• 6/28 ~ STEWARDSHIP ~ Simpler Lifestyle by Robert Banks and R. Paul Stevens (urbana.org)
  (Extracted from The Complete Book of Everyday Christianity) "The focus of what follows is the simpler, not simple, lifestyle. It is not an argument for the simplest possible lifestyle, as lived by monks and nuns in the past or by counterculture communities in the present, but for simplifying our lifestyle in an acquisitive and consumer-oriented culture."
  
• 6/25 ~ BOOKNOTES ~ Worldliness - Resisting the Seduction of a Fallen World by C.J. Mahaney (davidmays.org)
  "C. J. Mahaney leads Sovereign Grace Ministries in its mission to establish and strengthen local churches. Additional contributors include Craig Cabaniss, Dave Harvey, Bob Kauflin, and Jeff Purswell. Resisting worldliness is the book's theme, but exalting Christ is its aim."
  
• 6/24 ~ SOWING & REAPING ~ Is America Facing Revival or Judgement? by Bill Ellis (assistnews.net)
  "Can America be saved and become strong and prosperous again? One thing is for sure, the problems of our nation and the rest of the world will not be solved by Republicans, Democrats, Independents or any other political philosophy. They are not intelligent or wise enough to know what to do. They all seem to make a mess at everything they try."
  
• 6/23 ~ TRENDS / VIDEO BLOG ~ How the Next Generation is Redefining Loyalty and Why it's Changing Everything by Steve Moore (themissionexchange.com)
  A good study for older generation leaders who need a primer and an exhortation on how to understand and work with the younger generations in today's ministry settings.
  
• 6/22 ~ CHURCH PLANTING STRATEGY ~ Subway Lines Provide Fertile Mission Fields (missionnetworknews.com)
  "Greater Europe Mission missionaries hope to plant nine more churches along Stockholm's red subway line. A house church has already begun in Varberg, one of ten subway stops on the red line.
  
• 6/20 ~ MEDIA & WORLD MISSION ~ Media that Transforms Nations by Carol C. (lausanneworldpulse.com)
  "As technology slowly infiltrates even the most unlikely of places, media “disciples” the nations in cities and villages around the world. Tragically, it can be a tool of evil (e.g., pornography, violence). Gloriously, the Body of Christ is also utilizing it to bring righteousness, joy, and the life-changing message of the gospel."
  
• 6/19 ~ EQUIPPING THE CHURCH / YOUTH ~ Billy Graham TV Special Captures Bold Witness of Counter-Cultural Teens by Michael Ireland (assistnews.net)
  "Dare to Be a Daniel is a training resource designed to equip 'tweens' (ages 9-14) to take a stand for their faith in Jesus Christ and share Him with their friends. The program – inspired by the biblical story of Daniel – features a Web site (www.daretobeadaniel.com ), literature teaching Christian principles and Bible verses, and an interactive CD-ROM that includes music, videos, practical tips and the entire Bible. Since the program launched in 2006, more than 12,000 young people (approximately ten per day) have successfully completed the course and are now making an impact by sharing their faith."
  
• 6/18 ~ BLESSING THE NATIONS AMONG US ~ Recession Hits Refugees by C. L. Lopez (christianitytoday.com)
  "Nationwide job shortage pushes limits of resettlement system." NOTE: Now's an important time for local churches to examine this pressing need and opportunity to stand in the gap and to show the love of Christ. To find resources for refugee awareness and outreach, click here.
  
• 6/17 ~ PRAYER / POWERPOINT ~ Prayer Ministry vs House of Prayer (firstofall.org)
  "A PowerPoint presentation describing the difference between having a prayer ministry in your church and the joy of being a prayer-saturated congregation." (Found on www.firstofall.org)
  
• 6/16 ~ INTERNET OUTREACH ~ Japan and Web Evangelism (internetevangelismday.net)
  This web page is full of ways to use the internet and other strategic communications opportunities for reaching the Japanese with the Good News.
  
• 6/15 ~ GLOBAL COMMUNICATIONS ~ O3b Networks: A Far Out Plan to Deliver the Web by Gregory M. Lamb (csmonitor.com)
  "Greg Wyler worked in Rwanda from 2004 to 2006, trying to stitch together a modern Internet infrastructure for the African country, finally putting itself back together after a devastating civil war ... Today, Wyler is back in the US with a fresh perspective on the problem. Instead of slugging it out on the African landscape, the high-tech entrepreneur will attack from space. His new company, O3b Networks, plans to launch 16 satellites into low-earth orbit around the equator, opening up inexpensive Internet access to billions of people in remote parts of Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America."
  
• 6/13 ~ INTERNET EVANGELISM & DISCIPLESHIP ~ Introduction to Online Missions (northlandchurch.com)
  Dr. Joel Hunter of Orlando Florida's Northland Church has provided an excellent introduction to Global Media Outreach, an exploding internet ministry from Campus Crusade for Christ, where "More than 225,000 people visit one of GMO’s sites every day. Of those, 30,000 click a button, indicating that they have made a decision for Christ. And 6,000 to 7,000 people every day ask to be contacted about their decision. Every person receives a personal contact." Note: To learn how you can serve as a GMO volunteer follow up worker, click here.
  
• 6/12 ~ FOR PASTORS ~ Let the Nations Be Glad, Parts 1 & 2 by John Piper (desiringgod.com)
  Advance 09 recently took place this month in Durham, North Carolina. Among its twelve select speakers, John Piper delivered a two-part sermon (Part 1 & Part 2) by the same title as his classic book, Let the Nations Be Glad. Ideal for sending as web links to your pastor. Additional mission-awakening material for pastors can be found here.
  
• 6/11 ~ TRENDS AFFECTING MISSIONS ~ Protecting Our Little Platoons by Chuck Colson (christianitytoday.com)
  "There's reason to be concerned for the future of voluntary organizations."
  
• 6/10 ~ GLOBAL CONFERENCE ~ Hong Kong, Call2All Day 4: 1.7 Billion (call2all.org)
  "After 4 days of presentations, round table discussions, workshops and plenary presentations the 3,000 delegates have made written commitments to the 7 main areas related to the Great Commission. These commitments represent hundreds of organizations and denominations. They come from all spheres of society. The forms after being collected stand 4 feet high. It will take days to get the final totals, but already they represent the largest body of commitments ever made to finishing the Great Commission."
  
