June 2008

6/30 ~ PRAYER ~ Pastor's Prayer Shield by Alice Smith (eddieandalice.com) Alice Smith of the US Prayer Center (Houston, TX), has provided an excellent article regarding prayer coverings for those in spiritual leadership. If you are in leadership and not currently covered well in prayer, here are critical insights in how to and how not to develop a team of intercessors. If you are not in leadership, reading this article might just serve as the inspiration you need to become an intercessor for one or more of the leaders God has placed in your life. 6/28 ~ RESOURCES ~ Resource Reviews: Prayerwalking, Project Pearl, House Churches and More by Marti Smith (Missions Catalyst E-Magazine) » EVENT - Story '08: Discover Your Role in God's Global Drama » BOOK - How One Million Bibles Changed China » DVD - The Call to Business (as Mission) » ARTICLE - Connecting the House Church to the Unreached » EVENTS - New Items on the Missions Catalyst Calendar 6/27 ~ MISSIONARY VIDEO & WEB SITE ~ BREAKTHROUGH: The Story of James O. Fraser and the Lisu People (jofraser.org) If you aren't acquainted with J.O. Fraser yet, this is your opportunity. The folks at OMF have created both a docudrama and a web site to introduce this amazing prayer warrior and missionary to the Lisu tribe of Southwest China. Additionally, jofraser.org was created with a set of strategic Next Steps pages that will provide visitors with ways they can engage in mission ... as pray-ers, goers, senders, welcomers, mobilizers and learners. 6/26 ~ THE NATIONS HAVE COME TO US ~ Monday is for Missiology ~ from Ed Stetzer's blog (edstetzer.org) "For the first time in recent history, more churches are being started in North America than are closing, yet this expansion of churches has made few inroads to internationals of non-Christian backgrounds living within our borders. This worries me, not only for the future of our country, but more importantly for the future of international missions. The question must be asked: If we as the church in North America desire to share the gospel to the world, how can we expect to be effective overseas when we cannot even reach the world at home?" Note: Ed also introduces a new book on reaching internationals in our midst, called, Who is My Neighbor, by Phillip Connor. Just a day after reading about it, I talked to a friend who - out of the blue - enthusiastically recommended the same book. :-) 6/25 ~ CHINA ~ The Chinese Are Coming by Michael Tai (momentum-mag.org) "This essay will trace the story of Christianity in China, discuss the decline of the Church in Europe and why the Chinese may be poised to play an important role in reviving European Christianity. It will examine the Chinese view of missions and why they of all people may be called to Europe. It will also look at the mobilizing, training and support needed for such a movement to take shape." 6/24 ~ CHINA ~ China's Booming Church by Susan Wunderink (Christianity Today) This blog on Christianity Today's web site has some great China-related links, including: 1) The Chicago Tribune's narrated slideshow, Chistianity Sweeping China (make sure you turn on the captions button on the bottom right), 2) Jesus in China: Christianity's Rapid Rise by Evan Osnos (Chicago Tribune), 3) Jesus in China: Life on the Edge also by Evan Osnos, and 4) PBS’s Frontline/World's documentary (a joint project with the Tribune) on Jesus in China. 6/23 ~ MOBILIZATION RESOURCE ~ FOCUSing Your Missions Potential (Catalyst Services) "Catalyst is just completing the production of a brand-new manual for local churches that will walk your leadership team step by step through the process of considering a FOCUSed approach to mobilizing your congregation for maximum global impact." 6/21 ~ FACTORS AFFECTING MISSIONS ~ High Fuel Costs Will Hurt Short-Term Missions (Mission Network News) "Orphan Outreach sponsors trips to Guatemala, Honduras, Russia and India. The organization's president Mike Douris says volunteers are feeling the pinch already. 