While deaths from terrorism have been dropping globally, [systemic persecution of Christians] has been on the rise. Pray for Christians facing these difficulties in countries all around the world. Ask God to be with them and strengthen them in love and hope.
» Full story includes comments from Bruce Allen of FMI.
[Ali] was curious about the doctor’s faith in Jesus and asked Hadawi to tell him more. Hadawi shared how he had discovered in God’s Word that Christ has overcome the world and all its evil. Many other men and women in the town also believed in Jesus, Hadawi told Ali. They gathered in groups every week to study the Bible and learn more about following Christ.
“I would like to learn about Jesus,” Ali said. “Can I join one of these groups?”
Hadawi doubted that any of the groups would welcome a militant to study with them. Extremists had terrorized the region, and most townspeople were afraid of men like Ali.
So Hadawi suggested they start a brand-new group. Ali was thrilled. The two men started meeting weekly, working their way through the stories of Old Testament prophets. Then they started reading about Jesus in the gospels.
Ali started inviting his fellow fighters to study the Bible with him and Hadawi. The group grew, and soon it got so big it had to split. More men have joined the groups, multiplying to nearly a dozen Bible studies made up of battle-scarred militants. Many have become baptized followers of Jesus, and the number of groups has continued to grow.
While deaths from terrorism have been dropping globally, [systemic persecution of Christians] has been on the rise. Pray for Christians facing these difficulties in countries all around the world. Ask God to be with them and strengthen them in love and hope.
» Full story includes comments from Bruce Allen of FMI.
A church planting team ran a week-long campaign featuring clips from the JESUS Film. One student responded to an ad with a message saying, “I thought I was the only person feeling so lonely during the pandemic, yet I hear of you Christians and your love for us.” This student was not alone in hearing the love of Christ. At least three people have accepted Christ after responding to these ads.
One of the posts asked, “What kind of prayer you would ask God to answer?”
“God, please forgive me,” 105 people replied.
“God, please help me with the things that make me afraid,” said 98 people.
“Please bring me someone who understands and loves me,” responded 74 people.
“God, please show me what choices to make,” said 57 people.
May God answer their prayers and guide those who continue to exchange private messages with the many responding online.
I love Advent. It’s one of my favorite times of the year. It seems healthy for my stream of the Church—which sometimes assumes it’s the whole river—to connect with the broader body of Christ geographically and historically. The hymns are rich. The objective is focusing. But since I hate waiting, how about an entire liturgical season focused on it!
But then, there’s a lot of waiting going on these days, right?
Waiting for a vaccine. Waiting for test results. Waiting to hear the diagnosis or the treatment plan. Waiting for kids to get back to school. Waiting for an appropriate time to push ahead with fundraising. Waiting for things to get back to normal. Waiting for a proper funeral for a departed loved one. Waiting to get back to your ministry assignment. Waiting for new episodes of The Great British Bake Off / Baking Show. Waiting for a Savior to get here. Waiting for the Savior to get back here!
If all the waiting is weighing on you, I get it. I feel that way, too. But expectation, hoping for, looking forward to what’s not here yet, it’s part and parcel of our faith, isn’t it? We come from a long line of wait-ers, at least back to Abraham, who Hebrews says, “did not receive the things promised; [he] only saw them and welcomed them from a distance…” In the meantime, there’s the trite aphorism: Bloom where you’re planted. Its 2020 COVID corollary could be: Sprout where you’re stuck.
Can COVID Catapult Us Forward?
If we’re able to climb on top of our current troubles, get our feet under us and our heads on straight, what opportunities might we see? Could we say to our enemy, “I see your COVID and I raise you one resurrected Jesus and the poured-out Holy Spirit”? If we throw off the COVID covers, what possibilities might dawn in these days? What windows are open? What opportunities now look worthwhile? How can we move forward even as we’re tempted to hunker down?
Maybe we could crowdsource this. Could you take a minute and share on this Google doc what fresh possibilities you’re seeing in this season? What new activities does COVID require for you? What opportunities are opened up? Are there specific ministries you’re mourning as you let them go? Others that make more sense now than ever?
Let’s move forward together by sharing our COVID Catapults with each other.
Here are two ideas I’m hoping to implement:
1. Develop new mobilization content.
As more churches improve their online delivery efforts, I wonder if there’s a little window open for mobilizer people to supply video content. I’m thinking low-tech, smiling face, single idea or nugget of good news, and maybe one next step (like pray, read, or move to Pakistan). Could you do something like this? You have a smartphone and an internet connection, right? Also, you’ve been told no before, so if your Oscar-worthy short video gets rejected, it won’t be the first time.
2. Read inspiring books—together.
I’m also wondering about gathering some diverse friends to read a book with me. My 11-year-old daughter is gobbling up Greg Livingstone’s You’ve Got Libya. As an act of solidarity, I’m going to read it with her. If you’d like to join us, let me know. You’re welcome on the journey. Got another book you’d like to read with some other smart people? Reach out and make it happen. Feel free to invite me. I’ll serve as the non-smart group member!
What About You?
