Category: Resource Reviews

Source: The Traveling Team

“What would you do to mobilize your church or students if there were no trips to take, no flights, no cross-cultural experiences, no crickets to eat, and no souvenirs to bring home?

“For many, their entire mobilization strategy falls on taking a series of trips somewhere. Is that the only arrow in our quiver to strike the heart of God’s people with His urgent global task? Surely not! Given that Jesus never traveled more than 120 miles from His hometown, I would argue we need to dig a little deeper into what mobilizes people to God’s mission in the first place.”

Mission trip canceled by COVID and closed borders? Or maybe health issues, money, or family concerns have you grounded for the foreseeable future. Yet you can be significantly involved in missions and pursue God’s global purposes right now. In this booklet, the Traveling Team compiles 101 ways to pray for the nations, send others, welcome internationals, and more. Many of the ideas include stories, usually about college students, and links to resources from a variety of sources.

Whether the focus on American college students is a feature or a drawback may depend on where you sit. But most of the ideas are just as applicable to people in other places and stages of life.

If you are a mobilizer who teaches, writes, speaks, disciples/mentors, or leads small groups, this booklet will offer you plenty of next steps and inspiration to share with others. Probably some you haven’t thought of. And you can download the PDF for free.

Usually, this sort of thing is used as a lead generator; you can have the resource if you let them put you on their mailing list. This time, no strings attached.

Learn more or download the PDF with clickable links. A paperback version is available from Amazon for US$10. Contact The Traveling Team for bulk purchases. And follow them on social media, especially Instagram.

Source: Create International

The Impossible Dream, by Calvin and Carol Conkey, with Allyson Baldwin. Create International, 2020. 193 pages.

Several decades have passed since the newlywed Conkeys had a vision to create culturally relevant gospel presentations for every group on a list of more than 200 of the world’s largest least-reached people groups.

Led by God at every step and partnering with local believers and others in each context, they have recently seen that “impossible” dream accomplished—as well as much more along the way. This book provides a look behind the scenes.

What a joy to read story after story not only about the Conkeys’ journey but also about actors coming to faith, churches empowered to worship in local styles, and movements launched through these evangelistic films and related projects. If you have a vision to bring the gospel to the unreached, especially using media, this book is for you. Even if that’s not your beat, you’ll find it a winsome and inspiring read.

Learn more or purchase the Kindle edition for US$4.95 or the paperback for US$10.95.

Want to make gospel films? You could join one of multiple teams that are part of Create International, a ministry of YWAM, for a season or a lifetime, or just tap into the training they offer. Maybe you would like to go or send someone to the Frontier Filmmaking Seminar. A six-week online version starts April 5.

Looking for films to use in cross-cultural evangelism? Find a huge collection at Indigitube.tv or download their app to your mobile device.

Source: WorldChristian.com

Will you join millions of Christians who have regularly participated in this remarkable global prayer effort? The dates this year are April 13 to May 12. Now is a good time to order materials if you want to distribute them to people in your church or group.

This year’s Muslim World Prayer Guide distributed in North America is focused on learning about and praying for Muslims in the US and Canada. Lots of interesting content, all in full color. There are full-page ads from sponsors throughout the 56-page booklet. Of course, if you are looking for ministry opportunities or resources, they may be very useful.

Learn more or order copies of the printed booklet at US$3 per copy, with bulk discounts available, or download a PDF for US$2.50. A children’s version which covers the same topics each day also includes fun activities; the price is the same.

Not in North America? See 30 Days of Prayer International for different materials available in many countries and quite a few languages (including an alternate booklet being distributed in North America).

Sources: Various

A month ago we published a roundup of missions-related podcasts. But wait, there’s more. Readers recommend:

A World of Good (Church of God Ministries of Anderson, Indiana). Nate and Andrew are two friends who love Jesus, care about the church, and travel the world to share stories of people who do the same. COVID put a crimp in the travel plans but they learned how to get interviews without leaving home; I listened to several.

Gateway to the Unreached (Alliance for the Unreached). Greg Kelley, CEO of World Mission, hosts this podcast featuring ministries that are part of the Alliance for the Unreached.

MEDINA Focus Podcast (MEDINA Focus). Features interviews with ministries serving Muslims in North America in the name of Jesus. I haven’t listened to these yet but am intrigued.

Voice of the Martyrs Radio (Voice of the Martyrs). Not exactly a podcast, but VOMRadio.net produces short radio spots featuring inspiring conversations with persecuted Christians, and several of our readers wrote to recommend it. Along the same lines, Joshua Project does short, daily spots about their unreached people of the day, and Mission Network News produces audio clips for Christian radio; look them up.

Several more bubbled up in my search:

Amazon to the Himalayas (Southern Seminary). Dr. Paul Akin interviews many Christians around the world for God’s kingdom to bring us news about what is happening where they are and how we can pray for them.

Between Iraq and a Hard Plac‪e‬ (Servant Group International). Hannah and Colleen take you on a tour of what life looks like for Americans teaching in Northern Iraq.

The Mission Suitcase. Encourager and mission mobilizer Lisa Batchelor unpacks “all things missions” through devotionals, conversations with friends all over the world, stories, and tips.

Source: Missions Catalyst Events Calendar

Unless otherwise noted, these are online events, often free.

March 2-4, Support Raising Bootcamp. Provided by Support Raising Solutions. A virtual bootcamp in Spanish will be held March 25-27.

