Category: Resource Reviews

Source: MissionExcellence

The Standards Introductory Workshop is a 10-hour seminar designed to help short-term mission leaders and mobilizers make their mission trips better. It explores seven standards of excellence in short-term missions and what makes them key elements of successful, God-honoring mission trips.

The workshop is taught by experienced MissionExcellence trainers, is interactive, and uses case studies and small group discussions to help you apply the standards to your specific ministry context. It can also serve as a step in becoming a MissionExcellence member organization, which will give you access to all kinds of mission trip help.

Workshops are offered at least a few times a year, in person as well as online. The next one will be September 26-27 in Orlando, Florida, preceding the Missio Nexus Mission Leaders Conference. The next online workshop will be October 24-26. Use the promo code CATALYST to get 20% off an online workshop registration.

Learn more or sign up.

See also a collection of articles about mission trips (from MissionGuide, another arm of the same ministry).

Source: Missions Catalyst Events Calendar

September 4-17, Orient Pre-field Training (Joplin, MO, USA). Provided regularly by TRAIN International.

September 7, Mission Design: Practical Tools for Navigating your Changing Ministry Landscape and Leading Your Team to Creative Breakthrough (online). Webinar from Missio Nexus.

September 7-9, Support Raising Bootcamp (Kigali, Rwanda). Provided by Via Generosity (formerly Support Raising Solutions).

September 11 to December 10, Encountering Muslims (online). Formerly Encountering the World of Islam. New online classes start several times a year. Also available in other formats and languages.

September 11 to January 14, Perspectives on the World Christian Movement (online). New online classes begin regularly.

September 11-12, Support Raising Bootcamp (Phoenix, AZ, USA). Provided regularly in various locations by Via Generosity (formerly Support Raising Solutions).

September 11-15, Storytelling Training (online). Offered regularly by Storyrunners, a ministry of Cru.

September 12-18, Traction Conference (Wilderswil, Switzerland). Conference to serve men who are global workers serving cross-culturally. Provided annually by Catalyst International.

September 13, Hope Conference (online). An annual event from Crescent Project featuring powerful stories from former Muslims and insights from leaders in Muslim ministry.

September 14, Bitcoin for Missions: Unlocking the Potential and Exploring the Possibilities (online). Webinar from Missio Nexus.

September 15-16, Missions Expo (Capetown, South Africa). A free community missions conference; held annually.

September 19, Contend: Monthly Day of Prayer For Mission Mobilization (global). Coordinated by GMMI and held on the third Tuesday of each month.

September 20-21, People Raising Conference (online). Be equipped for raising personal support. Provided regularly by People Raising.

September 21, North America Central Asia Forum (online). Now relaunching, this group of people interested in ministry in Central Asia will hold short, online meetings several times a year. You may also be interested in a Central Asia Consultation planned for March in Eurasia.

September 21-29, Breathe (Wilderswil, Switzerland). A retreat for mission workers offered annually by Catalyst International.

September 24-27, Live the Mission Conference (Fresno, CA, USA). Hosted by Mountain View Church.

September 27-29, Mission Leaders Conference (Orlando, FL, USA). An annual event from Missio Nexus. Primarily for mission executives and church mission leaders. The conference includes several pre-conference meetings and training events that may also be worth your while. Note: I (Marti) will be there, so if you go, please look for me and say hello!

September 28-30, Unreached Peoples North America Summit (Pleasant Valley, MO, USA). Sponsored by a coalition of ministries.

September 28 to November 28, Frontier Filmmaking Seminar (online). Join Create International for an eight-week training in how to write, produce, direct, film, and edit gospel films for unreached people groups in their language and cultural context.

September 29-30, Help! We’re Going on a Short-Term Trip (Downington, PA, USA). Seminar for team leaders from CultureLink. Looks like they will also offer this seminar in Georgia in January and Florida in February.

View the complete calendar, updated regularly. Submissions welcome.

In this edition:

1. Bible Study: God’s Heart for Muslims, Third Edition
2. Journal Issue: EMQ on the Digital Frontier of Missions
3. Articles: Found Around the Web
4. Events: Conferences, Training, and More in August

Read or share the email edition, or scroll down to see the stories.

Source: Encountering Muslims (formerly Encountering the World of Islam)

Now in its third edition, God’s Heart for Muslims, by Keith Swartley, is an eight-lesson Bible study designed to help you delve into the scriptures, be introduced to the variety of Muslim peoples, and uncover what’s in your own heart as you seek to follow Jesus in his love for all peoples. Use individually or with your team or small group.

Learn more or download a copy.

This booklet is distributed by Via, another organization that just rebranded. You may remember it as the Center for Mission Mobilization. They have many helpful resources and services. Learn more.

Source: Evangelical Missions Quarterly, Missio Nexus

From apps to AI, the increasing availability of digital technology is changing the world and the way we do missions. In the July 2023 edition of Evangelical Missions Quarterly, you can read articles from practitioners working at this crossroads of missions and technology. You’ll learn about digital missions, digital evangelism, digital discipleship, digital churches, digital prayer meetings, and even digital and metaverse mission fields.