'Those who have been going on mission trips were experiencing not only cost increases on flights going overseas, but also availability. As the airlines are cutting back on available seats and reducing routes, it's becoming more difficult to get tickets and get them at a price that makes it affordable for people to go on trips." Below are additional Mission Network News articles on the affect rising fuel costs are having on missions. » High Fuel Prices Affect Relief Efforts Abroad » Soaring Fuel Prices Are Affecting Missionaries » Mission Aviators Make Cuts As World Fuel Crisis Continues 6/20 ~ PERSPECTIVES ~ Blessing the Nations in the 21st Century: A 3D Approach to Apostolic Ministry by Rick Love (IJFM) "Three massive global trends have profoundly changed our world: terrorism, globalization, and pluralism. They radically impact how we live, think and communicate in the 21st century." 6/19 ~ DISCIPLESHIP ~ Men at the Cross – new men’s outreach in arenas nationwide by Dan Wooding (ANS) "A new ministry to men hits the national stage this summer. “Men at the Cross,” (MATC) founded by author, speaker and Christian camp director Joe White, will bring one-day and two-day men’s conferences to arenas across America, aimed at equipping men to disciple other men in the Christian faith and lead their homes and communities through service." 6/18 ~ TRENDS ~ Who Said Volunteerism is Dead? by Doug Lucas (Brigada Brigade) "Stats say the first decade of the 21st century is on track for having the highest number of Peace Corps volunteers since the decade following JFK’s original speech to the University of Michigan, launching the whole idea. ... If our numbers aren’t rising in step with the Peace Corps, perhaps it’s time we take an honest look at what we’re saying … how we’re recruiting." 6/17 ~ MISSIONARY CARE ~ Retiring into Uncertainty by Dick Jacquin (lausanneworldpulse.com) "A drastic change in the mindset of the American Church has occurred in the last fifteen or twenty years. It no longer views a missionary as someone to support in perpetuity. As churches today begin to see missionaries they have had “on their rolls” approaching (or passing) the normal retirement age, many churches become anxious to be able to withdraw their support from retiring missionaries and reallocate the funds to those young people eager to begin their ministries." 6/16 ~ E-MAGAZINE ~ Practical Mobilization: Ten Myths About Missions by Shane Bennett (missionscatalyst.org) Myths 1-4 ~ Myths 5-10 » Myth #1 - Only Extraordinary People Need Apply » Myth #2 - Missions Means Going Overseas, Planting Churches » Myth #3 - Non-Christians (Especially Muslims) Are Hairy, Scary Meanies » Myth #4 - It's All About Money » Myth #5 - It's All about Meeting Needs » Myth #6 - It's Just One More Thing » Myth #7 - It's All Missions » Myth #8 - All Mission Effort Has the Same Strategic Value » Myth #9 - God Only Uses Americans and Other Westerners » Myth #10 - God Has Given Up on Americans / Westerners 6/14 ~ ENCOURAGEMENT ~ Pioneer by Nancy Honeytree (youtube.com) Nancy Honeytree, one of the early contributors to the Contemporary Christian Music scene, wrote this song especially for those pioneering in ministry and serving as forerunners for others to follow. Quite appropriate to send on as a link to someone needing an encouraging word from a friend or ministry partner. 6/13 ~ MISSIONS HISTORY ~ The Rise and Fall of the Student Volunteer Movement by Justin Long (momentum-mag.org) "In this article, we’ll look at the reasons both for the rise of the SVM and for its downfall. We’ll try to identify some key lessons that might be applied to modern mobilization efforts. But we’ll begin not with the birth of the movement, but rather with the birth of the birth of the movement: deep in the beginnings of America itself." 6/12 ~ STRATEGIC MINISTRY ~ StoryRunners "Our two-year Bible storying projects have proven to be our most effective way of reaching oral learners. In just two years, a team of two missionaries can lay a foundation for rapid church planting through the use of Bible stories that are told, learned, discussed and retold. This gives oral learners access to God’s Word in a storytelling process easily reproducible by oral learners. It’s a quick, effective process leading to evangelism, church planting, discipleship, leadership training, literacy, a written Bible translation and the JESUS film." 6/11 ~ CONFERENCE ~ Int'l Orality Network 2008 Conference - September 15-18 (oralbible.com) "This event will focus on those who work with the unreached people groups (primary orality) and those who work with the literate who "choose" to communicate by oral means even though they can read and write (secondary orality)." 