Category: Resource Reviews

Source: Missions Catalyst Events Calendar

August 2 to December 5, Perspectives on the World Christian Movement (online). New online classes begin regularly, including a class August 16 to December 19.

August 4, Church and Agency Partnerships (online). Virtual gathering for church mission leaders. Provided by Missio Nexus.

August 5-7, Support Raising Bookcamp (online). From Support Raising Solutions. This one is entirely in Spanish.

August 8-30, Equipping for Cross-Cultural Life and Ministry (Union Mills, NC, USA). Provided regularly by the Center for Intercultural Training.

August 9-13, ABIDE re-entry debriefing for global workers (Joplin, MO, USA). These are now held almost once a month by TRAIN International.

August 10, Practical Tools for Discipleship and Follow-through (online). Webinar from Standards of Excellence in Short-Term Mission.

August 12, Local OR Global vs. Local AND Global (online). Greenhouse workshop for church leaders provided by Pioneers USA.

August 12, Mobilizing the Next Generation (online). Webinar from Sixteen:Fifteen.

August 12, Member Care: Coming Attractions (online). Webinar from Missio Nexus.

August 23-28, Debriefing and Renewal (Palmer Lake, CO, USA). Provided regularly by Missionary Training International.

August 25-28, Field Security Seminar (Lake George, CO, USA). Provided by Crisis Consulting International. Another seminar will be held in the same location, August 30 to September 2.

August 26, Women in the Mission of the Church (online). Webinar from Missio Nexus.

August 30-31, Support Raising Bootcamp (Orlando, FL, USA). Similar events held throughout the year in various locations by Support Raising Solutions.

August 30 to September 12, ORIENT pre-field training for global workers (Eminence, MO, USA).

View the complete calendar. Corrections and submissions are welcome.

Source: MobilizerMom.com

Are you a mission-minded mom? Married to one? Know one?

Our friend Alicia Bennett just launched a new online ministry for parents who want to help their kids grow in global awareness, starting right where they are.

She writes:

“My mission as MobilizerMom is to educate and inspire families to get involved with God and join his heart for reaching the nations by giving families simple and fun ways to learn about God and his world right where they are.

“Whether you are a homeschool family or a traditional schooling family or somewhere in between, any Christian family can find value in what I want to provide: biblical foundations with a missional focus that puts God and his mission first in their lives so that they want to join whatever God is doing in the future. As Christian parents, our greatest desire is to see our children follow Jesus too. Here are some tools to help you do that well.”

Browse the website or join the Facebook community. A series of family devotions linked to the summer Olympics will began July 1.

Visit MobilizerMom.com.

By the way, this fall, our friends at Weave family ministries will release a new resource on parenting with a global vision. We got an advance copy and it looks wonderful. Watch for our review.

Source: 100 Movements Publishing

Your Part in God’s Story: 40 Days from Genesis to Revelation, by Steve Addison. 100 Movements Publishing, 2021. 289 pages.

“When Jesus rose from the dead, he found disciples who were defeated and disillusioned. Just like us. But in the 40 days between his resurrection and his ascension, Jesus restored and prepared them for their worldwide mission,” says Steve Addison. He points out that biblical perspective comes before a specific commission. This book is an invitation to explore 40 decisive moments from Genesis to Revelation and discover your part in God’s story.

The first 12 lessons are from the Old Testament, and the rest are from the New Testament. This is more of a Bible study, devotional guide, or small group resource than a book meant to be read straight through. The author recommends spending 30 minutes on each study: 10 reading specific passages in the scriptures, 10 reading his reflections, and 10 minutes responding in prayer.

Learn more or get the Kindle edition for US$8.49. You might prefer the paperback, though, since journaling and reflections are a big part of the book design.

Listen to an interview with Steve Addison on the Missionary Mobilization podcast or read another interview in Mission Frontiers, both discussing how and why he wrote the book.

Another resource to check out: Standards of Excellence in Short-Term Mission has a new YouVersion Bible reading plan to use in mission-trip follow-up efforts. It’s called What Next?

Source: Global Mission Mobilization Initiative

How can we help our denominations, churches, and organizations be mobilized and equipped for the Great Commission? That’s the big question the Mission Mobilization Chats podcast addresses. Host Ryan Shaw invites listeners to rethink mission mobilization and redefine it as helping the global church align and engage with its identity as God’s missionary people—rather than focus solely on recruiting international workers.