If you’re a Missio Nexus member, you already have an EMQ subscription. Find the issue online or buy print copies from Amazon for US$14.

There are, though, several articles you can read and share for free.

• Read how technology is multiplying prayer for all nations.
• Consider ways to mobilize techies for mission.
• Learn about a service matching professionals with ministries that can use their help.

See also Pioneering Church Planting in the Metaverse (and if intrigued, sign up for the GACX training of the same name listed on our calendar below).

Sources: Various

The Future of Missions

What topics will dominate global mission conversations in the next decade? Ted Esler of Missio Nexus identifies five issues and topics the global ministry world will be talking about.

Read The Next Ten Years.

Also listen to an interview with missiologist Gina Zurlo (the Gospel Mobilization Podcast). It may affect how you think about global missions and use mission statistics.

Missions Giving

Our missions giving may fund worthwhile activities but not directly contribute to gospel-spreading, disciple-making, and church-multiplying missions as much as we think, says Ben Wright.

Read Pastor, Where Do Your Missions Dollars Go? (The Gospel Coalition).

Also from TGC, see 5 Questions to Ask When Missionaries Seek Support.

And read Churches, We Need You! (Why the Church Is a Critical Piece of Missionary Care) by Jessi Bullis (A Life Overseas).

Cross-Cultural Photography

Living in or visiting another culture? Photography is a powerful tool to share about life in your host country. But make sure you make and share images in a responsible way.

Read 7 Principles for Ethical Photography as a Global Citizen by Anna Danforth (A Life Overseas).

For more thoughts and tips, see a series of field shooting notes on Instagram. You’ll have to scroll down a bit to find it (Commnet).

And just for fun, see Photographer Captures Photos of Signature Dishes of Grandmas From Around The World (DeMilked), found in Mission Hits.

Source: Missions Catalyst Events Calendar

August 2, High-Functioning Mission Teams (online). Peer-2-peer gathering for church mission leaders from Missio Nexus. This is about church mission teams (aka mission committees), not field teams.

August 2-30, Pioneering Church Planting in the Metaverse (online). Join a learning cohort once a week for five weeks from the Global Alliance for Church Multiplication (GACX). Bring a VR headset if you have one!

August 3, How Great Is the Need for Care in Developing Resilience Among Our Workers? (online). Webinar from Missio Nexus.

August 7-11, Abide Debriefing (Joplin, MO, USA). Help for moving forward with hope and momentum; retreats held regularly by TRAIN International.

August 7-11, Engage Retreat (Union Mills, NC, USA). Spiritual retreats are provided regularly by the Center for Intercultural Training.

August 10, Harnessing the Power of Technology: Communication Strategies for Missions Organizations (online). Webinar from Missio Nexus.

August 13 to September 8, Equipping for Cross-Cultural Life and Ministry (Union Mills, NC, USA). Provided by the Center for Intercultural Training, and followed by a Language Learning Accelerator course (both offered regularly).

August 15, Contend: Monthly Day of Prayer For Mission Mobilization (global). Coordinated by GMMI and held on the third Tuesday of each month.

August 21, The Great Dechurching (online). Thought-leader briefing from Missio Nexus.

August 28-31, Field Security Seminar (Lake George, CO, USA). Provided regularly by Crisis Consulting International.

August 28 to September 23, COMPASS (Palmer Lake, CO, USA). Language and culture acquisition provided by Missionary Training International.

August 31, How Agencies Grow Church Engagement (online). Webinar from Missio Nexus.

View the complete calendar, updated regularly. Submissions welcome.

1. Media: New Mission Explainer Videos
2. Resource for Helping Refugee and Immigrant Families
3. Websites: Unengaged Peoples & The Great Pursuit
4. Podcast: It’s Teatime Somewhere, But Don’t Move Overseas If…
5. Events: Conferences, Training, and More in July

Source: LeMotif

Need a general missions explainer video? Communication consulting group LeMotif made a couple of them and can work with you on customized versions for free; pay only to license the music.

Video 1: God Has a Mission (2 minutes)
Video 2: What Is a Missionary? (2.5 minutes)

For more mission explainer videos, see this collection from Pioneers and a helpful series from Global Frontier Missions.

Source: Family Life, a ministry of Cru

Looking for a tool to help you connect with and serve refugees, immigrants, and other resettled families as they work through challenges like transition, trauma, grief and loss, and raising kids in an unfamiliar culture? Family Life recently released a free, downloadable study guide to help you lead four sessions with a couple or small group.

The material is meant to normalize the transition process so people know they are not alone, pick up tools and vocabulary to help them discuss emotions and experiences, and name losses so they can mourn and heal.

There are two versions of the study guide, one that has “God talk” and one that doesn’t, plus leader guides. All the materials are in English. No registration is required; these guides are yours for the taking (and sharing).

Learn more or download Finding Home Again: A Path for Refugees, Immigrants, Resettled Families, and Those Who Help Them.