In This Issue: Understanding the Coconut Generation
- EVENT – 30 Days Muslim Prayer Focus
- BOOK – Understanding the Coconut Generation
- BOOK – Give Me a Heart for China
- EVENT – Francophone Africa Regional Consultation
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.
Event – 30 Days Muslim Prayer Focus
From: WorldChristian.com
From September 24 to October 23, 2006, join the largest ongoing international call to Christians to learn about and respectfully pray for the Muslim world. Millions of Christians worldwide participate annually in this strategic prayer focus.
Each year a new, informative prayer guide booklet is produced and translated into dozens of languages. These booklets are for use primarily (but not exclusively) during Islam’s important annual month of fasting and religious observance. This year Ramadan will start on September 24.
Order your copy of the 52-page North American edition on-line, by e-mail, or by contacting WorldChristian.com, P.O. Box 9208, Colorado Springs, CO 80932, USA, Tel.: 719.380.0936.
Other distribution points worldwide and other language editions are listed here.
An abbreviated e-mail edition will be sent daily during Ramadan. Subscribe on-line or by writing to Ron Kernahan.
BOOK – Understanding the Coconut Generation
From: Sam George, Parivar International
“Understanding the Coconut Generation: Ministry to the Americanized Asian Indians” By Sam George
Coconut (brown on the outside, white on the inside) is a metaphor for the emerging generation of Asian Indians in Western societies. This book is about helping the coming generations of Asian Indians in North America discover their unique identity, embrace their bi-culturalism, locate their spirituality, and recognize their search for community and some of their common struggles.
“Understanding the Coconut Generation” is a multi-disciplinary study of the Indian American experience, including a brief historical review, demographic data, psycho-social analysis, anthropological and theological reflections, and many practical lessons for Christian ministry.
“With a twinkle in his eye and a razor-sharp brain, Sam George asks young Indians in North America, ‘Who are we? Where do we feel at home? How can we grow as Jesus’ disciples?’ Sam provides a framework to find culturally relevent answers.” – Miriam Adeney, Associate Professor of Global and Urban Ministries, Seattle Pacific University
Sam George is the executive director of Parivar International, an organization committed to serving Asian Indian youth, families, and communities worldwide.
Read excerpts or learn more at Coconut Generation.
Niles, Illinois: Mall Publishing Company, 2006, 230 pages. Order from Amazon or from Parivar International, P.O. Box 5301, Vernon Hills, IL 60061, USA, Tel.: 847.362.1804.
BOOK – Give Me a Heart for China
From: Personal recommendation to the Editor
“Give Me a Heart for China: An Invitation for You to Travel to China to Pray” by Queenie and Chuck Chan
“A few decades ago, China was plagued by wars and poverty. Many Chinese could not make a normal living. Their only hope was to migrate to other countries for a new future. They wandered for the rest of their lives seeking freedom and survival. They suffered loneliness and bitterness. They found their new roots in foreign lands. Many have forgotten their motherland … As Chinese Christians we know that God loves China, but can we be touched by his love for China and begin to earnestly pray for her?”
“This book is not for leisure reading, but to call the Chinese and others living outside of mainland China to stir up their love for their motherland … This prayer material is suitable for personal and group use. Everyone can focus their prayers on [these] subjects while traveling in China.” (From the introductory material, p. xvii.)
Contents include:
Part I: How much do you know about China?
Part II: Counting on you to pray for China
Hong Kong: Pacific Rim Foundation, Limited, 2004, 235 pages. Order here, or contact Rock Christian Bookstore, 43-04 Main Street, Flushing, NY 11355, USA, Tel.: 718.961.9653.
EVENT – Francophone Africa Regional Consultation
From: Younoussa Djao
CRAF Central Africa
May 14-18, 2007
Bangui, Central African Republic
CRAF West Africa
May 21-25, 2007
Lome, Togo
The fifth annual Francophone Africa Regional Consultation (CRAF) will take place in two locations in 2007. These meetings will provide an opportunity for innovative leaders to come together to hear how God is at work across Francophone Africa, learn cutting-edge insights from one another, assess where each nation is in the unfinished task of the Great Commission, and engage with the critical challenges facing the church in Francophone Africa. To facilitate this process, two-thirds of the program is devoted to group interaction. Each morning there will be a key address on church-planting movements.
For more information (in English or French), contact Younoussa Djao.
EDITOR’S NOTE: See Missions Catalyst’s 2006 missions events calendar for additional items of interest.
Questions? Problems? Submissions? Contact publisher/managing editor Marti Smith.
Without doubt, Apple App Store wins by a mile. This is a great selection of all applications against a selection a bit sad of a handful of Zune. Microsoft has plans, especially in the field of games, but I’m not sure I would bet on the future, if this is important for you. The iPod is a much better option in this case.