If you are just getting started as a mission mobilizer or want to grow and strengthen your foundation, these “chats” will help.

Learn more or listen to Mission Mobilization Chats.

Want more than a chat? Consider GMMI’s online Ignite Training Course, July 19 to September 13. There’s no cost, but you must apply by July 12.

Source: Baker Academic

Women in the Mission of the Church: Their Opportunities and Obstacles throughout Christian History, by Leanne M. Dzubinski and Anneke H. Stasson. Baker Academic, 2021. 256 pages.

History buff? In a position to teach or write on the history of mission and ministry? You’ll want this book in your library. It provides a wide-lens view on women in the history of the church, from the early orders of widows, virgins, and deacons to medieval monastic movements and modern missionaries.

With its emphasis on obstacles as well as opportunities, and its exploration of the dynamics that have often erased women’s stories, this book is meant to provoke as well as inspire. It also includes lots of footnotes and a great bibliography so you can go deeper on what interests you.

Get the Kindle edition for US$16.99.

To learn more about women in contemporary mission efforts rather than church ministry in general, try Women in God’s Mission: Accepting the Invitation to Serve and Lead, by Mary Lederleitner (IVP Books).

See also Co-Workers and Co-Leaders: Women and Men Partnering for God’s Work, a new multi-author work from the World Evangelical Alliance, now available as a free downloadable PDF.

Source: Missions Catalyst Events Calendar

June 24-26, NAAMC Virtual Experience (online). Provided by the National African American Missions Council; open to all.

July 5 to November 7, Perspectives on the World Christian Movement (online). New online classes begin regularly.

July 7, Missionary Care Best Practices (online). Virtual gathering for church mission leaders. Provided by Missio Nexus.

July 8, Doing What Disciples Do (online). Nugget Training on the DMM process from Beyond.

July 8, Rebooting Short-Term Missions (online). Webinar from Sixteen:Fifteen.

July 8, Cultivating Inclusive Body Engagement (online). Greenhouse workshop for church leaders from Pioneers USA.

July 11, The GoODFATHER (online). One-night charity screening of a documentary about one man serving in the slums of Bangkok.

July 11 to August 14, COMPASS (Palmer Lake, CO, USA). Language and culture acquisition provided by Missionary Training International.

July 11-16, Debrief Retreat (Union Mills, NC, USA). Provided regularly by the Center for Intercultural Training.

July 12-15, Global Consultation on Arts and Music in Missions (online).

July 12-16, ABIDE re-entry debriefing for global workers (Joplin, MO, USA). These are now held almost once a month by TRAIN International.

July 16-20, New Wilmington Mission Conference (Western Pennsylvania, USA & virtual). Annual, week-long multi-generational mission conference; a tradition for more than 100 years.

July 19 to September 13, Ignite Training Course (online). Provided by the Global Mission Mobilization Initiative.

July 20, Diverse Mobilization (online). Part of The Porch, a series of conversations for mission pastors and mobilizers from the Center for Missionary Mobilization and Retention.

July 26-28, Crisis Management Seminar (Auburn, AL, USA). Provided by Crisis Consulting International.

July 27-28, Support Raising Bootcamp (Rogers, AR, USA). Similar events held throughout the year in various locations by Support Raising Solutions.

July 29, Interrogation Management Workshop (Auburn, AL, USA). Provided by Crisis Consulting International.

July 29, Being Sent Like Jesus (online). Nugget Training on the DMM process from Beyond.

View the complete calendar. Corrections and submissions are welcome.

Source: Discover Hope, a ministry of Youth for Christ Australia

Join the #HopeStoryChallenge and release the sound of hope by sharing your personal testimony of how Jesus has transformed your life.

Step 1. Film a 60-second video on your phone of your testimony/story of hope (my life before Jesus, how I met Jesus, my life with Jesus) and finish with an invitation to follow Jesus.

Step 2. Share the video to whatever social media you have (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube etc.) and use the hashtags #HopeStoryChallenge & #HopeStory.

Step 3. Tag five friends to nominate them to share their Hope Story.

Learn more, find resources, and watch sample videos. Thoughts? Maybe you could do this with your small group and/or make a series of videos to show as part of a church or youth group gathering.

The Hope Movement is also organizing 90 Days of Hope (May 30 to August 28), culminating in a Global Day of Hope August 28, though it is not clear to me what either will involve.