• 6/09 ~ BUSINESS AS MISSION ~ Competition, Honesty and Dishonesty in Business as Mission? by David Skews (businessasmissionnetwork.com)
  "John tells us that ‘the law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ’, John1:17. It is therefore not surprising that, rather than condemning businessmen for their ungodly behaviour, Jesus said more about the behaviour that is pleasing to God: ‘Do to others what you would have them do to you’, Matt.7:12. However, this is, of course entirely consistent with the commands given to Moses. I want to be treated honestly, so I treat others honestly. I do not want to be exploited, so I do not exploit others. Let us look at what this might mean in business today.
  
• 6/08 ~ MISSIOLOGY ~ Reclaiming Contextualization by David Sills (bpnews.net)
  "Today, a controversial debate, pitting brother against brother, is brewing, and threatens to boil over. John MacArthur, Phil Johnson and others speak of contextualization negatively and believe that it obscures the Gospel. Mark Driscoll and others advocate what they call contextualization as the only way to make the Gospel relative to people today. Unfortunately, the rhetoric swirls around the use of foul language and sexual references in the pulpit. The result is an inaccurate use of the term contextualization that threatens this essential tool of Christian communicators."
  
• 6/05 ~ HISTORY MAKERS ~ Lifetime Achievement Award Video of Dr. Ralph Winter (uscwm.org)
  Contemporary Church History without this input is simply missing a huge chunk of the jigsaw puzzle, and campus ministry and local church mobilizer's should take serious advantage of this excellently done video to recast the vision for the unreached peoples and for finishing the Great Commission.
  
• 6/04 ~ HISTORY MAKERS ~ George Mueller, Man of Faith and Miracles (christianadoption.org)
  Every believer should be solidly exposed to the amazing life of George Mueller. May this overview of Mueller's accomplishments through prayer, vigilence and faith spur you to imitate such a high-impact life. For a more thorough exposure to Mueller's walk with God, get one of a number of biographies on his life, or, you can read A.T. Pierson's online biography of Mueller by clicking here.
  
• 6/03 ~ PERSPECTIVES ~ Why and How I am Tweeting by John Piper (desiringgod.org)
  "I find Twitter to be a kind of taunt: “Okay, truth-lover, see what you can do with 140 characters! You say your mission is to spread a passion for the supremacy of God in all things! Well, this is one of those ‘all things.’ Can you magnify Christ with this thimble-full of letters?”
  
• 6/02 ~ PARTNERSHIP ~ Clarify Expectations to Create Healthy Partnerships by Ellen Livingood (catalystservices.com)
  "Participants in global initiatives will want to be as flexible as possible, and their list of essentials and expectations should be as short as possible. But each participant—church, facilitator, NGO, agency, etc.—must honestly lay on the table whatever is critically important to them."
  
• 6/01 ~ KEYS TO REVIVAL ~ The Land Beneath Our Feet by Francis Frangipane (frangipane.org)
  "As a speaker in citywide and regional prayer conferences, I am often asked to unmask the "spiritual power" opposing the body of Christ in the conference region. City leaders and intercessors have even asked if I knew the "name" of the principle spirit that is resisting the church in their area. "Do you want to know the name of the most powerful spirit opposing most Christians?" I ask. Eager faces respond affirmatively. "It’s Yahweh.""
  

• 5/28 ~ SHORT-TERM MISSIONS ~ Leveraging Social Media to Multiply a Missional Team (fulleryouthinstitute.org)
  "So, how do you transition from just going on mission trips to ongoing missional living? By leveraging social media we can help students go from a one-time mission trip to a multiplying movement of missional living."
  
• 5/27 ~ ORALITY/SEMINAR ~ The OneStory Partnership Seminar in Orality & Storying and Cross-Language Storycrafting ~ Waxhaw, NC ~ August 13-21, 2009 (OneStory.org)
  This seminar is for Cross-cultural workers involved in a people group or language group work, as well as staff of various agencies or churches who desire to gain a familiarity with storying and orality via the OneStory approach.
  
• 5/26 ~ ORALITY/WEBSITE ~ Orality Strategies (oralitystrategies.org)
  "Our passion is to help you communicate the Gospel effectively. We strive to provide you with resources that help you communicate God's truth to those who learn best by oral means." Note: This web site is loaded with great resources. Dig deeply!
  
• 5/25 ~ PASTOR'S ONLY ~ Reaching the Summit ~ Critical Prayer for a Critical Time ~ Ft. Worth, TX ~ August 4-6, 2009 (prayersummits.org)
  "Reaching the Summit is a partnership of three national prayer ministries passionate about the need to be praying now as we never have before. For the third time International Renewal Ministries, Strategic Renewal and National Pastors’ Prayer Network will join together for a National Pastors’ Prayer Summit designed to provide pastors the life-transforming experience of a Prayer Summit, while equipping them to use this model in their own churches."
  
• 5/22 ~ MASSIVE GLOBAL PRAYER INITIATIVE ~ Global Day of Prayer this May 31st (globaldayofprayer.com)
  In preparing for this year's Global Day of Prayer, check out the various prayer and follow up tools, including great promo videos, Ten Days of Prayer materials (currently running) and 90 Days of Prayer, immediately following the Global Day of Prayer.
  
• 5/21 ~ TRIBUTE ~ John Piper’s Personal Tribute to the Late Ralph Winter (desiringgod.org)
  Ralph D. Winter, whose research and visionary leadership jump started the global Unreached Peoples movement, was received into the arms of Jesus last night. It's early yet, but so far none has summed up his impact like John Piper.
  
