In This Issue: East Asia, Stuff for Kids, Tools and Training
- DVD – Breakthrough: The Story of James O. Fraser
- BOOKS – Two for Your Pocket
- DVD – Collection Introduces Kids to the Unreached
- ONLINE RESOURCES – Reaching Oral Communicators
- WEBINARS – The Mission Exchange
Missions Catalyst is a free, weekly electronic digest of mission news and resources designed to inspire and equip Christians worldwide for global ministry. Use it to fuel your prayers, find tips and opportunities, and stay in touch with how God is building his kingdom all over the world. Please forward it freely!
Resource Reviews, edited by Marti Smith, are published once a month.
Dear readers,
Here are a few things going on behind the scenes at Missions Catalyst.
1. Growth: It takes us the same amount of time and effort to serve few people as many, so we’re glad to announce that circulation continues to grow. Just passed the 4000-subscriber mark! (You can help us reach 5000 by forwarding any issues you particularly like to others who may be interested.)
2. Hearing from You: A big thanks to readers who send us tips, feedback, and encouragement – all of which helps us serve you better! See what others say about Missions Catalyst by reading the results from our July/August reader survey, now posted on our website.
3. Paying the Bills: Want to help us keep Missions Catalyst going? We welcome donations from readers to cover our modest expenses.
Marti Smith, Managing Editor
DVD – Breakthrough: The Story of James O. Fraser
Source: OMF International
In 1906 London University student James O. Fraser felt God calling him to give up a potential engineering career and musical fame to serve as a missionary in China. He joined the China Inland Mission and sailed for China in 1908. But after six years of serving in remote regions among the Lisu people, nothing seemed to be happening.
Breakthrough: The Story of James O. Fraser and the Lisu People tells the story of the amazing change that eventually came in Fraser’s own life and touched the lives of thousands of Lisu people.
This half-hour docudrama can be used for small groups, classes, prayer meetings or viewing at home with friends and family. The DVD is designed to play in all regions and was tested in Europe, Asia, and North America. It is currently selling for US$9.99.
For delivery to North and South America, order from OMF Books. For delivery in Europe, Africa, Central Asia, and the Middle East, order from OMF UK’s online bookshop. For delivery in East Asia and the South Pacific, fill out the order form on this site and OMF will contact you. You can also reach OMF Books by email or phone (+888.663.2665).
Languages include English, Mandarin, Cantonese, Spanish, (German), Thai, Lisu and the following subtitles: English, simplified Chinese, traditional Chinese, Dutch, and Korean.
Note: This resource would be a good one to have on hand for Perspectives classes; a perfect fit with lesson #8. Several related books are also available through OMF. (Links are to the OMF’s US site but you can also find them elsewhere, maybe even your local library).
The Prayer of Faith, by J.O. Fraser (Overseas Missionary Fellowship, 1958) – complete text of this booklet online (currently being reprinted).
Mountain Rain: A Powerful Story of Total Dependence on God, by Eileen Fraser Crossman (Overseas Missionary Fellowship, 1982).
Isobel Kuhn Collection: By Searching, In the Arena, and Nests above the Abyss, by Isobel Kuhn (Overseas Missionary Fellowship, 1957, 1960, 1947).
BOOKS – Two for Your Pocket
Source: OMF Books
A Christian’s Pocket Guide to the Japanese looks at the history, culture and religions common in Japan – and their attitude to Christianity. There are also useful appendices with suggested further reading and how to lead a Bible study. 72 pages, USD$4.99.
A Christian’s Guide to the Chinese looks at Chinese students in detail. Why are they in our schools and universities? Where in China do they come from and what difference does that make? What has changed in their attitude to study? What is their lifestyle likely to be like? What will they think of you? Includes an appendix with suggested further reading. 64 pages, USD$4.99.
Both titles were published in January 2008 by Christian Focus in the UK, and are available for purchase from OMF in the US, UK, Canada, and New Zealand. Christian Focus has additional distributors in those places as well as Australia and South Africa.