March 4, God’s Heart for Oneness and Diversity. Missio Nexus webinar. They have more events this month than we have space for, but take a look at their site.

March 5, Imprisoned for Christ Virtual Event. From Voice of the Martyrs and LifeWay, featuring Petr Jasek (imprisoned in Sudan), Andrew Brunson (imprisoned in Turkey), and Dan Baumann (imprisoned in Iran).

March 6, The DNA of Disciple Making Movements. One-day training event from All Nations.

March 8-9, People Raising Conference. Be equipped for raising personal support. Note they are doing the same event again April 12-13.

March 10, OnMission—Innovation in Missions: A Global Perspective. Short, virtual conference from Missio Nexus. This annual event is always worth the time and can be viewed later if that works best for you.

March 11, Watering: Engaged, Committed Leadership. Part of The Greenhouse, a series for church mission leaders from Pioneers USA.

March 11, Characteristics of Church-Honoring Missions Organizations. Webinar from Sixteen:Fifteen.

March 11, Groups: They Are Everywhere. Learn how and why to reach whole families and communities. Nugget training from Beyond.

March 11, Doing Justice, Loving Mercy, Walking Humbly. Ignite Training from All Nations.

March 12-14, Families in Global Transition Annual Conference. Now online for the first time, this event is for the globally mobile (missionaries and more) as well as those who work to support them.

March 14 to April 9, Equipping for Cross-Cultural Life and Ministry (Union Mills, NC, USA). Provided by the Center for Intercultural Training. Followed by a Second-Language Acquisition course April 11-23. It looks like Mission Train International and TRAIN International also have pre-field training programs starting in April; you might want to compare all three.

March 17-31, Open enrollment for School of Missions Advocacy (online). Learn how to mobilize your community into greater fruitfulness for Jesus’ Great Commission, from GlobalCAST Resources and YWAM Frontier Missions.

March 20, Telling Jesus Stories. One-day training event from All Nations.

March 25, Spiritual Community at Home. Ignite training from All Nations.

March 25, Vision Casting in Movements. Nugget training from Beyond.

View complete calendar. Corrections and submissions are welcome.

Sources: Various

In recent months, several missions-related podcasts have gone dormant, while others thrive and new ones launch. Follow links below to podcast websites or find them wherever you like to listen.

Missionary Mobilization Podcast

(Center for Missionary Mobilization and Retention)

“The Missionary Mobilization Podcast is a resource for Christian leaders who want to increase the number of missionaries around the world. Our goal is to equip and encourage missions mobilizers and missions pastors for greater Kingdom impact.”

This podcast launched in 2019 and is going strong. Check out episode 34, “Missionaries in an Age of Global Christianity,” with Dr. Todd Johnson.

Better Mission Trips

(Standards of Excellence in Short-Term Mission)

“This podcast highlights topics that every mission leader thinks about. These conversations with mission leaders are meant to spark thoughtful consideration and equip you to make your mission trips better.”

There are six episodes so far. The one I found most thought-provoking was episode three, “Doing Distribution Ministries Well.”

Relentless Pursuit Podcast

(Pioneers USA)

“This podcast interviews [Pioneers] missionaries who wrestled through tough seasons in their pursuit of God’s glory among all nations. These raw and real stories will help you learn what it looks like to pursue the Lord in your life. Come grow and be stretched.”

Episode five just launched. The strongest might be the first, “What If God Doesn’t Use Me?” and the fourth, “What If I Suffer?”

Six More Mission Podcasts

Crescent Project Radio, from Crescent Project: “A podcast about God’s miraculous movement in the Muslim world.”

Global Missions Podcast, from SEND International: “A show for Christ-followers who want to participate more effectively in God’s work both at home and to the ends of the earth.”

Mission Mobilization Chats, from Global Mission Mobilization Initiative: “A podcast of cutting-edge topics related to cross-cultural mission and mission mobilization empowering denominations, church networks, organizations, local ministries, and individual believers to engage with God’s heart for the world.”

Movements with Steve Addison, from MOVE: “Stories and insights from the field on multiplying disciples and churches. Everywhere.”

The Missions Podcast, from ABWE International: “The Missions Podcast exists to answer hard questions about theology, missions, and practice to help goers think and thinkers go.”

The 1040 Podcast, from The Go Fund: “We explore stories of ordinary people playing an extraordinary role in reaching the unreached.”

Got a favorite? Maybe another you love that’s not on the list? Let us know.

Source: Missio Nexus

Essentials for Fundraising and Development: A Collection of Best Practices, Ideas, and Strategies, edited by Michael R. VanHuis and Heather Pubols. Missio Nexus: 2021. 192 pages.

More than a dozen fundraising experts contributed to this volume to bring practical insights and help you and your organization get your ministry funded and flourishing.

Learn more or get the book (US$10 for ebook editions, US$24.95 for print). You can also download a sample that includes the table of contents, introduction, and first chapter. Note that Missio Nexus will be holding a series of webinars on fundraising and development in coming months, with the first scheduled for February 16.

Raising “personal” support? Consider the online course Fundraising Fundamentals and other resources (including free webinars and a blog) from Tailored Fundraising, or plan to attend a Support Raising Bootcamp (more info below).

Source: SEND International

…There’s not much more than this to the article, but don’t you love that they communicated it visually?

Source: Prayercast

Are you up for 15 days of prayer for the Buddhist world, January 28 to February 11? Prayercast will send daily emails with videos to spur you on.

Learn more or sign up.