• 5/20 ~ VIDEO ~ Tears of the Saints (historymakers.info)
  A division of AsiaLink, Historymakers was established to call forth and mobilize young people for reaching the unreached peoples of the world. Tears of the Saints is just one of a number of powerful videos they have created for this purpose. Visit Historymakers site ... check out their great downloads ... including a great magazine you can subscribe to and order additional copies for your youth group (see left panel on the first page) Pray for their success ... and pray about getting involved! (Note: Thanks to Peter Armstrong of mdat.org for the heads up on the video)
  
• 5/19 ~ REDEEMING THE TIME ~ The New Global Currency Franchise (persecutionblog.com)
  This insightful article should motivate us to work all the harder and wiser in obedience to Christ's admonition to "work while it is day, for the night comes when no man can work."
  
• 5/18 ~ UNREACHED PEOPLES ~ The Big Picture: An Overview of Evangelism Explosion People Group Services (persecutionblog.com)
  Evangelism Explosion, initiated under the late D. James Kennedy, has been doing some serious retooling for today's generation, as well as providing contextualized discipleship and evangelism training opportunities for new church plants around the world. I especially appreciate the extensive testimonial page for EE's People Group Services.
  
• 5/15 ~ PERSECUTION ~ Real Suffering Only Lasts a Minute (persecutionblog.com)
  "I purified my heart of the fear of men, and I learned to see God.”
  
• 5/14 ~ STUDENT MOBILIZATION ~ Upgraded SVM2 Web Site Worth a Thorough Visit (svm2.net)
  Student Volunteer Movement 2 has been doing some serious work behind the scenes, building additional training tools and "ramps" for involvement in mobilizing students and campus ministries for finishing the Great Commission.
  
• 5/13 ~ RESOURCE REVIEWS ~ They Signed Their Companies Away to God ... Exploring the Land ... & Outreach-Oriented Video Clips by Marti Smith (Missions Catalyst)
  » ARTICLE - Twelve Business Owners Sign Away their Companies to God
  » EVENT - Exploring the Land Training Goes to Kentucky
  » VIDEOS - Outreach-oriented Video Clips for your Next Presentation
  
• 5/12 ~ CHURCH PLANTING ~ Church Planting Bibliography by Ed Stetzer (edstetzer.com)
  "I get a lot of requests for book recommendations, especially as they relate to church planting. In recent years we've seen a great increase in the number of books written on the subject. Here are books (along with some of my thoughts) that may be helpful to those thinking through church planting."
• 5/11 ~ PERSPECTIVES ~ Why Church Planting Movements Don’t Happen in Christianized Lands - So Far by Floyd McClung (floydandsally.org)
  "There are massive movements taking place all over the world right now. North Africa. Iran. India. China. Africa. Millions of new believers are coming to Jesus. Five million among the Bojpuri in India is just one example. Believers are suffering for their faith and the church is being born in unimaginable sacrifice. Why are we not seeing the same results in the Christianized West? Three reasons: ... "
• 5/09 ~ BAM ~ Business As Missions: How Do Church and Agency Connect? by Ellen Livingood (catalystservices.org)
  "Catalyst conducted separate interviews with three highly regarded business as missions (BAM) practitioners and compiled their answers in this article. We were particularly interested in the intersection of BAM with the local church and agency."
• 5/08 ~ ONLINE DIRECTORY ~ A Directory of Missions and Ministry on YouTube (ministrytube.blogspot.com)
  This online tool might end up most blessing mission agencies not yet on Youtube simply by their perusing this directory for its best practices and following their lead.
• 5/07 ~ IF MY PEOPLE ... ~ National Day of Prayer - Involvement Opportunities (ndptf.org)
  "Every year, the National Day of Prayer mobilizes millions of people to gather to pray for America. This page you will help you find several ways to get involved and be a part of this ministry to our nation"
• 5/06 ~ WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN DONE? ~ 1,500 Farmers Commit Mass Suicide in India (The Independent)
  Recently, "Over 1,500 farmers in an Indian state committed suicide after being driven to debt by crop failure ... Bharatendu Prakash, from the Organic Farming Association of India, told the Press Association: "Farmers' suicides are increasing due to a vicious circle created by money lenders. They lure farmers to take money but when the crops fail, they are left with no option other than death." QUESTION: Has any church or ministry taken up this tragedy in prayer and outreach?
• 5/05 ~ BAM ~ Is Business as Mission Mixing Oil and Water? by Bob Kuhlman (Business As Mission Network)
  "Remember the experiment you did as a kid in school, pouring a cup of oil into a bottle of water? No matter what you did, the oil sank below the water. They just don’t mix. ... At first glance you might think mixing business and missions would have the same result. After all, the goal of missions is to get people into heaven. And the goal of business is to make money. It looks like the only way they fit is when the business person gives money to the missionary to save souls! Obvious realities. Natural conclusion. Right? Well, let’s take a harder look at this."
• 5/04 ~ BLESSING THE NATIONS AMONG US ~ A Canadian Case Study in Diaspora Missiology by Charlene de Haan (Lausanne World Pulse)
  "Statistics in Canada predict that visible minorities, mainly South Asian and Chinese, will be majority populations in Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal by 2017. This is already true in one community in a little-known neighbourhood where thirty-five apartment buildings house thirty thousand people—ninety percent of them Asian. A small group of Christians intentionally moved into the neighbourhood in order to share the love of Christ with this strategic diaspora community."
• 5/02 ~ EXAMINING PRIORITIES ~ Critical Ministries Study by Ed Stetzer (edstetzer.com)
  “LifeWay Research recently finished a survey that reveals the ministry priorities of pastoral leadership in churches of various sizes in the SBC. The study, "Critical Ministries and Their Leadership," surveyed 801 Southern Baptist pastors about what they believed were the most critical ministries in their churches, whether those ministries have effective leadership in place and how they relate to those ministry leaders." NOTE: The reason for posting to this particular article is because prayer is listed as the lowest priority. May God grant us grace and focus to pray ongoingly for the restoration of prayer in the lives and ministries of our pastors. To add "feet" to your prayers, see the Praying Pastors Project.
• 5/01 ~ LEADERSHIP ~ The Seven Laws of Leadership Selection by Floyd McClung (floydandsallie.org)
  "I have been learning about leadership selection for more than forty years. I was selected by men and women who believed in me at a very young age, and from them, and the example of Jesus and Paul in the New Testament, I have learned the seven laws of leadership selection. Perhaps “laws” is too strong a word. Maybe “truths” or “biblical principles” is a more accurate way to describe what I have learned. I draw these truths from the life of Jesus in the Gospel of Luke. I practice these laws. Others have modeled them to me. I study them in the lives of effective leaders. I hope they help you on your journey."
  
