Missions Blog for Churches

GO GLOBAL!

Missionaries know that in order to reach people with the gospel, we must be willing and able to speak their language.

The upcoming generation in our culture speaks a different “language” too, a language shaped by media sound bites, dynamic video, action-oriented extreme sports, and fast-moving technology like social networking, mobile web surfing, or texting.

We believe it is our responsibility to speak to this generation, to help them catch a vision for the world around them and begin to focus outside themselves.

In an effort to connect with them by speaking their language, MTW has created a new micro website, “Go Global,” showcasing young people who are engaging in missions. Read their comments about what God has taught them. Hear and see their stories in videos about missions and missionaries. You’ll even find a little humor if you look for it.

But, we need your help to spread the word: share it with leaders in your church’s youth ministry, post a link on Facebook, and mention it to your friends. Feel free to use your imagination.

http://GoGlobal.MTW.org

Thanks for your support. And Go Global!

There are a couple of deadlines I want to remind/inform you of. The first is for the PCA Global Missions Conference, November 5-7, 2010, in Chattanooga, TN. The early-bird registration deadline is July 30th. So if you haven’t registered yet, visit www.mtw.org to do so or to find out more.

Also, MTW’s Disaster Response Training fills up quickly. There are a limited number of slots, so if this is something you’ve been interested in pursuing, now is the time to register. Click here to find out more.

MTW has just launched a new micro-website called GoGlobal. This is an online effort to effectively connect with and communicate to the upcoming generation. Check it out and share with others: goglobal.mtw.org.

A new movie is being premiered soon (July 11, 2010) called Journey to Everest. I’m currently waiting to preview the entire movie. However, after seeing the trailer, this resource seems like it could be useful for many churches who want to use story and media to lead their folks to consider the world beyond their front door. The director of the movie, David Kiern, has asked that I share with you all that they are giving away free DVDs of Journey to Everest to any church that wishes to show the movie on July 11th. This can used in an equipping manner, but could also be used in outreach.

To find out more about the movie and to see the trailer online, visit www.journeytoeverest.com. You can also request to show it at your church via the website. As soon as I get a chance to see the movie I’ll post more details and my impressions.

The 2010 PCA Global Missions Conference is scheduled for November 5-7, 2010 in Chattanooga, TN. Join fellow believers from across the PCA in Chattanooga this November in a joyous celebration of hope hosted together by Mission to the World and Covenant College. Hear about the work of Christ in church planting, mercy ministry, medical outreach, student internships, arts in missions, and much more. Personally connect with others in the PCA as well as in the global church. Learn more about partnerships. Be challenged by ministry updates. Prayerfully explore your role and that of your church. Encourage others. Most of all, join in the worship of Christ—The Hope of Nations!

Plenary speakers include Paul Kooistra and Joe Novenson. Dozens of workshops on various subjects pertaining to missions will be held. This is a highly encouraging and practical three days. Plan on being there! If you can’t be sure your church’s missions committee is sending representation. Click here to find out more and sign up.

I recently received a request from a missions chair for some movie recommendations to show at a missions conference. I realized in compiling what I had and finding a few more through reviews online that my list isn’t that extensive. I know there has to be some more good movies that have a missions message, so please suggest any that you know of and give me your take on it.

• Through the Gates of Splendor – this is the original black & white docu-movie, narrated by Elisabeth Elliott; 35 min long
• Beyond the Gates of Splendor – this is the 2002 documentary about the event in Ecuador; 96 min long
• End of the Spear – this is the 2006 movie (not a documentary) that recounts the story after the story; it is rated PG-13 and is 108 min long
• Hawaii – if you want to go “old school” this is a classic that shows all the mistakes not to make in missions; 161 minutes
• Behind the Sun – a movie about a Muslim young man who is converted; 56 min
• Beyond the Next Mountain – set in the early 1900s in northeast India, a single copy of the Gospel of John came into the village and many were saved (so not as much about a missionary as the power of God’s Word); 97 min
• God’s Outlaw – movie about William Tyndale; 93 min
• Amazing Grace – story William Wilberforce (not traditional missions story, but certainly cross-cultural and mercy/justice focus); 118 min
• Peace Child – story of Don Richardson’s work in Southwest Pacific; 30 min
• First Fruits – story of Moravians in Caribbean; 70 min
• Candle in the Dark – story of William Carey; 97 min
• There are more here.

Okay, disclaimer time: I haven’t watched all of these. In fact, the only one I’ve seen in the past year is Hawaii. It is slow at times and very “classic” so don’t expect teens or kids to hang in there. Plus it’s LONG. The End of the Spear is probably your best bet to hold the attention of teens and up.  All the links are to Amazon so you can read more descriptions there and find out how people reviewed it.

Chalmers Center has an E-zine that was recently sent my way with some provoking articles, including this one: Don’t Just Study, Do Something. The newsletter is called Mandate, and I’m sure will prove helpful to many churches to add to their regular reading list. These are the same folks behind When Helping Hurts.

A few weeks ago I posted some links to videos that are online which you may find useful in your church. I don’t know how to say “I am more convinced.” The word “convinced” alone seems pretty emphatic. But I do think video is the best way to connect your congregation to what God is doing in other places, short of sending them there. So, here are a few more that have been sent my way:

• Japan – Tim Keller explaining the strategy of reaching Tokyo
• Japan – general video about the difficulties of working in Japan
• Honduras – the YouTube channel for MTW Team Honduras

One of the things I have had a great deal of passion for is the use of video and media to communicate. For better or worse, we live in a media age. Video allows the viewer to not only hear, but see and experience much of the story in a way that a lone speaker or storyteller could accomplish. So we’re beginning to catch up in gathering and even producing some videos to communicate the message of what God is doing around the world. Take a look…

• Ethiopia – the HIV/AIDS ministry led by Andy & Bev Warren; this is a newly produced video with many updates on the ministry
• Below is a series of short videos by a volunteer filmmaker for a number of MTW sites (this filmmaker was Matthew Blick of Cellar Media…a special thanks to him for this labor of love that will certainly produce much fruit!):
  • Berlin
  • Bulgaria
  • Scotland
  • Slovakia
  • Dayspring – Fairmont, WV
• India – this was on the MTW site so you may have already seen it

The following is an excerpt from a recent email I received from GTD. There are a number of events that you, in the church, can take advantage of, including their Church Planting Basics which is taking place as I type this. The next Church Planting Basics takes place in December, but since it’s in Asia instead of Lawrenceville, that may not be convenient for you. So bookmark their website (www.gtdtraining.org) for future dates. The next Train the Trainer workshop is November 10-13 and it is in Lawrenceville, GA. Contact GTD at gtd@mtw.org for more information.

Global Training and Development (GTD), the training arm of Mission to the World, is committed to providing resources and assistance to equip you for a thriving ministry. As missionaries with years of cross-cultural ministry experience, we desire to stand beside you as you seek to advance God’s kingdom around the world.

One ministry area that we want to help facilitate is that of mentoring. To that end, we are redesigning the MTW mentoring program to make it intentionally field-driven and expand its reach beyond the orientation of new missionaries. The enhanced program will provide training, encouragement, and resources for mentoring both new and experienced missionaries, as well as national leaders. In short, our desire is to help make mentoring a natural part of how we engage in ministry. The following resources have been designed to help accomplish this:

The Mentoring Newsletter is designed to equip you with the best tools, strategies, and resources to help you be as effective as possible in your mentoring relationships. This electronic newsletter will include articles written to help you sharpen your skills. An archive of these articles, as well as additional resources, will be maintained on our web site: www.gtdtraining.org/resources. To subscribe, email peter.beck@mtw.org.