DVD – Collection Introduces Kids to the Unreached
Source: Caleb Resources
The Kids Around The World series included a dozen videos and curriculum sets to use with children ages 5-11, originally produced by Caleb Project between 1998 and 2004. Parents and teachers continue to find these materials popular and effective, so Caleb Resources has recently re-released them (some with additional material) on a three-disc CD/DVD collection.
The CD contains 12 printable lessons (29-44 pages each). Each lesson teaches kids about the geography, history, language, art, games, food, beliefs, and prayer needs of a different people group, focusing on the children of that culture.
Two companion DVDs include the 12 videos as well as song portions that accompany the lessons. Set includes:
10/40 Window Kids (video in English, Spanish, and French)
Bhil Kids (India, tribal)
Fulani Kids (Africa, Muslim)
Han Kids (East Asia, unreligious)
Kazakh Kids (Central Asia, Muslim)
Khamba Kids (East Asia, Buddhist)
Malay Kids (Southeast Asia, Muslim)
Rajput Kids (India, Hindu)
Riffi Kids (Morocco, Muslim; video in English and Spanish)
Tajik Kids (Central Asia, Muslim)
Turk Kids (Turkey, Muslim; video in English and Spanish)
Uzbek Kids (Central Asia, Muslim)
Purchase the Kids Around the World Complete Collection for US$119.99 from Caleb Resources. Purchase video/curriculum sets separately (US$19.99) or view sample pages here. We’d also encourage you to take a peek at Red Card, a new curriculum in progress which focuses on at-risk children.
See also: Many more great ideas and resources mentioned in our September 10 Practical Mobilization issue, which focused on Raising Global Kids.
Note: Like Missions Catalyst, Caleb Resources came out of (the now disbanded) Caleb Project and is a ministry of Pioneers.
ONLINE RESOURCES – Reaching Oral Communicators
Source: International Orality Network
Reaching those who learn by hearing (not reading) seems to be one of the next big frontiers we need to cross in mission and evangelism. Learn more and get helpful tools through ION’s great resource list. Includes podcasts, training opportunities, organizations – and yes, even books and articles to read about this growing field of ministry. Take a look.
See also: Roland Muller’s list of cross-cultural church-planting resources.
WEBINARS – The Mission Exchange
Source: The Mission Exchange
Wondering what the big topics are in missions these days, and what leaders have to say about them? Here’s one way to find out. The Mission Exchange (formerly EFMA) is offering a series of webinars – workshops wherein participants listen to a lecture on a conference call while viewing the presenter’s slides on the web.
These webinars, which include time for questions and answers, are usually on Thursday from 2:00-3:30pm Eastern time. They are free for members of The Mission Exchange, $9.95 for affiliates, and $39.95 for general participants. Register here.
Here’s the schedule for the rest of 2008:
October 3 – Heading Roughly West: Discovering, Gaining Commitment to, and Perpetuating a Common Vision in a Mission Organization – James E. Plueddemann, Professor and Chair of the Department of Missions, Evangelism and Intercultural Studies at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.
October 9 – Knocking Over the Leadership Ladder – Paul Ford, Leader Development and Teambuilding Specialist, Church Resource Ministries.
October 16 – Ministry in the Margins: Incarnational Ministry Among the Oppressed – Chris Heuertz, International Executive Director, Word Made Flesh.
October 30 – Leading in Times of Change: Maintaining Significance in a Tumultuous Age – Hans Finzel, President, World Venture.
November 6 – Small Footprint, Large Handprint: Missions and Environmental Stewardship – Tri Robinson, Founding/Senior Pastor, Vineyard Boise Church, Boise, ID.
November 20 – In Pursuit of Effectiveness: An Overview of John Carver’s Policy Governance Model – Olan Hendrix, CEO, Leadership Resource Group.
December 4 – Life Lessons for Leaders – Robertson McQuilkin, Former President, Columbia International University.
December 11 – Beyond Resolutions: Creating a Personal Growth Plan that Works – Steve Moore, President and CEO, The Mission Exchange.
The lineup for 2009 looks even more interesting. For example, you can get the latest on the state of world evangelization from Operation World’s Jason Mandryk if you call in on January 8. Don’t miss it!
See the whole list on one tidy page on David Mays’ site.
Questions? Problems? Submissions? Contact publisher/managing editor Marti Smith.