  

• 4/03 ~ OPEN OUR EYES, LORD ~ Culture Shift: A Mother's Perspective by Stan Guthrie (stanguthrie.com)
  "If I could give every Christian a gift it would be this: to send him/her to another country, particularly one where materialism isn’t firmly entrenched. Taking ourselves from our culture, then reintroducing ourselves back into American culture is an important first step if we want to be engaged and pure within our culture. Why? Because we cannot accurately see how deeply entrenched the word “American” is connected to “American Christianity.” We’re Christ-followers with a consumer mindset. Until we walk dusty roads through countries where folks value community yet worry about daily bread, we will have an incomplete view of life and theology."
• 4/02 ~ GLOBAL TRENDS ~ Survey Shows Developing Nations Slow To Enter New World Of Communications by Dan Wooding (Assist News Service)
  “Radio was an important means of gaining information in Africa long before these countries gained independence in the 1950s and '60s, and it's still the dominant means of communications,” Dr. Robert Fortner, executive director of ICMS, said. The same trends hold true elsewhere in the developing world as well. For the missionary who works in Asia, or the nonprofit organization that provides relief in the Middle East or Latin America, this information is just as valuable.”
• 4/01 ~ PARTNERSHIP ~ Global Partnering Growing Pains - Three part series by Ellen Livingood (catalystservices.org)
  "How do we establish thousands of healthy partnerships and maintain them efficiently and productively? In the January-March 2009 issues of Postings, we presented a series of articles highlighting some of the challenges churches and mission organizations need to address in order to steward the movement to the next level."
  » Global Partnering Growing Pains -- I / January '09
  » Global Partnering Growing Pains -- II / February '09
  » Global Partnering Growing Pains -- III / March '09
  

• 1/30 ~ SERVANTHOOD ~ Cultivating Humility by Debbie Przybylski (Intercessors Arise)
  Debbie provides great encouragement in our calling to service and humility ... filled with powerful quotes and solid instruction on walking close to Jesus.
• 1/29 ~ RESOURCE REVIEWS ~ Stories from the Amazon, Support-Raising Help, and More
  by Marti Smith (Missions Catalyst)
  » BOOK - World Go! Manual Equips World Christians
  » FILM - The Enemy God, Story of a Yanomamö Shaman
  » BOOK - New Mary Slessor Biography (and Others)
  » EVENTS - Support Raising Training, Business as Mission, Conferences
  