Maybe your COVID Catapult is a little more radical than a video or a group read. I was inspired recently by erstwhile U.S. presidential candidate Andrew Yang’s move with his family to Atlanta, GA to rally voters for the upcoming Senate run-off election. I’m not hoping his efforts prevail, tending personally to prefer governmental gridlock. But I do appreciate his “throw everything into it” mentality. Makes me wonder what it would take for me to move the whole crew to a new zoo. How high would the stakes have to be? How timely the opportunity?
Perhaps COVID’s provided you a chance to consider some new options, to reconsider some ossifying assumptions. As Grandpa Henry (Blackaby) assured us, “God is always at work.” These crazy days are not the first exception to the rule!
I hope we look back on this time and see, though maybe through tears, that God has launched a whole new season of purposeful effort toward the completion of his purposes.
For the 2020 Mobilizing and Mobilizer Christmas Lists, I want to give you a couple of ideas in a variety of cost ranges. These are gifts that will either help people grow in their partnership with God’s global purpose or bless those who are helping people do that.
Stocking Stuffers
Geography cards. “It’s wonderful world out there. Learn to name it!”
Globe stress balls. “If you can’t visit the world, at least you can give it a little squeeze!”
A reliable car. “Stay off planes. Drive places. Buy pastors coffee. Renew their hope a little bit.”
Zoom like a boss. “Since you can’t really avoid it, I want to make your Zoom life as clear, comfortable, and trouble-free as possible. Order the stuff and send me the bill.”
We fly. I buy. “Here’s the deal: I want you to take me to the edge. Post-vaccine, let’s visit the most unengaged situation we can get access to. You work out the details and I’ll foot the bill. We’ll ask God to strike the ‘un’ from unengaged in the following 18 months.”
We at Missions Catalyst are so thankful for our readers. I can’t speak for Marti or Shane, but I wish I could send every one of you a Christmas card! I hope this will do.
Let me share a little bit about what I’ve been up to. I am one of the first to enroll in The Awakening School of Theology and am in the second semester of an online class about the “unseen realm.” I am loving it! Ponder this, from the instructor, Dr. Michael Heiser: “‘Spiritual warfare’ is the Great Commission!”
My gifts are a few recommendations:
Buy An Advent for the Cosmos by Jeffrey Pitts (a fellow student of Dr. Heiser, whose ideas are reflected in this book).
Don’t miss all of the wonderful content that Paul Neeley posts at Global Christian Worship. He has collected some wonderful songs and artwork for your Advent season!
There are two camps in northern Iraq, separated by a single road, for those who fled war. Neither is what you’d call comfortable. Hardship and hunger are present in both. But when you look at these camps, within sight of each other, you can’t help but see the difference.
In one, concrete houses line mostly paved roads. The structures are tiny and nothing remotely like home. But they’re reasonably sturdy, and they give families a degree of safety and privacy. UN and big aid logos are emblazoned on practically everything. And while the amount of help here is nothing like what it used to be, it’s also not nothing.
Across the road, there are mainly tents—many of them years beyond their useful life. There is far less security here, and far too little help. What meager support there is for the families who live here? It’s disappearing soon.
What makes the difference? One is a refugee camp, and one is a camp for IDPs, or internally displaced people.
The humanitarian aid world is famous for its jargon—for its insider language and acronyms. To the outside observer, it can all seem pretty opaque. But some labels matter. Arguably, none matter more than the labels “refugee” versus “internally displaced person” (IDP).
It may seem like splitting hairs, but the difference between these two categories—and which you fall into if you have to flee your home—can be the difference between getting the help you need… or not.
Source: Assemblies of God World Missions, November 30, 2020
(This article is from AGWM personnel in a sensitive region.)
When “John” walked into the room where “Sara” was sitting, he thought someone had beaten her. She was covered with bruises and staring blankly into space. But her father told John she had been beating herself, punishing herself for almost strangling her three-year-old son in a demonic fit. Relatives had intervened and saved the boy in time, but then sent Sara back to her parents’ home.
Sara had been demon possessed for 13 years and had three failed marriages. She would often climb up on the roof, screaming and cursing at anyone walking by.
In desperation, her parents had reached out to our Roma friend John, whom they heard about from Roma believers in their city. John agreed to come pray for Sara. On the way, he asked two other believers to accompany him, although they really didn’t want to go. John didn’t give them a choice—they were going!
When they arrived, John asked Sara what her name was. She wouldn’t answer and would only stare back at him in frenzied silence.
John said, “Jesus is going to set you free today.” In a deep, inhuman voice that sounded as if a whole choir were speaking, the spirits inside Sara snarled, “No, she’s ours; she belongs to us. She’s cursed.”
Source: Missiologically Thinking (J.D. Payne), November 17, 2020
The Institute for International Education tracks data on students studying at colleges in the United States. Their annual report, Open Doors, is an excellent resource and was released [November 16]. Be sure to check out the 2020 Fast Facts PDF.
The student population exceeds one million international students. However, this past academic year witnessed a two percent decline. Despite this change, the United States remains the top destination for students.
The top sending countries of students to the United States continue to be China, India, South Korea, and Saudi Arabia.
Many colleges and universities have friendship programs that connect students with citizens. This is a great way to meet and share life with individuals who represent some of the least-reached peoples of the world. Find out what is available in your area.
No passport required. No language learning required. No teaching certificate required. Simply be yourself as you let the gospel shine into the lives of others.
