Missions Catalyst

Source: Pioneers-USA

The Maverick Podcast explores the unexpected journeys of spiritual seekers as they buck cultural norms and religious expectations to follow Jesus. The first season follows the story of Bishara, a young Muslim man from Central Africa who had everything going for him until a chance encounter dramatically changed the course of his life.

From strange dreams and guns that misfire to imprisonments and miraculous healings, Bishara’s story may sound too wild to be true.

To get to the bottom of it all, host Sarah Lewis talks to those close to him—and experts around the world—to find out what would make a man like Bishara risk it all in pursuit of truth.

Listen to the podcast. Just two of the eight short episodes have been released so far, but they come out once a week. Disclaimer: I helped create this. But I think it’s great and would love to see the word get out! Can you help by sharing it with people you think would like it?

Check out several new mission-related podcasts from other sources:

• Doing Theology. Thinking Mission, with Jackson Wu and others from Mission ONE, launched in August. Each episode is about an hour long and digs deep into critical issues.
• On September 28, One Way Ministries will launch a new podcast called One80 featuring testimonies and stories of transformation. You can listen to the trailer now. It sounds quite inspiring.

Source: Lausanne Global Analysis, September 2021

When Leaders Drink Tea Together: A Critique of Western Christian Leadership in Light of Global Trends, by Mary Ho.

“We are living in a global era where what the global church needs are global leaders with a global mindset, not just Western leadership styles and writings exported to the rest of the world,” says Mary. Her article includes good data and analysis of leadership styles along with practical tips.

Explore this issue of Lausanne Global Analysis. It also includes articles on Christianity in the UK, reaching Israelis in Berlin, and growing churches in hostile contexts.

Source: Ergatas

Most missionaries raise the bulk of their support from people they know—or get to know along the way. But what if you’ve tapped out your networks, or what if, as a donor, you would love to support individuals in a certain kind of ministry but don’t know any?

Ergatas is basically a cross-agency directory of missionaries raising support. It can be searched using detailed filters so users can find missionaries who share their vision. The service is free to use and takes no part of any donations.

So far, it’s pretty small, and only includes about 60 workers sent out from the US, Canada, Australia, and UK (although they hope to expand). More than 100 organizations have been approved to participate.

Learn more about Ergatas. Their about page answers many questions.

In the past we’ve written about several services that connect would-be missionaries with opportunities. Mission Next is a good place to start.

Do you need to put more effort into raising support? Check out a bunch of helpful worksheets from Scott Morton or listen to the replay of a recent webinar on how to prepare for year-end giving campaigns from Tailored Fundraising.

Source: Mission Frontiers, September-October 2021

The world is a very different place than it was nearly 50 years ago when the people group paradigm was birthed. Should the missions community still view the world as a waffle? Is traditional ethnolinguistic people group thinking still relevant?

The current issue of Mission Frontiers addresses how the waffle barriers are changing. Global trends are creating new social dynamics and changing both the barriers and boundaries by which groups are defined. New hybrid, trans-national and dynamic groupings must be considered.

Read Mission Frontiers. You might want to start with Dan Scribner’s editorial, but don’t miss the articles from Asian, African, and Latin American voices sharing how people group thinking and information have impacted their ministries.  

See also a conversation with Dave Datema on The Universal Particularism of Panta Ta Ethne (The Mission Matters Podcast) or read Len Bartlotti’s 2020 article challenging the model, Reimagining and Re-envisioning People Groups (International Journal of Frontier Missiology).

Source: Missions Catalyst Events Calendar

October 3-29, Equipping for Cross-Cultural Life and Ministry (Union Mills, NC, USA). Provided regularly by the Center for Intercultural Training.

October 4-9, Debriefing and Renewal (Palmer Lake, CO, USA). Provided regularly by Missionary Training International.

October 4 to December 3, Trauma and Crisis Care Course (online). How children respond to trauma and how you can help. Provided by Crisis Care Training International. Additional courses are available on counseling children, restoring hope to children with disabilities, and caring for orphans and vulnerable children.

October 4 to February 13, 2022, Perspectives on the World Christian Movement (online). New online classes begin regularly.

October 6, Media4Movements Global Gathering (online).

October 6, Mobilizing GenZ (online). Peer-to-peer virtual event from Missio Nexus and Sixteen:Fifteen.

October 7, Educational Support for Families (online). Webinar from Missio Nexus.

October 7, Hope Conference (online). An annual event from Crescent Project. Designed for participants in North and South America. A similar event is designed for participants in Europe, Asia, and Africa on October 14.

October 11 to December 6, IGNITE Training Course (online). Be equipped to mobilize for missions by the Global Mission Mobilization Network.

October 11-15, ABIDE re-entry debriefing for global workers (Joplin, MO, USA). These are now held almost once a month by TRAIN International.

October 12, Missions Trip Reimagined in the COVID Era (online). Webinar from the Standards of Excellence in Short-Term Mission.

October 13-15, International Wholistic Missions Conference (Phoenix, AZ, USA). An annual event.

October 14, Sharing Good News: Let the Master Teach You to Multiply (online) Nugget Training from Beyond.

October 18-21, Standards Introductory Workshop (online). Seminar on the Seven Standards of Excellence in Short-Term Mission.

October 18, 21, Ends of the Earth (theaters across the US). A full-length documentary film about the work of Mission Aviation Fellowship; in theaters two nights only.

October 18-23, Debriefing and Renewal (Palmer Lake, CO, USA). Provided regularly by Missionary Training International.

October 19, The Porch: Using Scripture to Mobilize (online). The Porch is a place for pastors, missionaries, and mobilizers to learn, share, encourage, and pray for one another. A Ministry of the Center for Missionary Mobilization and Retention.

October 19-20, Amplify Outreach Conference (Wheaton, IL, USA). Provided by the Billy Graham Center at Wheaton College and Outreach Magazine.

October 21, The Role of Missionary Organizations in Missionary Well-Being (online). Webinar from Missio Nexus.

October 21 to November 18, Strategic Storytelling for Movements (online). Offered regularly by Missions Media U.

October 23, Heart for Muslims Conference (New York, NY, USA).

October 25 to November 20, COMPASS (Palmer Lake, CO, USA). Language and culture acquisition provided by Missionary Training International.

October 28, Truths and Myths of Refugee Resettlement (online). Webinar from Sixteen:Fifteen.

October 29 to November 1, GO Equipped Tentmaking Course (Sinsheim, Germany) From Tent International and Global Intent.

October 31 to November 12, Second Language Acquisition (Union Mills, NC, USA). Provided regularly by the Center for Intercultural Training.

View the complete calendar. Corrections and submissions are welcome.