• 1/28 ~ BOOKNOTES ~ The Outward Focused Life ~ Becoming a Servant in a Serve-Me World
  by Dave Workman (davidmays.org)
  Dave Workman pastors Vineyard Community Church in Cincinnati, a growing church of 6000 weekend attendees that is well known for its outward-focused message and ministry. The following is just one of many pull quotes: "There is probably nothing more unnatural than serving lost people with no strings attached in this me-first culture. Service is a prevailing weapon for the church that expresses grace--that ultimate spoiler of satanic strategies--in a simple but dramatic way. Try it yourself; you may experience a fair amount of spiritual warfare the first time you initiate some simple service outreaches in your church. And don’t say I didn't tell you it may get messy."
• 1/27 ~ "WISER THAN THE SONS OF LIGHT" ~ Barack Obama’s Social Media Toolkit
  Here is one major lesson on how today's technology and social networking were harnessed by the Obama presidential campaign to not only help him win the presidency, but also to sustain and increase his follower's support and involvement in the years to come. In the same way Martin Luther spread the Gospel by taking advantage of new technology (the printing press), may today's Church do the same with the literal explosion of communications advances and opportunities available to us today.
• 1/26 ~ NEW BLOG ~ Connected and Connecting: Parents of Christian Missionaries (pomnet.org)
  The National Network of Parents of Missionaries recently reported "... our new blog, is underway. We hope you’ll check it out and contribute your comments in response to what we post there. It’s another way POMs can connect and be encouraged."
• 1/25 ~ STRATEGIC NEW WEB MINISTRY ~ Reaching Internationals
  "Reachinginternationals.com is an effort to put some of the "best practices" for ministry to international students in one place. Those experienced and those new to the work have contributed ideas, tools, and strategies that are effective." Note: With a very impressive beginning, Reaching Internationals has taken on the growing demand for web-based information on how to effectively carry out ministry to international students.
• 1/22 ~ MEDICAL MISSIONS ~ 'Trailblazer' Ghana Hospital Changes Lives by Emily Peters (Baptist Press)
  "Spiritually, missionaries and medical staff have brought countless people to faith and paved the way for other Christian groups to start working in the area. To continue the medical center's spiritual impact, U.S. churches have made long term commitments to return regularly to areas around the hospital that are still unreached with the Gospel."
• 1/21 ~ PERSECUTION ~ The Kingdom of the Forgotten by Eun Jeong (Assist News Service)
  "Gary Lane, a senior reporter at the Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN), and formerly with VOM, follows and reports on the persecuted church. He says most people think Christian persecution is limited to “the book of Acts and the Roman empire."
• 1/20 ~ CONFERENCE ~ Ethnic Summit - Phoenix, AZ - March 19-21 (Ethnic America Network)
  "At the summit you will experience: > Ethnic diversity among attendees > Multi-ethnic celebrations > Ideas churches can use to minister locally > 40 exhibits on ethnic ministry > 52 seminars on effective ethnic ministry > National and local networking > Three days of encouragement and training"
• 1/19 ~ MAP ~ Status of World Evangelization Measured (gospel.com)
  "The World Atlas Mission Project keeps a map of the spread of the Evangelical Christianity throughout the world. They recently did a massive update of their 1996 map. It’s an interesting way to take a look at the world and to see the receptivity of the nations to the good news."
• 1/17 ~ BAM ~ A Global Overview of the Business as Mission Movement: Needs & Gaps by Mats Tunehag (worldpulse.com)
  "... there are still major needs and gaps in the global BAM movement. This article will attempt to identify and briefly elaborate on a few of them."
• 1/16 ~ BOOKNOTES/GLOBAL TRENDS ~ The Return of History: And the End of Dreams by Robert Kagan (davidmays.org)
  "Kagan suggests that hopes for a new world order have been dashed and the great powers are once again competing for honor and influence."
• 1/15 ~ INTERVIEW ~ A Team Leader's Journey: One Man's Path to Cross-Cultural Ministry by Shane Bennett (missionscatalyst.com)
  "In this month's column I chat with a young man who recently joined Frontiers and moved with his family to India where they're building a business and knitting themselves to their community. Following this new team leader's comments, I'll share some thoughts and questions about what we as mobilizers can learn from his journey."
• 1/14 ~ AFRICA ~ As an Atheist, I Truly Believe Africa Needs God by Matthew Parris (timesonline.com)
  "I've become convinced of the enormous contribution that Christian evangelism makes in Africa: sharply distinct from the work of secular NGOs, government projects and international aid efforts.
• 1/13 ~ YOUTH & MISSIONS ~ Christian Youth Prepare for Cyber-Missions Trip Around the Globe by Michael Ireland (Assist News Service)
  "Dozens of churches around the world are planning to participate in a special missions trip that involves bringing Christ and His message to a huge community where the Gospel is not the most popular subject. So far, according to Michelle Vu (with Christiantoday.com) nearly 2,000 teens have signed up for the “Online Missions Trip” to bombard popular social networking sites with stories about God."
• 1/12 ~ INTERVIEW ~ Paul Hattaway (historymakers.info)
  Yesterday, we introduced AsiaLink's HistoryMakers web site for mobilizing UK youth for the Great Commission. Today's entry is a link to their interview with Paul Hattaway, author of The Heavenly Man, Back to Jerusalem, Peoples of the Buddhist World, Project Pearl and Operation China.
• 1/10 ~ YOUTH & MISSIONS ~ HistoryMakers Web Site (historymakers.info)
  "HistoryMakers is a ministry of AsiaLink. Such is our concern for today's Christian young people that we have taken the important step of developing a youth side to the AsiaLink organisation in a specific attempt to inspire, inform and develop the next generation of missionaries. Through Historymakers, we will do all we can to motivate and mobilize young people into missions. We hope that through understanding and awareness of the Great Commission, they will literally change the world." Note: Thanks to Steve Shadrach for pointing out this promising new web ministry from the UK.
• 1/09 ~ TRAINING ~ GO Equipped! Tentmaking Course - Ft. Myers, FL - Feb. 25-March 1
  (Global Opportunities)
  "... hear stories from experienced tentmakers - how they did it and the challenges they faced ... time together will be built around plenary teaching, discussion, tentmaker stories, small group interaction, intensive Bible study, and prayer ... led by people with a great deal to offer in each of these areas." Click here for the schedule, and here for registration.
• 1/08 ~ ANNOUNCEMENTS ~ January '09 Missions Catalyst Calendar Updates (Missions Catalyst)
  Check out the next Northern California Harvest Gathering of Churches missions conference in Fresno, as well as three new The Journey Deepens (prospective missionary) weekend retreats in Chicago, Dallas and Philadelphia.
• 1/07 ~ JAPAN ~ The Manga Messiah by Peter Wooding (Assist News Service)
  "Operation Mobilization workers in Japan have a new dynamic comic-book resource they believe will enable them to overcome the daunting challenge of unlocking the Gospel message to the country’s 127 million population. Published by New Life League, The Manga Messiah is a 300-page comic book that depicts Jesus’ life from birth to resurrection."
• 1/06 ~ PERSECUTED CHURCH ~ Persecution in 2009 (Open Doors)
  " ... as western governments are less and less able to economically intervene on behalf of those persecuted minorities, or even militarily if the case arose, that's going to expose more Christian communities to a greater amount of persecution in the years to come."
• 1/05 ~ THE JESUS FILM ~ Film Ministry Plans for Growth - 500 Languages to Go (Mission Network News)
  "We are hoping to translate and dub the JESUS film in the remaining languages of the world that have at least 100,000 speakers but do not yet have the JESUS film in their language. That leaves us with about 500 more languages to go. ... Of those remaining 500 languages ... about 400 languages do not yet have The Book of Luke translated into that language."
• 1/03 ~ PREPARING FOR PRAYER ~ Global Day of Prayer Leadership Huddle - Austin, Texas - January 23-24 (Nat'l Pastors Prayer Network)
  Leaders from communities across the USA and Canada will come together to envision, train, pray and plan for local gatherings of the Global Day of Prayer.
  * Exchanging reports and ideas - from other leaders learning to facilitate prayer movements.
  * Discovering practicalities - how to put together briskly moving, heart-opening, community-uniting prayer events.
  * Freshly proven approaches - to build ongoing relationships and to enable servant-hearted leadership for united prayer.
  * Hear direct live-link reports - from different parts of North America and the world.
  * Cultivate friendship with like-minded leaders - working in diverse communities.
• 1/02 ~ PRAYER ~ United, Focused Prayer: Changes in the Way We Are Praying for the World, Part 2 by Steve Hawthorne (WorldPulse)
  "This is the second installment of a 2-part review of how prayer related to evangelization has increased and changed in phenomenal ways. In the first installment, Hawthorne wrote that in the past two decades evangelicals have not merely prayed more, but have come to mobilize and to organize prayer for world evangelization differently. (Part two) deals with: how our praying has been bringing us into more dynamic and direct engagement with the world."
• 1/01 ~ EYE ON THE FIELDS ~ Finding Jesus in London by Eben Harrell (TIME Magazine)
  " ... an unexpected spiritual awakening among London's high society has gone unnoticed in recent years. Long considered an aggressively secular city, London has quietly become one of Britain's most Christian areas, going from the least observant region in Britain in 1979 to the second most observant today. Much of that resurgence in piety is the result of the city's expanding and devout immigrant population. But there is also a growing number of young, highly educated and moneyed Londoners ... who are turning to the church."

