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Lord, send me | as far as one can go
Lyric Video: Lord, Send Me
Source: Devin Belle and Jenn Bostic
Could you use this in your next global mission event?
Here I am Lord, send me / To make You known, for Your glory / All my life, ’cause You’re worthy / Here I am Lord, send me
See also a collection of more than 30 short mission videos to inspire outreach efforts (from various organizations but curated by Project Ablaze).
Article: The Ends of the Earth
Source: Lausanne Movement
The phrase “ends of the earth” is used 46 times in the Bible. Sometimes the phrase speaks of approaching judgement on God’s people, as when God “stirs up from the ends of the earth” an army from Babylon or “from the north” (Jeremiah 6:22; 50:41). Other times, it forecasts foreboding, all-inclusive judgement on sinful humanity (Jeremiah 25:30-32).
Conversely, the prophets foresee a great salvific reversal! Gentile nations will one day “come from the ends of the earth and say, ‘Our ancestors possessed nothing but false gods, worthless idols that did them no good’…Therefore I will teach them—this time I will teach them my power and might. Then they will know that my name is the Lord” (Jeremiah 16:19-21).
Metaphorically, “ends of the earth” means “as far as one can go.” All the world. All humanity, and all compartments of humanity. Every race, nationality, ethnic and language group. All peoples everywhere.
“As far as one can go”—that’s something to think about! It is likely far, far away from our home zone or comfort zone, and Christianized contexts where the church is domestic and the gospel (often) domesticated by a one cultural group or setting. “The ends of the earth” challenges us to consider: How far are we willing to go—geographically, culturally, socially, in prayer, service, suffering, and sacrifice—to ensure that all peoples everywhere have a witness to the gospel?
Read more. You may be able to borrow some of author Len Bartlotti’s content for a project or presentation of your own.
While you’re at it, check out a major new publication from Lausanne, a newly released multi-author and data-rich report on the State of the Great Commission.
Download: Risk Management and Short Term Missions
Source: Missio Nexus
In partnership with Brotherhood Mutual, Missio Nexus gathered data from 120 mission agencies and 220 church mission leaders related to their experience and perspective in managing risk related to short-term missions. Two recent reports (excerpt below) offer strategies and best practices for mission leaders, volunteers, and other stakeholders.
Learn more or get the reports. They are free, but you will need an account to log in to “purchase” them.
See also the book Facing Danger: A Guide Through Risk, by Anna Hampton. It’s now in its second edition from William Carey Publishing. WCP has several new books that might interest you, including Anita Rahma’s Downward Discipleship: How Amy Carmichael Gave Me Courage to Serve in a Slum.
Book: Chasing Faith Among Yaks and Nomads
Chasing Faith Among Yaks and Nomads: A Memoir, by Ann Wyse. Central Asia Publishing, 2022. 276 pages.
At 26, Ann moved to China and began seven years living and sharing Jesus with Tibetan Buddhists. We see her wrestle with and learn to appreciate a culture, context and religion very different from her own, make friends, and grow in her walk with God first as a single woman, then married, and briefly as a young mother. A fun and interesting read. I would recommend it for anyone who has spent time in the Tibetan Buddhist world.
Purchase the ebook for $9.99 from Amazon or elsewhere or listen to an interview with Ann telling her story on the Colson Center’s Strong Women podcast.
Events: Missions Conferences and More in May
Source: Missions Catalyst Events Calendar
May 1-2, The Mobilized Church (Baltimore, MD, USA). Discover keys to unlocking your church’s mission potential; offered by Sixteen:Fifteen.
May 2, National Day of Prayer (USA).
May 2, Jesus on the Gen Z Road (online). Ignite online training from All Nations.
May 2-5, The Christian Medical and Dental Association National Conference (Blackville, NC, USA). An annual event.
May 7-9, Standards of Excellence introductory workshop (online). Provided regularly by MissionExcellence, a ministry of MissionWorks.
May 9, BAM Global Summit (online). A Lausanne Movement gathering.
May 9, Is the UPG Paradigm the Only Way to Think About Missions? (online). Webinar from Missio Nexus with Nathan Sloan and Bradley Bell of Upstream.
May 12-17, Debrief Retreat (Union Mills, NC, USA). Provided by the Center for Intercultural Training.
May 13-17, Storytelling Training (online). Get hands-on experience with oral Bible storytelling with five three-hour sessions provided by Story Runners.
May 13-26, Orient Pre-field Training (Joplin, MO, USA). Provided by TRAIN International. Another will be held September 2-15.
May 14-17, Gear Up: Training for New Mobilizers and Mobilization Ideation (Plano, TX, USA). Come to one or both. Note that through a partnership with MissioNexus, organizers are now able to “certify” trainees in mobilization.
