That spiral can quickly lead people into situations they never thought they’d be in. For them and others caught in circumstances of their own or of others’ making,
TWR sends that hope by broadcasting biblical content in the heart languages of South Africans. The team invites and responds to listener prayer requests. Sometimes, they can connect them with counseling services.
“Many of them contact TWR and ask for prayer for safety, for their children just walking from and to school,” she says, “asking for prayer for children that get involved in gangs, asking for children that are involved in drugs.”
Read the full story. See also American Missionary Rescued After Being Kidnapped While Preaching in South Africa (The Roys Report).
Also from Mission Network News, see China Formally Bans Foreign Missionary Activity. The new regulations go into effect on May 1. Surprising? No. But this will raise new barriers.
Mauritania: Christians Face Hate Crimes and Intimidation
Source: Middle East Concern, April 9, 2025
Christians in Sélibaby have grave concerns for their safety and lives as the incitement of hate against them by prominent religious and community leaders continues. Following a demonstration against the existence of Christians in the area, a mob desecrated the grave and exhumed the body of a recently deceased Christian. (See previous story.)
The angry mob went to the cemetery, broke the tombstone of the deceased Christian and exhumed his body. The body was dragged in the streets and brought to a village 20 kilometers outside of Sélibaby, where it was reburied.
Tensions eased by evening, but social media posts describing Christians as infidels and apostates, urging “action” against them, intensified the following day. The situation remains volatile.
See the full story for more context and prayer points.
Another article adds, “Mauritania’s Penal Code enforces one of the harshest apostasy laws in the world, prescribing death for anyone who leaves Islam. Though rarely carried out, the law itself emboldens extremists, silences victims, and fosters an atmosphere of terror” (EU Today).
As you pray for this African country, consider lifting up another. See Pray as South Sudan Teeters on Brink of Civil War (INcontext International) and read Two Years on, Sudan’s Civil War Continues to Devastate (International Christian Concern).
World: Last-Mile Challenges in Translating the Bible
Source: Beyond, April 2, 2025
Everyone deserves to have the Word of God in their heart language. Today, we are closer to seeing the Bible translated into every language than ever before, but significant barriers remain. Over 20% of the world’s people are still waiting for the Bible in their own language.
“Last mile” describes the short final segment of delivery of services or items to customers. Last-mile logistics are usually the most complicated and expensive to complete the service or delivery. This same dynamic occurs in completing the task of translating the Bible into every language.
Many do not yet have the Bible in their own language because they live in areas hostile to the gospel. Unlike traditional translations, where translation teams locate in a place and work together for years, outside translators seeking to do translation in politically restricted and/or hostile regions often cannot gain access to these areas.
Translators who do have access are often faced with working in secret, moving from one location to another and keeping their work secret from friends, family, and the community. Often, due to death threats and persecution, translators wait until the work is completed, secretly taking the finished product to partners to print and share with others. In recent years, there have been numerous incidents of translators in these types of areas being kidnapped and/or killed.
Those of us assisting from the outside must adjust to the new realities and recognize that these men and women risking their lives deserve our best efforts and servant-hearted support instead of asking them to fit into our previous patterns and paradigms of translation.
Read the full story to see how one large network is responding. Let’s pray to get these translations across the finish line!
Also read the latest edition of AfriGO magazine which is focused on Africans in Bible translation.