• 12/31 ~ TRAINING ~ I Dare You to Go to www.Perspectives.org and Sign Up! by The List Guy (brownlikecoffee.com)
  "Beginning in mid-January in 170+ locations around the country, our small but dedicated staff team (through 1,000 volunteer foot soldiers) will launch an assault on the Kingdom of darkness to destroy the works of the devil in order to expand and extend the Kingdom of God. You may not like my medical or military metaphors, but what I’m describing is something bigger than the wars in the Middle East, more important than global warming, certainly of more real, lasting value than what direction the worlds’ stock markets happen to be heading at the moment."
• 12/30 ~ MISSION LEADER ~ Loren Cunningham and the Unreached Peoples (Create Int'l/YWAM)
  "Loren Cunningham, founder of Youth With A Mission, gives a challenge to Christians around the world to initiate strategic missions toward the unreached peoples."
• 12/29 ~ TRAINING ~ The Mission Exchange Webinars for 2009 (davidmays.org)
  "Get out your schedule and begin marking down which weekly webinars (for mission agency and local church mission leaders) you think would help your team and ministry bear greater fruit for the kingdom.
• 12/27 ~ STRATEGIC TOOL ~ How Missions-Active Is Your Church? Discovering the Minimum Factor by Steve Hoke (davidmays.org)
  Steve Hoke of Church Resource Ministries, created this concise and helpful measuring tool that uses varying lengths of staves that make up a barrell as an anology for the various strengths and weaknesses of any ministry plan.
• 12/26 ~ RESOURCE REVIEWS ~ Brother Yun, the Esimbi of Cameroon, and more
  by Marti Smith (Missions Catalyst)
  » BOOK - Living Water from Brother Yun
  » EVENT - African American Mission Conference
  » PRAYER GUIDE - The Esimbi of Cameroon
  » FREE ARTICLES - Mission Issues
  » BOOK - Perspectives Study Program Releases Fourth Edition
• 12/25 ~ HUMILITY ~ The Shy Virtue of Christmas by John Piper (desiringGod)
  "... how can looking at Jesus’ Christmas humility help us? Our humility, if there is any at all, is based on our finiteness, our fallibility, and our sinfulness. But the eternal Son of God was not finite. He was not fallible. And he was not sinful. So, unlike our humility, Jesus’ humility originated some other way."
• 12/24 ~ HINDSIGHT/FORESIGHT ~ History Suggests Sacrifice Needed Now to Support Missions (imb.org)
  "After 9/11, the downturn in our nation’s economy and the resulting drop in charitable giving caused us to restrict the number of new missionary appointments. When Southern Baptists received that news they responded as never before. Within one year, all restrictions were lifted and workers once again began to flow to the harvest fields. Still, the fallout of that financial crisis continued for several years. What did we learn? Two lessons stand out."
• 12/23 ~ SHORT-TERM ~ CURE International Increases Qualifications for Missions (Mission Network News)
  CURE International is raising its standards for short term missions participants in order to increase effectiveness in the ministry.
• 12/22 ~ ORALITY/PODCASTS ~ Storying Around - Parts 1 & 2 by Andrea (story4all)
  Part 1: Andrea, of Simply the Story, shares some cool things Jesus is doing around the globe through Bible storytelling.
  Part 2: More exciting stories about storytelling as an outreach tool and how the Lord has been using storytelling around the globe!
  
• 12/20 ~ TECHNOLOGY & THE GREAT COMMANDMENT ~ "Houston, We Have an Opportunity"
  Remember the movie, Apollo 13? In the face of impending doom, existing technology and resources were reformatted to find an answer to their problem. Following are three articles that reminded me of this movie. With concentrated, innovative thinking and a heart to bless the poor, people are coming up with answers to what many would see as insurmountable obstacles to providing standard health care for the developing world.
  » Inventor's 2020 Vision: To Help 1 Billion of The World's Poorest See Better by Esther Addley
  » Scientists Hack Cellphone to Analyze Blood, Detect Disease, Help Developing Nations by Dave Bullock
  » Looking Under the Hood and Seeing an Incubator by Madeline Drexler
  Thanks to momentum-mag.org & tonysheng.blogspot.com for finding these articles.
  
