Day: October 28, 2026

Sources: Various

Praying for the Persecuted Church

A variety of organizations have put together materials for this year’s International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (observed both November 1 and November 8). Take a look. What can you use? Thanks to Missio Nexus for this roundup.

• World Evangelical Alliance: Bible studies and more in six languages
• The Voice of the Martyrs: Sermon outline, slides, and prayer guides
• Christian Solidarity Worldwide: Short films and a prayer guide
• Open Doors US: Prayer points, videos, and social media content

15 Days of Prayer for the Hindu World

November also marks 15 days of prayer for the Hindu world, scheduled to coincide with a number of Hindu holidays. Resources include:

• 15 Days of Prayer for the Hindu World prayer guides (paper or PDF)
• 60-second Prayers for the Hindu World on Spotify or Apple Podcasts
• Hinduism video (Prayercast)
• How to Use Diwali to Build Bridges to Hindu Friends and Neighbors (Philadelphia Regional Diaspora Network and others)

Source: Various

How to Send 100 Missionaries

How to Send 100 Missionaries: A Step-by-Step Guide to Building and Leading a Mission Agency, by David A. Matthews. Reflejo, 2026. 184 pages.

The founder of Reflejo, a thriving Latino mission agency, shares a practical roadmap for building a missionary-sending pipeline through a church, movement, or mission agency, especially in the developing world. (I love that this was first published in Spanish!)

How to Care for Yourself and Serve a Hurting World

What Really Matters: How to Care for Yourself and Serve a Hurting World, by Hal Donaldson. Baker Books, 2024. 192 pages.

Donaldson started Convoy of Hope, a faith-based organization serving the vulnerable across the U.S. and worldwide. Here he shares truths about self-care, ambition, and resilience that he had to learn the hard way. A bit too prescriptive for me, but pretty solid. Used copies available.

Modern Missionary Stories

To the Nations: Modern-Day Stories of Faith, Courage, and Adventure, edited by David J. Smith. William Carey Publishing, 2026. 216 pages.

This brand-new collection of brief, inspiring missionary stories looks family-friendly and easy to fold into devotions with a group. I haven’t read it yet, but the sample on Amazon provides a taste. If you get a copy, let me know: does it feel too American or have other limiting factors?

Bonus: Coming Soon for Kids

A while back, we highlighted a book that featured an updated version of the song Jesus Loves the Little Children. One Missions Catalyst reader says she gives out copies as baby shower gifts!

Author Tara Hackney has a new book coming out in March. All the Children of the World is an A-to-Z storybook about kids around the world, written for families with children ages 6-10. Fun!

Source: Wonder Letters

Wonder Letters grew out of a simple question: how do you help your own children care about unreached people they’ve never met, in places they’ve never been?

A returned missionary began crafting hand-illustrated letters with stories, activities, and prayers from around the world. Every letter is a window into another life, another culture, another corner of God’s creation. Your family will never see the world the same way.

Learn more or subscribe. A subscription could also make a good gift for a family you know. But you can also get a taste by buying a single issue focused on a culture that interests you.

After last month’s roundup of tools to use in praying for the unreached, a reader reminded us of another resource for families. See Who Are Frontier People Groups? This illustrated prayer toolkit is available in multiple languages and great for all ages (Indigitous).

Sources: Various

A Liturgy for Those Burdened by the Unreached

Source: East-West Ministries

If your heart is burdened for those who don’t know the gospel, this liturgy is for you. As you pray, let your heart be reminded that the beauty of the gospel can overcome spiritual darkness.

Pray the liturgy, one of several in a collection. Beautiful.

Missions Stewardship

Source: Catalyst Services Postings

Leading a church in missions is like caring for a garden. If gardeners focus all their energy on simply watering their plants, or they neglect watering while constantly pouring on fertilizer, their crops will produce little or nothing at all. But if they balance nourishment and care, their garden thrives for the benefit of many.

Read about the 4 M’s: members, missionaries, money, and media.

Then you might want to read Local Church, Global Impact: Questions Your Church Must Answer (Justin Schell). Planning an event? Listen to Ideas for Your Global Sunday or Global Series (Jeannie Marie).

Mission Trip Planning Checklist: 12-Month Planning Timeline

Source: Storyline Missions

This checklist walks through how to plan a mission trip from about a year out to a few weeks after you come home, with the practical items (partners, passports, budgets, forms) and the team items (Scripture, prayer, training, roles) side by side. Print it, share it with your co-leaders, and adjust the dates to your trip.

Check out the checklist (and other training resources from Storyline, like their eight-lesson Bible study. It will remind you of Perspectives).

Integrating Spirituality and Innovation in Missions

Source: Innovation in Missions

A new field guide brings mission leaders and practitioners practical wisdom from innovators, theologians, and spiritual directors. I had a hard time figuring this one out. Is it something you sign up for, or purchase? No, it’s purely a digital resource to help people in the mission world bring together spiritual direction and practical action through a series of exercises and reflection questions.

Explore the field guide.

Source: Missions Catalyst Calendar

November 1, International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (global). An annual event, also observed November 8 by some.

November 1-13, Language Learning Accelerator Course (Union Mills, NC, USA). Pre-field training provided regularly by the Center for Intercultural Training.

November 2 to March 7, Perspectives on the World Christian Movement (online class). New online classes begin regularly. A Spanish-medium class also begins in November.

November 3, Turkey Prayer Briefing (Mesa, AZ, USA). Facilitated by the International Turkey Network.

November 6-7, Northwest Arkansas for the Nations (Fayetteville, AK, USA). An annual regional mission event.

November 6-7, MissionConnexion Southwest (Phoenix, AZ, USA). A regional mission conference held annually. Come early for pre-conference events, including a 7 Standards of Excellence in Short-Term Mission Workshop and The Unfinished Story for Youth.

November 6-8, Catalyze Idaho (Filer, ID, USA). A mobilization/training event from Frontiers.

November 12-14, The International Conference on Missions (St. Louis, MO, USA). A (very large!) annual event rooted in the Christian/Disciples of Christ tradition. 

November 12-14, Global Missions Health Conference (Louisville, KY, USA). An annual event from the Christian Medical and Dental Associations; seems to be the premier event for medical missions.

November 12-14, Missional Enterprise National Conference (Colorado Springs, CO, USA). For business leaders and aspiring missional entrepreneurs, sponsored by the Navigators.

November 16-20, Storytelling Training (online). Offered regularly by StoryRunners, a ministry of Cru.

November 19, The Mobilized Church Workshop (Red Deer, AB, Canada). Provided by Sixteen:Fifteen in partnership with the Global Missions Toolbox and others. Get your church to one of these!

November 21, Turkey Prayer Briefing (Denver, CO, USA). Free event facilitated by the International Turkey Network.

November 29 to December 4, Debrief Retreat (Union Mills, NC, USA). Retreats provided throughout the year by the Center for Intercultural Training.

November 29 to December 4, Interlude Debriefing Retreat (Rancho Palos Verdes, CA, USA). Provided regularly by Barnabas International; the next one will be in January in Florida.

See the complete calendar. Submissions are welcome.