6/10 ~ REFUGEES ~ World Refugee Sunday 2008 - June 22 (refugeehighway.net) "More than 33 million people have no place to call home. They have lost family members, friends, and possessions. Often forgotten — or used as political pawns — these refugees face hardship, disease, and confusion on every side. Please pray for the many suffering refugees worldwide, including those in flight, those waiting in refugee camps, and those resettling in new countries. Pray that the global church would provide hospitality and welcome to all refugees in need." (From Refugee Highway Sunday bulletin insert) 6/09 ~ LEADERSHIP ~ Advice to Missionaries (and All of Us) by John Piper (desiringgod.org) "As I was working on the fifth volume of The Swans are Not Silent series about the lives of William Tyndale, Adoniram Judson, and John G. Paton, I found a letter written by Judson from Burma on June 25, 1832 with sobering counsel to missionaries. Actually, these are hard and good words for all of us." 6/07 ~ BAM ~ EC Group International Announces Business as Mission Survey 2007 (Business As Mission Network) "The first annual report on the state of the global Business as Mission movement." Click here for more information and to download a copy or to subscribe to 25 bi-weekly emailed installments. 6/06 ~ DISASTER UPDATES ~ China Earthquake & Burma Cyclone Updates Earthquake Opens a Door in China (Mission Network News) ~ Open Doors' China Director reports "... the church ... has many more opportunities to witness than it had before. Prior to the earthquake, the church was rather weak. Sichuan province has one of the smallest percentages of Christians in the country – only one or two percent. Many Christians survived the earthquake and immediately set about ministering to the needs of others. At their own expense, they delivered food, water, and medicine to areas missed by government relief. Many local people heard the Gospel and were touched by the love of Christ." Burmese Still Lack Aid a Month On (BBC News) ~ "A month after Burma was devastated by a cyclone, foreign aid agencies say a quarter of a million people have still not received any help. Despite claims by the Burmese generals that the relief operation is now over..." (See also Clickable Map of the Aftermath) 6/05 ~ REFUGEE HIGHWAY ~ A Refugee's Quiet Dignity by Mark Galli (christianitytoday.org) Mark Galli reports on the 19,000 foreigners displaced by the recent riots in South Africa. For the BBC's full coverage of the riots, click here. See also: Uganda: What South Africa Can Learn by Stephen Nakonya, found on allafrica.com. 6/04 ~ REFLECTIONS ~ The “Religious Affections” of a Global Christian by Ted Esler (esler.org) "Jonathan Edwards has been called the greatest mind in evangelicalism. His numerous writings and theological discourses have influenced generations of Christians. What shocks me about Edwards’ legacy is that modern theologians ignore his contribution to missionary work. Edwards was a missionary. His theology was driven by a missionary heart. It could be argued that his greatest writing occurred while he was a pioneering missionary among the Housatonic Indians." 6/03 ~ THE NATIONS HAVE COME TO US / RESOURCE ~ Using Alpha for ESOL (alphaforesol.org) The Alpha Course has long proven itself a great tool for introducing people to Christ and the basics of the faith in a friendship-building invironment. Now, after only two years of development, Alpha for ESOL is being offered in over 12 countries to guests from many nationalities and backgrounds. 6/02 ~ BOOK SUMMARY ~ The Supremacy of Christ in a Postmodern World by John Piper & Justin Taylor (christianbooksummaries.org) "This compilation of messages from the Desiring God national conference, convened in the fall of 2006, seeks to sharpen our thinking and motivate our ministry by helping us address issues of culture, truth, joy, love, the gospel, and the church as they intersect with the truth of Christ in our contemporary world."