• 12/19 ~ ASSISTING THE POOR ~ Microfinance, Now More Micro by Ken Walker (Christianity Today)
  On an encouraging note, this article points out that while secular micro-finance is taking a hit from hard economic times, Christian micro-finance is benefitting.
• 12/18 ~ BAM ~ What’s So Different about Business as Mission? by Sarah Dusek (Business As Mission Network)
  "With the huge explosion of mission terminology in recent years the potential for confusion abounds. Terminology such as Business as Mission (BAM), Tent Making, Work Place Ministries and Enterprise Development all refer to very different mission strategies but all fall under the banner of economic-based mission or Kingdom Business. For the purpose of understanding where one term ends and another begins a brief explanation of the major terms currently being utilised will be explored here."
• 12/17 ~ CONFERENCE ~ Called by the Lord to Summer Short-Term Missions? by Michael Ireland (Assist News Service)
  "Whether you're in a college setting, a leader in a church, or someone who has been called on to be a leader in Short-Term Missions, the 20th annual National Short-Term Missions Conference may be just the place for you. Organized for leaders of Short-Term Mission, the conference is designed with the triple aims of preparing leaders with practical essentials, promoting discussion, insight and innovation, as well as providing inspiration for personal spiritual growth. The 2009 conference will be held January 23-25, 2009 in Atlanta, GA, with pre-conference options beginning on January 22."
• 12/16 ~ PERSECUTION ~ Russia Plans 'Liquidation' of Ministries (WorldNetDaily)
  "Dozens of Christian organizations that have been providing social services, ministry and other help inside Russia are being targeted for "liquidation" by the nation's Ministry of Justice, according to a new report."
• 12/15 ~ PRACTICAL MOBILIZATION ~ Annual Christmas Gift Giving Edition by Shane Bennett (Missions Catalyst)
  "This year's column features two lists. The first pulls together several gifts that might help people grow a vision for the world. Or in other words: gifts that mobilize. The second list pulls together gifts that I think a mobilizer might find helpful and fun."
• 12/10 ~ PRAYER ~ United, Focused Prayer: Changes in the Way We Are Praying for the World, Part 1 by Steve Hawthorne (Lausanne World Pulse)
  "According to a report by David Barrett and Todd Johnson, there are an estimated 200 million Christians praying regularly for the advance of the gospel and world evangelization. While this number is significant, the ways in which prayer has morphed and movements of prayer have matured are even more noteworthy. There is an increasing sense that the most significant days of prayer are before us." Note: Watch for Part 2 next month.
• 12/09 ~ GUARD YOUR HEART ~ How to Avoid Inheritance Disputes by John Piper (desiringGod.org)
  Piper shares from a very precious passage of scripture involving David and Jonathon's son, Mephibosheth, related to a wrong done to Mephibosheth regarding his rightful inheritance. If you are struggling over a similar injustice, may the Lord use this passage to set you free for continuing onward in your World Christian discipleship.
• 12/08 ~ STRATEGIC INVESTMENT ~ Donate Online to Urbana by Jim Tebbe (urbana.org)
  I don't believe there could be a better investment than helping to provide scholarship funding for students wanting to attend Urbana 09, where 20,000 students will be saturated with mission vision, prayer, worship, fellowship and connections with hundreds of ministries and thousands of opportunities to take the gospel where it's needed most.
• 12/03 ~ BOOKNOTES ~ Leadership Essentials by Greg Ogden & Daniel Meyer (davidmays.org)
  "(Pastors) Ogden and Meyer have produced an excellent study tool to be used with an existing leadership team, a group of potential leaders, a mentoring relationship, a small group, or a classroom. It is primarily a Bible study, but more. Each section includes a core truth that states the theme; a memory verse; an inductive Bible study; a reading; and a leadership exercise. The readings are very good."
• 12/02 ~ BAM ~ Business As Missions Is A Hot Topic by Doug Lucas (The Backpage/Brigada Today)
  "Maybe this "BAM" thing is so hot because today's twenty-something's are eager to grasp the latest fad. But as for me, I think not. I think there are some concrete reasons. First, they're all so concerned about ministry among the poor. Launching a BAM ministry seems somehow more noble to them than "mere" preaching & teaching Christ. Second, I believe the interest in unreached peoples has finally hit stride. They realize that they'll *need* BAM to get into most of these least-reached locations. Third, it almost seems that today's twenty-something's have come to value more highly the *concrete* and tangible outputs of a BAM ministry." Note: For more BAM links, click here.
• 12/01 ~ INDIA ~ Mumbai's People 'Numbed' by Terrorist Attacks, Need Prayer
  by Erich Bridges (Baptist Press)
  "The Mumbai attacks come in the wake of many violent incidents in India over the past year, including ongoing terrorism in Kashmir, bombings in multiple cities and extremist Hindu attacks on Christians in Orissa and other states. Even as India increases its international profile, increasing ethnic and religious tensions have led some Indian commentators to wonder if the nation will survive as a secular democracy."

NOVEMBER

• 11/29 ~ SPREAD THE WORD ~ Movie, AUSTRALIA, Serves Up Typical PC Myths
  by Dr. Ted Baehr & Dr. Tom Snyder (Assist News Service)
  "For several decades now, the mass media has promoted the Rousseauian myth conception of the “noble savage" ... cast(ing) white society, especially Christian missionaries and political leaders, as the ultimate bad guys, who (the story goes) killed and plundered their way across the Caribbean, the United States, Canada, Mexico, Central America, Peru, Australia, etc. That’s exactly the portrait in the new movie epic AUSTRALIA, which opens today in many theaters around the world, not just in the United States and Canada."
• 11/28 ~ RESOURCES ~ Devos for Short-Termers, New Networks & News Sources by Marti Smith (Missions Catalyst)
  » BOOKS - Devotional Series for Short-term Missionaries
  » WEBSITE - Helping House Churches Do Missions
  » NETWORK - New Global Partnership "Next Generation Initiative"
  » EVENTS - New on the Missions Catalyst Calendar
  » NEWS SOURCES - Our Top Ten Picks for Missions News
• 11/27 ~ MONGOLIA ~ Church Planting in Mongolia ~ Three Stories by Dea Davidson (IMB/SBC)
  » ARTICLE - Answering the 700-Year-Old Call of Kublai Khan in Mongolia
  » ARTICLE - Southern Baptists Pitch Their Tent in Mongolia's Countryside to Work among Nomads
  » ARTICLE - Mongolian Believers Catch Vision for Home Churches
  
