{"id":139,"date":"2008-11-12T03:00:00","date_gmt":"2008-11-12T03:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/missionscatalyst.net\/?p=139"},"modified":"2010-08-22T22:22:19","modified_gmt":"2010-08-23T04:22:19","slug":"missions-catalyst-e-magazine-november-12-2008","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/missionscatalyst.net\/?p=139","title":{"rendered":"Missions Catalyst 11.12.08 &#8211; Practical Mobilization"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>In This Issue: Sheep Afire, Shoe Salesmen, and Subversion<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>ARTICLE: Setting the Sheep on Fire<\/li>\n<li>ARTICLE: What Shoe Salesmen Know that You Don&#8217;t<\/li>\n<li>EVENTS: Additions to the Missions Catalyst Calendar<\/li>\n<li>SUBVERSIVE MOBILIZATION: The Mobilizer&#8217;s Christmas List<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><!--break--><\/p>\n<p><strong><!--more--><\/strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.missionscatalyst.org\/\">Missions Catalyst<\/a> 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!<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"..\/?cat=9\" target=\"_self\">Practical Mobilization<\/a> by <a href=\"..\/?page_id=610\" target=\"_self\">Shane Bennett<\/a> is published once a month.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Dear Readers,<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>This month&#8217;s Practical Mobilization column features excerpts from two articles from the just-released Mission Maker Magazine along with a brief-but-timely &#8220;subversive mobilization&#8221; question from Shane and a few more items from our missions events calendar.<\/p>\n<p>Maybe you are familiar with <a href=\"http:\/\/www.missionmakermagazine.org\" target=\"_blank\">Mission Maker Magazine<\/a>, but if not, here&#8217;s the scoop: Mission Maker is a &#8220;one-of-a-kind, 100-page, full-color, annual resource magazine designed to strengthen North American influence-leaders in churches and mission agencies.&#8221; This year&#8217;s lead article provides an overview of the 10 least evangelized countries and cities of the world, the eight major cultural people blocs, an overview on the current status of the 2.2 million short-term missionaries, and more.<\/p>\n<p>Learn more about this magazine and order a copy for yourself, or better yet, a bunch to give away, <a href=\"http:\/\/stemintl.org\/publications\/order\/product\/mr54\" target=\"_blank\">here<\/a>. We think most Mission Catalyst readers (especially those in North America) could handily distribute a US$60 case of 60 copies. Put them in the hands of your missions team, your pastor and church staff. Get them out at Perspectives classes and missions conferences. They might even be a great gift to mail off to supporters.<\/p>\n<p>Two of this edition&#8217;s 14 great articles come from the keyboard of Missions Catalyst&#8217;s Shane Bennett. One, co-authored with his friend Jeff Beeson, takes a fresh look at missions fundraising. The other is about mobilizing your church, or, as Shane calls it here, &#8220;setting the sheep on fire.&#8221; Excerpts are below. Follow the links to download the articles in their entirety, and feel free to pass them along to your friends!<\/p>\n<p><strong>Blessings,<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Marti Smith<br \/>\nManaging editor<\/strong><\/p>\n<h3>ARTICLE &#8211; Setting the Sheep on Fire: Ignite a Mission Passion in Your Church<\/h3>\n<p><strong>By <\/strong><strong>Shane Bennett<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Since returning to my Hoosier roots about a year ago, I&#8217;ve rediscovered an ancient enjoyment: Fire. Particularly setting stuff on fire. In many places we&#8217;ve recently lived, starting fires was either unwise or illegal. But in Indiana, burn away! Just down the road from some of my recent fires, there lives a winsome little flock of sheep. While I&#8217;ve never set them ablaze, the imagination does wander!<\/p>\n<p>Jesus often referred to the ones who followed him as sheep. If you&#8217;ve spent much time around the wooly masses, you might not find the comparison particularly complimentary. But Jesus used the term with warmth and tenderness. Think with him about his followers who gather with you in your church. think about their love for Jesus. Think about how much you&#8217;d like them to share your vision and passion for God&#8217;s kingdom. Think about setting those sweet little sheep on fire for the nations!<\/p>\n<p>In some parts of the world, all you need to start a fire is a little carelessness, but in Indiana, where it either just rained or is getting ready to, you better have some accelerant (Charcoal lighter fluid for beginners and gasoline for those lighting their last fire!) Church sheep are the same. Occasionally (Haley&#8217;s Comet occasionally) you run across one just waiting for someone to say, &#8220;You. Morocco. Go!&#8221; Usually it takes a more thoughtful invitation if we want to see folks go the least reached parts of the planet. You need the right accelerant to ignite damp sheep.