- 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."
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