• 11/26 ~ SHORT-TERM ~ Short-Term Team Safety Preparation by Steve Vereb (Catalyst Services)
  "Many short-termers travel with the idea that every country has the same level of professionalism in police, fire, and emergency services that they depend on back home. They assume that their protection and the resolution of any problem they might encounter there are primary concerns in host countries to which they travel. Not only is their wellbeing often not a priority, but they are easy targets."
• 11/25 ~ MISSIOLOGY ~ All Monotheisms Are Not Alike by Stan Guthrie (Christianity Today)
  Stan Guthrie walks us through the Apostles' Creed as a means of "sharpening our dialogue with Muslims."
• 11/24 ~ CHILDREN AT RISK ~ Conflict Makes Congo "Worst Place to Be a Child" from: Reuters (alertnet.org)
  "Packed into squalid refugee camps or roaming in the bush, hundreds of thousands of Congolese children face hunger, disease, sexual abuse or recruitment by marauding armed factions, aid workers said on Tuesday. "North Kivu is quite possibly the worst place to be a child. There is no question that children have been the most severely affected by the recent conflict," said George Graham, spokesman for Save the Children in the provincial capital, Goma." Note: for ongoing news on DR Congo, click here. For Go Connect's Children at Risk links, click here.
• 11/22 ~ LOCAL OUTREACH ~ Going Door-to-Door: A Look at the Numbers by Ed Stetzer (edstetzer.com)
  "I did an interview this morning with a national secular magazine about the efficacy of "door-to-door outreach" and will link to the story as soon as it's available. Much of what I shared came from some research we did at the Center for Missional Research on whether or not door-to-door is an effective tool ... By partnering with a polling firm to ask 1,200 random Americans we discovered that the answer just might be--"both."
• 11/21 ~ WORTHY IS THE LAMB! ~ Are You a Lion Chaser Who Embraces Risk as the Theme of Your Life?
  by The List Guy (Brown Like Coffee)
  "I'm reading a couple of good books right now: "Dare to Desire" by John Eldredge and 'In a Pit With A Lion On a Snowy Day" by Mark Batterson. Batterson shares, "As I look back on my life...part of me has wanted to play it safe, but I've learned that taking no risk is the greatest risk of all." When he did step out in faith and chase his lions those were "the moments I came alive" he said. "Those were the moments when God set the stage and changed the trajectory of my life." Note: Click here to read David Mays' "In a Pit" Booknotes, and click here to find the book at Amazon.
• 11/20 ~ FEAR NOT, LITTLE FLOCK ~ London, End of 'Christian Civilization'? by Erich Bridges (Baptist Press)
  "So has the "Christian civilization" the late, great Winston Churchill courageously called Britons to defend against Nazi barbarism finally succumbed to the quiet onset of senility, secularism and shariah? ... If "Christian civilization" means a civic religion to which government and society pay lip service, yes, it's dead in England -- or on life support. If it means the Kingdom of God on earth, however, reports of its demise are greatly exaggerated."
• 11/19 ~ BIBLE TRANSLATION ~ Anonymous Donor Gives $50 Million to Translate Bible
  by Jennifer Riley (The Christian Post)
  "An anonymous donor gave a huge sum of $50 million to Wycliffe Bible Translators this week making it possible to translate Scripture for the last people groups still without the Bible in their native tongue more quickly." ~ Found on Missions Catalyst News Briefs
• 11/18 ~ BUSINESS AS MISSION ~ WorldCrafts (found in On Mission magazine)
  "When you purchase WorldCrafts, you join with other caring people to provide income, improved self-esteem, and hope to artisans living in poverty." Note: This is a great idea that could be replicated many times over. To learn more about WorldCrafts click here.
• 11/17 ~ STRATEGIC MISSION ~ Reaching Muslims in Europe: Six Stories by Don Graham (Baptist Press)
  » ARTICLE - Northern Lights Pierces Islam's Iron Curtain
  » ARTICLE - Planting a Church Half a World Away
  » ARTICLE - What a Man Set for Evil, God Used for Good
  » ARTICLE - From Cross to Crescent: Islam Triples in Europe
  » ARTICLE - Missionaries Reach West Africans Lost in Paris
  » ARTICLE - Gospel Has Reached Imam at Sahara's Edge
  
• 11/15 ~ LEADERSHIP ~ From Invention to Innovation: How Inno-Friendly is Your Organization?
  by Steve Moore (Learning @ the Speed of Life / The Mission Exchange)
  Steve Moore, President and CEO of The Mission Exchange, recently began a monthly video blog. This month, Steve exposes a number of common blindspots that may be preventing your ministry from reaching its full potential. While you're at this site, why don't you become familiar with the various services The Mission Exchange has to offer churches and mission agencies.
• 11/14 ~ BAM / VIDEO ~ The Top Business as Mission Video (Business As Mission Network)
  "Our video production team went to China a few years ago to capture the story of Bill Job and his company. It's exciting to see such a powerful story of a business meeting the needs of people in their local community and making a difference where they are."
• 11/13 ~ GLOBAL CONFERENCE ~ World Evangelical Alliance General Assembly Closes with Major Statements and Commitment to World Evangelization by Michael Ireland (Assist News Service)
  "More than 500 senior evangelical leaders gathering in Pattaya, Thailand from October 25-30, 2008, have wrapped up their General Assembly, after five days of intensive discussion to plan the way forward in world evangelization." Click here to learn more about the WEA, a global alliance of ministries encompassing 420 million evangelicals within 128 countries.
• 11/12 ~ E-MAGAZINE ~ Practical Mobilization: Shoe Sales, Sheep on Fire, & Subversive Mobilization by Shane Bennett (Missions Catalyst)
  » ARTICLE - Setting the Sheep on Fire
  » ARTICLE - What Shoe Salesmen Know that You Don't
  » EVENTS - Additions to the Missions Catalyst Calendar
  » Subversive Mobilization - The Mobilizer's Christmas List
• 11/11 ~ COMMUNICATIONS ~ Cell Phone & Skype Security Issues (Brigada Today)
  Two postings from Brigada Today expose considerable risks inherent in today's communications technology. Pass the word, it may help preserve the work of God in highly vulnerable places.
  » Is Cell Phone Security Even Worse Than We Thought?
  » Skip Skype?
• 11/05 ~ COMMUNICATIONS REVOLUTION ~ Internet—The Transition of Everything from Atoms to Bits by Walt Wilson (Lausanne World Pulse)
  "We are the first generation in all of human history to hold in our hands the technology to reach every man, woman, and child on earth. Although the product price points are not yet in place, this is not a distant dream. It is a current reality. Market forces in technology are driving us forward."
• 11/04 ~ STAND IN THE GAP ~ A Prayer for the Election by John Piper (desiringod.com)
  John Piper provides six key prayer points for today's election.
• 11/03 ~ MALARIA ~ World Vision Launches Bold Initiative for Worldwide Elimination of Mosquitoes by Success Kanayo Uchime (Assist News Service)
  "World Vision, in an effort to reduce infant mortality, has taken a bold initiative for a worldwide elimination of mosquitoes. This was made known by its President, Rich Stearns in a statement, adding that the good news is that the elimination of malaria is possible as was done in the United States in 1951. He pointed out that now it's time for the rest of the world to benefit from the U.S experience and that by God's mercy and in partnership with other humanitarian organizations and individuals, World Vision is determined to end malaria in the entire world."
• 11/01 ~ WHITE HARVEST FIELDS ~ Central Asia Today by Krista Wells (Global Prayer Digest)
  "Oil wealth, the silk road, Islamic extremists and war; these all sound familiar when we think of Central Asia. There is much more going on beneath the surface than the nightly news would lead one to believe." Note: This is the Global Prayer Digest's lead article for an entire month of prayer devoted to the peoples of Central Asia. Click here for the current day's topic.

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