<\/p>\n<p><strong>A Picture of What&#8217;s Possible<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>One of the reasons that most people groups in say, Iran, have not met someone like them who love Jesus is that it&#8217;s so tough to imagine how that might come about. And certainly how the average believer in America, or any other non-Iranian country, for that matter, might do anything about it. If we want to set sheep on fire, we need to work hard to show three things: what a Jesus planet might look like, what if might take to get there, and how each sheep might move things along.<\/p>\n<p>Number one model is you. If you care about the world and would invite others into that passion, show it in your life. John Wesley, a father in the faith for many of us, reputedly said, &#8220;I set myself on fire and people gather to watch me burn.&#8221; Want to set sheep on fire? Be sure you&#8217;re more than just smokey yourself. Pray for the nations. Befriend foreigners in your midst. Give money to carry the gospel into other cultures. Always be ready to live for years among people who will see Jesus first in your life.<\/p>\n<p>&gt;&gt; Download a PDF of the entire <a href=\"https:\/\/missionscatalyst.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/05\/Setting-the-Sheep-on-Fire.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">&#8220;Sheep on Fire&#8221; article<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3>ARTICLE &#8211; What Shoe Salesmen Know that You Don&#8217;t: How to Bless Donors and Fund Missionaries<\/h3>\n<p><strong>By Shane Bennett and Jeff Beeson<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Jeff Beeson, a successful businessman, and Shane Bennett, a full-time missions fanatic, are in hot pursuit of a goal: getting Shane fully funded. And they&#8217;re writing a book about the process. In this article they wrestle over a key issue that hinders fund-raising, and they challenge both donors and fund-raisers to rethink their relationships and responsibilities.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Zappos.com Rocks<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Jeff: &#8220;Hello?&#8221; My office phone&#8217;s display shows it&#8217;s my mom calling from her office nearby. &#8220;Did Ali-girl ever get any shoes from Zappos?&#8221; My mom had recently turned Ali, my twelve-year-old, on to Zappos.com, a web site with an unparalleled selection of shoes.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;No, not yet. But she&#8217;s been looking.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I just ordered mine the other day, and they&#8217;re already here!&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>She was delighted. A few minutes later she came bouncing into my office. &#8220;Look!&#8221; She handed me an amazing hand-decorated, personalized thank-you card from Corina, a customer service rep at Zappos.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Wow, that&#8217;s impressive.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Tell Ali she&#8217;s got to get some shoes from Zappos. They have great service, and if you don&#8217;t like your shoes, you simply send them back!&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>For a $50 pair of shoes this lady took time to create an artistic thank-you card. In doing so, she created a connection with my mother that probably took her thirty seconds and the cost of postage.<\/p>\n<p>This, my friend Shane, is what many missionaries don&#8217;t do. Many, who every month receive from a donor more money than the cost of a pair of shoes at Zappos, never make a point to personally say &#8220;thank you.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Shane: Hang on a second. Zappos does that because they want the next sale. I don&#8217;t want to say &#8220;thank you&#8221; just to get the next check. That feels manipulative to me.<\/p>\n<p>Jeff: Being grateful is biblical, right? Then take thirty seconds to say &#8220;thank you&#8221; to your donors in a personal way.<\/p>\n<p>&gt;&gt; Download a PDF of the <a href=\"https:\/\/missionscatalyst.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/05\/What-Shoe-Salesmen-Know.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">&#8220;Shoe Salesmen&#8221; article<\/a>. (Or, if you are so inclined, shop for shoes from Zappos <a href=\"http:\/\/www.zappos.com\" target=\"_blank\">here<\/a>! While you&#8217;re at it, explore <a href=\"http:\/\/www.sendoutcards.com\" target=\"_blank\">Send Out Cards<\/a> which could help you keep up with correspondence, though not quite in the way Jeff recommends.)<\/p>\n<p>&gt;&gt; Remember to check out Mission Maker Magazine (and maybe pitch them an article yourself for next year&#8217;s edition) <a href=\"http:\/\/www.missionmakermagazine.org\" target=\"_blank\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3>EVENTS &#8211; Additions to the Missions Catalyst Calendar<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Source: Missions Catalyst Events Calendar<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>January 05 to March 30 &#8211; <a href=\"http:\/\/www.encounteringislam.org\" target=\"_blank\">Encountering the World of Islam<\/a> course (online, international). Classes offered four times a year.