Source: Distant Shores Media
New drafts of Open Bible Stories translations in Farsi and Arabic are now available. If you (or someone you know) can read them, please check them out. A translation in Mandarin is underway, and producers will be traveling to Europe next month to meet with believers from Central Asia to help them start Open Bible Stories translation projects into regional languages in that part of the world.
Source: Condeo Press, via Brigada Today
Single Mission: Thriving as a Single Person in Cross-cultural Ministry, edited by Dr. Debbie Hawker and Rev. Tim Herbert. Condeo Press, 2013, 313 pages.
Single Mission aims to encourage and equip single missionaries and help them be strong in their faith, effective in their ministry, and resilient and content with their lives. The book is written for single missionaries as well as their supporters and member care providers. It includes contributions from more than 30 women and men from diverse backgrounds on six continents.
» Learn more or purchase the Kindle edition for US$8.95; paperback also available.
» See also Ron Kotesky’s free online articles about singles in missions (Missionary Care).
Source: Missions Catalyst Calendar
December 4 – Kingdom Expansion 101 Facilitated Course (online). Six-session introduction to local and global outreach. Provided by DualReach.
December 5 – Church Planting as a Family – Possibilities and Problems (online). Webinar by Missio Nexus.
December 9-11 – Mobile Ministry Consultation (Orlando, FL, USA). On how to reach the next generation for Christ via mobile device strategies.
December 12 – Nurturing an Organizational Culture with a Developmental Bias (online). Webinar by Missio Nexus.
December 27-30 – Cross Conference (Louisville, KY, USA). A new student missions conference, for the global glory of Jesus Christ.
December 28 to January 2 – Mission-Net (Offenburg, Germany). Gathering of younger Christians passionate about serving God.
» View the complete calendar and/or submit an item. Note that our January 1 edition will list all the mission events we know about for 2014. Let us know what to include!
In This Issue: Ways to pray for the nations
About Us
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!
Pat Noble has been the “news sleuth” for Missions Catalyst since 2004. In addition to churning out the news, she is working to create a SWARM (Serving World A Regional Mobilizers) in Northern New York using the NorthernChristian.org website. You can connect with her at www.whatsoeverthings.com.
Source: Christian Aid, November 11, 2013
As their nation reels from incomprehensible destruction in the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan, several Philippine ministries are pleading for immediate help and steadfast prayers.
One of the strongest storms in recorded history – with winds reaching upwards of 235 mph – slammed ashore November 8 in the central Philippines. Tens of thousands are feared dead and more than half a million are now homeless.
Entire coastal villages were swept away by giant waves reminiscent of the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004. The wide swath of structural destruction across the archipelago has directly affected some 4 million Filipinos.
The city of Tacloban on the island of Leyte was hit particularly hard, where the death toll is expected to rise to thousands.
Recovery efforts will take months, even years, and structural damage has been immense across the central Philippines. However, survival is the most pressing concern now, and water, food, and shelter are critically needed.
“The devastation on the islands is heartbreaking,” said a ministry partner. “We covet your prayers.”
» Reports of how specific groups are responding to this disaster are too numerous to include here, but see How Churches Can Help without Hurting after Super Typhoon Haiyan (Christianity Today). Learn more about praying for the Philippines (Prayercast) and Muslims in the Philippines (30-days).
Source: Worthy News, October 23, 2013
The Sultan of Brunei has announced the implementation of severe corporeal punishments as his sultanate shifts towards a stricter interpretation of Sharia law, according to The Standard.
Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah – who first instituted Islamic law in 1966 – said a new Sharia Penal Code would soon be implemented in phases; punishments will now include stoning to death for adultery, severing of limbs for theft, and flogging for the consumption of alcohol.
Currently, Brunei has a dual court system with civil courts based on British law and Sharia courts that were limited to family issues and personal disputes.
» Read full story and a related story (PBS NewsHour), as well as more information about Brunei (Operation World) and how to pray for Brunei (Window International Network).
Source: SAT-7, November 8, 2013
The inspiration for [this service] is warmly expressed in the channel’s slogan, “A Voice from Home.” The voices carried over the air will resonate with viewers both as a familiar language from their homelands and as a biblical message from their heavenly home.
» Read full story. See also recent demographic information about Arab-American Christians (Arab American Institute).
Source: OM News, November 19, 2013
As the woman served the team coffee, an OM team member asked if their family wanted prayer for anything. The woman’s eyes brightened, and with uncommon honesty she explained their struggles.
“We are always working so hard for the harvest,” she said, “but are never seeing the results of our efforts.”
A team from Transform (an outreach to Mediterranean peoples) heard this prayer request as they trekked the villages of Kosovo. For one week in July, 22 believers from around the world set out by foot to deliver Albanian New Testaments house by house.
While they walked, the teams kept their eyes open for opportunities for deeper spiritual conversations and prayer. When this Egyptian family opened their door, the team sensed this was a wider opening for Jesus’ work…
Source: Wycliffe Global Alliance, October 2013
Today, millions more people around the world have access to God’s Word in the language they understand best. God is accomplishing his mission through his power and through partnership.In This Issue: Five strategies to diffuse fear and anger
About Us
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!
Shane Bennett writes this month from Cologne, Germany where he’s helping an intrepid band of people who love Muslims learn about immigrants in that great city. Contact him if you’re interested in reaching immigrants in Europe.
Get in touch with him as well if you’d like 50% of what you pay for mobile service to go to God’s global purposes.