Missions Blog for Churches

One of the challenges many missions leaders ask us about as we visit churches, regards how to best communicate missions news to church members. There are calendars, bulletin boards, pages on the church’s website (although we all need to be careful with that), inserts in the bulletin, announcements from the pulpit, prayer time, through small groups, etc… But it seems that that no matter which methods a church uses, many are often looking for more effective means, or at least ways to validate that their method is effective.

I would like to hear how your church is communicating to its members regarding missions news. What’s working? What hasn’t? Feel free to email me here, or even better, post your ideas in the comments section below to share them with others.

Come see the work of national church planters in three cities in Southern India, and view the progress of recovery from the tsunami-damaged area. Contact Bobbi Jo Brooks at 678-823-0004 ext. 2131 for more information. The trip is scheduled for October 7-17, 2008. This is a great opportunity to discover what God is doing in India, and how you and your church and be involved.

With an eye toward church planting, Mission to the World has entered into a partnership with Reformed Theological Seminary (RTS)/Charlotte for expanded theological education in Monterrey, Mexico. Numerous churches will also participate in the partnership.

“I am thankful to the Lord of the harvest about this strategic gospel partnership,” said Dr. Michael Milton, president of RTS/Charlotte. “It raises the temperature for world missions and church planting with our students, and helps our campus become directly involved in that Christ-ordained process.”

Andres Garza, an RTS/Charlotte graduate and Mexican national, will represent Mission to the World, recommending indigenous pastoral candidates to RTS for training. Click here to continue reading…

Jan Kooistra
February 10, 1942 – April 6, 2008

On Sunday, April 6 at 3:50 a.m., surrounded by her family, Jan Kooistra, loving wife of MTW Coordinator Dr. Paul Kooistra, passed peacefully into the waiting arms of Jesus, her savior. As the MTW family, we join the Kooistra and Carlson families in praise for Jan’s life and for God’s grace and mercy in her home going. And we plead that same grace and mercy to comfort those she leaves behind.

Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His godly ones.

Visitation with the family will be Wednesday 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. at:
Hamilton Mill Funeral Home
3481 Hamilton Mill Road
Buford, GA  30519
770-945-6924
www.hamiltonmillchapel.com

The funeral service will be Thursday at 11:00 a.m. at:
Chestnut Mountain Presbyterian Church
4675 Winder Highway  (Hwy 53)
Chestnut Mountain, GA  30502
770-967-3440
www.cmpca.org

In lieu of emails, please post your condolences to the message board, available online here.

by Paul Meiners

Part way through their first term on the field “Fred and Beverly” were struggling. Their language fluency was not as they had hoped. Friendships with nationals were not giving them entrance into the culture and opportunities for ministry as much as they expected. They desired a strong bond with their team, but sometimes felt they had little to contribute and others were too busy to give them much care and encouragement. Fred and Beverly had come after a great year of experience elsewhere which had confirmed their interest and abilities in missions. God’s call seemed to be confirmed by their experience, their church, and by MTW. Yet, could this all have been a big mistake? Click here to continue reading…

by Bruce McDowell

Overseas workers returning from the field can experience stress, reverse culture shock, unsettledness, and disruption from routine that makes the experience of returning “home” far from the vacation that some church members imagine it to be. Some workers struggle as they return to the demands of advocating for their ministry and raising needed funds. Others find they are financially stretched much more while Stateside than when they are on the foreign field. Housing and transportation, busy travel schedules, school concerns, and even winter clothes can add up. Still others are working through marriage and family issues that may affect their ability to return to the field and serve effectively. Click here to continue reading…