May 15-17, International Wholistic Mission Conference (Phoenix, AZ, USA). An annual event. Seeking lasting change for the least and the lost.
May 19, International Day for the Unreached (global).
May 20 to June 15, COMPASS (Palmer Lake, CO, USA). Language and culture acquisition provided by Missionary Training International.
May 20 to August 4, Perspectives on the World Christian Movement (online). New online classes begin regularly.
May 21, Contend: Monthly Day of Prayer For Mission Mobilization (global). Coordinated by GMMI and held on the third Tuesday of each month.
May 22-24, Support Raising Bootcamp (online). Provided by Via, formerly Support Raising Solutions. More classes held around the world throughout the year.
May 22-23, Ministry Mental Health Summit (Toronto, ON, Canada).
May 27-31, Engage Retreat (Union Mills, NC, USA). Spiritual retreats are provided regularly by the Center for Intercultural Training.
May 30, Video Storytelling for Missions (online). Peer2Peer webinar for marketing and communications professionals from Missio Nexus.
View the complete calendar, updated regularly. Submissions welcome.
Notable People, Heavenly Headlines, & the State of the Great Commission
From the Editor: Notable People
Greetings,
As you may have guessed, I love a good story. Recently, I’ve come across some old stories that are new to me. One came to me by way of an antique Frecnch secretary desk I wanted to sell. It had a sticker with the name Sherman G. Pitt, whom I discovered was a local pastor with a son, Malcolm, who served as a missionary in India and left an impressive legacy.
Another story I discovered is that of Asa Jennings, a Methodist minister from upstate New York who was able to save a quarter of a million Christians from perishing during the Armenian genocide. Read A Failed Minister Who Saved 250,000 Christians (Boston University) or watch the 15-minute video, Miracle in Izmir: The Asa K. Jennings Story (Videoparables).
For a more recent story of sacrifice, read about Dutch Christian Father Frans van der Lugt who was unwilling to leave the people of Syria when his city was under siege. The story is told in Martyr of Love: Father Frans’ Sacrifice in War-Torn Syria (International Christian Concern).
And speaking of notable people, Flowing Data featured an interactive timeline of notable people throughout history and a map with the most notable person from locations around the world. I had to see who would qualify as “notable.” I might have made a different list, with Heaven’s headlines in mind. Who would you include?
Blessings,
Pat Noble
China: One Chinese City Has More Christians Than Any Other and How It Happened Might Surprise You
Source: Back to Jerusalem, March 25, 2024
With the continuing growth of Christianity in China, it seems that it will soon be home to the world’s largest Christian population, but of all the major cities in China, one stands out for having more believers than any other—Wenzhou.
Wenzhou has so many Christians that it is often called “The Jerusalem of China.” Some estimate as many as 15% of the population is Christian, but our studies show that the number is even higher. The number of Christians in Wenzhou is almost six times higher than the national average, and those are just the Christians that are known. There are many Christians in the underground house church movement that are not known and are not included in the official numbers.
It all goes back to a man by the name of George Stott in the 1800s who God called to preach the gospel in China. When George lost his leg in a farming accident at the age of 19, it seemed that his life dreams were over, until he met with famed China Inland Mission’s Hudson Taylor.
For most mission societies of the era, it was a preposterous idea to consider an amputee for service on the mission field, but Hudson Taylor was impressed. When Taylor asked George why he should even consider going to China with only one leg, Stott quickly answered, “I do not see those with two legs going, so I must.”
The full article includes a link to purchase an inexpensive biography of George Stott.
For another BTJ reflection on missionary decisions and their consequences, read One of the Biggest Missionary Blunders in History?
Pakistan: Witch Doctor Summons Powerful Demons, Then Turns to Christ
Source: Mission Network News, March 27, 2024
When Unknown Nations gospel workers entered a slum in Pakistan, a prominent witch doctor thought he was ready for them. The witch doctor summoned two powerful demons to harm the Christians, but things didn’t go as he expected. He later shared with the Christians, “I saw them burn up.” The man asked them what they had done to make this happen.
“We said, ‘Sir, we didn’t do anything. But the reason that those demons were burned up is because of Jesus and the power of God.’ So, we shared the gospel with him, and this guy gave his life to Christ,” Kelley says.
The man immediately turned away from witchcraft. He has begun to learn God’s Word and be discipled by local Christian leaders.
This [transformation] has angered the people the man was leading.
“He’s absolutely in danger. I mean, these places are very dark. Any place where there’s human sacrificing going on, the disregard for human life is just, it’s unimaginable,” Kelley says.
Read the whole story with prayer points.
See also a story about a former witch who baptized 200 people on a Florida beach this Easter (CBN).