Missions Catalyst

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.

Sources: The Engage Network and International Mission Board

The Engage Network has launched Unengaged Peoples, a new website to focus attention on the 1,600 or so people groups no one is engaging with the gospel (at least not “with intent to birth and nurture multiple communities of Jesus followers”). The website features a searchable and sortable list that continues to be rigorously refined, some sharp, brief videos, and a personal assessment tool to help you discover possible roles among unengaged peoples.

Your input on the website (as well as the entire idea) is quite welcome. They’d also love for you to share with the website with your network.

You might also check a new site with a similar purpose from the SBC’s International Mission Board. They describe the task as The Great Pursuit and have identified 3,072 unengaged groups. They plan to send 300 missionary explorers over the next five years, each assigned to explore 10 groups over a two-year period.

Others can sign up to be virtual explorers, getting updates and cheering them on.

The disparity in UUPG numbers is a bit disturbing and may be a reminder not to hold to our models too tightly. It’s not a competition—these groups (and others) are talking and working together.

Source: Taking Route

Episode 23: Don’t Move Overseas If…

“Are you thinking about moving to another country and wondering if you’re cut out for the expat life? If so, you’ll want to listen to this episode ASAP! If you’re a current expat, you’ll still want to listen because who among us has not continued to question if we’re cut out for this life?”

“In this episode, we’ll discuss reasons NOT to move to another country—while also acknowledging how none of us were truly ‘ready’ for the life we stepped into.”

Listen to this and other episodes of It’s Teatime Somewhere on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It’s a fun one.

Also worth a listen:

• SEND leader Ken Guenther on developing resilience—or to use a more biblical term, persistence (Global Missions Podcast)
• Mission mobilizer Jeff Lewis on learning from the life of Nikolaus von Zinzendorf of the Moravian mission movement, with a focus on the role of revival/awakening (Mission Matters Podcast)

Source: Missions Catalyst Events Calendar

July 6-7, Support Raising Bootcamp (Orlando, FL, USA). Provided by Support Raising Solutions.

July 10-13, Thrive Retreat (Copper Mountain, CO, USA). For North American women serving cross-culturally.

July 10-14, Abide Debriefing (Joplin, MO, USA). Help for moving forward with hope and momentum. Provided by TRAIN International (held eight times a year). An additional debriefing will be held July 17-21.

July 11, Contend: Monthly Day of Prayer for Mission Mobilization (global). Coordinated by GMMI and held on the third Tuesday of each month.

July 11, Thriving as a Publisher and Author in an AI-Assisted World (webinar). Helping Christian authors and publishers around the world think through the impacts of AI; from Media Associates International.

July 14-16, Rethinking Forum (Dallas, TX, USA). Hosted by the MARG network for people who share both a love for Jesus and a love for Hindu people. This one’s been going for 20+ years now.

July 14-16, Integral Disciple Making Movement (Bellingham, WA, USA). Combining Community Health Evangelism (CHE) and Disciple Making Movement (DMM) so disciples live healthy lives and churches are planted; from the Global CHE Network.

July 14-17, Field Security Seminar (Union Mills, NC, USA). Provided by Crisis Consulting International. There’s another in Colorado in late August, or back in North Carolina in November.

July 21-26, New Wilmington Mission Conference (Western Pennsylvania, USA). Annual, week-long multi-generational mission conference; a tradition for more than 100 years.

July 24-26, Crisis Management Seminar (Auburn, AL, USA). Provided by Crisis Consulting International; followed by a July 27 Mission Trip Leaders Security Workshop.

July 31 to December 3, Perspectives on the World Christian Movement (online). New online classes begin regularly.

View the complete calendar, updated regularly. Submissions welcome.