<\/p>\n<p>January 20 to 28 &#8211; <a href=\"http:\/\/www.perspectives.org\/site\/c.ifIOKXOyFoG\/b.4430083\/?auid=4182736\" target=\"_blank\">Perspectives Intensive Class<\/a> (Fayetteville, AR, USA). Special one-week class. Standard 15-week classes beginning around the same time are listed <a href=\"http:\/\/www.perspectives.org\" target=\"_blank\">here<\/a>. Many <a href=\"http:\/\/www.pathways2.org\" target=\"_blank\">Pathways<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.kairoscourse.org\" target=\"_blank\">Kairos<\/a> classes also begin in January.<\/p>\n<p>February 25 to April 5 &#8211; <a href=\"http:\/\/www.waymakers.org\/?p=sgftc\" target=\"_blank\">Seek God for the City 2009<\/a> (international). Join churches around the world for 40 days of prayer leading up to Palm Sunday.<\/p>\n<p>April 18 to 20 &#8211; <a href=\"mailto:info@rethinkingforum.com\" target=\"_blank\">The Rethinking Forum&#8217;s Seventh Annual North American Consultation<\/a> (Pasadena, CA, USA). Geared for those involved or interested in ministry reaching the world&#8217;s Hindus.<\/p>\n<p>April 26 &#8211; <a href=\"http:\/\/ied.gospelcom.net\" target=\"_blank\">Internet Evangelism Day<\/a> (international). Click through to the site for lots of resources.<\/p>\n<p>Note: You can submit items (or changes) to the managing editor <a href=\"mailto:missionscatalyst@takeitglobal.org\" target=\"_blank\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3>Subversive Mobilization &#8211; the Mobilizer&#8217;s Christmas List<\/h3>\n<p><strong>By Shane Bennett<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Believe it or not, I&#8217;m not above using the season of our Holy Lord&#8217;s birth to advance the cause of his Kingdom among the nations. What about you? For example, if you&#8217;ve got gift-giving on your mind, how about moving some hearts toward God&#8217;s purposes at the same time?<\/p>\n<p>Next month&#8217;s Practical Mobilization will feature our (mostly) annual Mobilizer&#8217;s Christmas List. It&#8217;s a two-fold list consisting of (1) ideas for gifts that may have mobilization value (think <a href=\"http:\/\/operationworld.org\/resources\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">Operation World<\/a>) and (2) gifts that mobilizers themselves would uniquely appreciate (maybe an <a href=\"http:\/\/store.apple.com\/us\/browse\/home\/shop_ipod\/family\/ipod_touch?cid=OAS-US-KWG-iPodTouch\" target=\"_blank\">iPod Touch<\/a> loaded with survival phrases from 18 different languages?)<\/p>\n<p>The lists are not written yet, though. I&#8217;ve got some ideas, but I&#8217;d love to hear yours. Please send candidates for both lists to me here, and tune in next month to get the full lists just in time for Christmas.<\/p>\n<p>Questions, comments, submissions? <a href=\"mailto:missionscatalyst@calebresources.org\" target=\"_blank\">Contact     us<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<h1><a name=\"top\"><\/a><strong>Practical Mobilization<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/h1>\n<p><strong>In this issue: shoe sales, sheep on fire, and subversive mobilization&nbsp;  <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>ARTICLE &#8211; Setting the Sheep on Fire <\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>ARTICLE &#8211; What Shoe Salesmen Know that You Don&#8217;t<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>EVENTS &#8211; Additions to the Missions Catalyst Calendar<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Subversive Mobilization &#8211; The Mobilizer&#8217;s Christmas List<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-139","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-practical-mobilization"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/missionscatalyst.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/139","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/missionscatalyst.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/missionscatalyst.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/missionscatalyst.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/missionscatalyst.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=139"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/missionscatalyst.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/139\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":945,"href":"https:\/\/missionscatalyst.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/139\/revisions\/945"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/missionscatalyst.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=139"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/missionscatalyst.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=139"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/missionscatalyst.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=139"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}