Brigada Today posted this article on their blog about a pamphlet made available by the Red Cross/Red Crescent.

Download it free here.

HT: Brigada Today

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time: 38:48

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Allen Allnoch had these kind words to say today… –Bryon

Each month I get a statement from Shepherd’s Staff, the mission organization that receives and administers financial contributions to my work here in Cape Town. Every time I open it, I’m humbled by the generosity of people who have felt led to give. Some gifts are from people I know well; some are from out of the blue; all are part of God’s sovereign and faithful hand in providing for me. In living here as a volunteer for more than a year, I’ve come to realize more than ever that God truly “will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).

Financial support is important, of course, but so are prayer and words of encouragement, and I have been blessed by plenty of those as well. With regard to prayer, I’ll probably never know the extent to which people have interceded on my behalf – but I do know it’s significant. So to anyone out there who has ever contributed even one dollar, offered up one prayer, spoken one word of encouragement, or otherwise helped me and my mission in any way – here’s a big Table Mountain-sized “thank you.” I wouldn’t be here without you.

HT: Trail Mix

Shepherd's Staff missionaries Chuck and Krissee Cilano sent me this video. Give it a look.

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time: 1:04:46

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Missions Mandate posted this helpful article on their blog. –Bryon

I have several friends that are or will be ministering the gospel of Christ in a location identified as a Restricted Access Nation (RAN). (For a thorough list of RANs, see the Voice of the Martyrs’ interactive map.)  One of the issues that they face is the tension between wanting to correspond with family, friends, and supporting churches and the desire to not unnecessarily expose themselves to the government or others who are opposed to the gospel.

With the plethora of media options available today, we have multiple venues through which we can contact our gospel ministers. But, as my dad used to say, with this added privilege comes added responsibility. We need to be “wise as serpents and harmless of doves” as we seek to edify and support our missionaries.

Recently I came across a document that provides instructions for writing to missionaries who minister in RANs. It was written from the vantage point of a particular RAN, so I edited the document to make it applicable to those who minister in all RANs.

View “Guidelines for Writing to Workers in RAN” document.

Follow these guidelines when corresponding with a RAN worker, and pass them on to your pastor/church as a helpful resource as you strive to serve your missionaries well.

HT: Missions Mandate

My friend Kelli Compean posted the following…—Bryon

Hey, other missionaries...

... this is an email from one of our supporters that has sacrificially given to the work for several years now. Though I have erased the names to protect the innocent, I'm putting this up to encourage you to pray for and thank your supporters. One of these letters goes a long ways for us!

Kelli,

We get a thank you card from you & your family every month. We quite often don't respond, but it lets us know that you appreciate our giving & our prayers. We know that these are very time consuming & I'm sure can be mundane at times. I was talking to a friend the other day & she was saying that they support missionaries & never hear a word from them. These are missionaries they have gone to church with just like us. We have also had this happen & you don't hear anything until they come back on furlow & need a car or a place to stay. That never really bothered me as we do it for the glory of the Lord & since we can't be there, this is our way of supporting the outreach. People are all different. And I was telling (my husband), alot of the missionary wives are from another culture & it's hard on the man to do so much. (Anyway, I'm rambling on).

She commented how the Compeans write every month & how that is important. So I just wanted to encourage in your faithful diligence to write your thank you notes. I enjoy looking at your stationary. Some are on my refrigerator & have been there for sometime b'cause they're so unique.

Anyway, God bless you guys, you're doing a great work & we love you.

Just wanted to let you know that little tidbit. :)

K

This is a couple of paragraphs from an excellent post about hospitality from Missions Catalyst. –Bryon

In her snappy little book, Foreign to Familiar: A Guide to Understanding Hot- and Cold-Climate Cultures, Sarah Lanier opens our eyes to a fascinating reality: People from “hot-climate cultures,” generally in the southern hemisphere, tend to value relationships over task, and in the process excel at hospitality. People from “cold-climate cultures,” generally in the northern hemisphere, tend to value task over relationship, and in the bargain struggle (to put it mildly) with loving strangers.

If you’re a hot-culture person, can I ask you a favor? Teach the rest of us how. After I’d spoken on hospitality to my church recently, a mysterious Russian man named Alex came up to me and said, “What you ask them to do, they won’t do. Tell them to go to the Arabs. Watch them. Copy them. Then they can do what you ask them to.” Many of us need to be schooled in hospitality.

HT: Missions Catalyst

I just found these cool, ready to use powerpoint missions presentations on the Joshua Project website. --Bryon

Let the Nations be Glad

A challenging PowerPoint about the unfinished task of the Great Commission from people and language perspectives. Gives an overview of some of the things God is doing around the world as well as some of the challenges remaining to finishing the task.

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Signs of the Times

This PowerPoint looks at some of the Biblical signs that will characterize the end times. In addition, this PowerPoint provides an overview of some of the major positive and negative trends in global missions.

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Status of World Evangelization

This PowerPoint provides a snapshot of the overall status of world evangelization with a particular focus on the unfinished task of the Great Commission. A visionary tool for small groups, churches, mission conferences, denominations and mission agencies.

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Thirty Unreached People Groups

Thirty of the most unreached people groups in the world. Great for introducing a prayer gathering, Great Commission sermon or mission conference and creating vision for unreached peoples.

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State of the Gospel

This PowerPoint was created by Jason Mandryk using Operation World information. It provides an excellent overview of missions and global evangelization.

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Where Are We?

A PowerPoint created by Stan Parks and presented at the Ethne '06 Conference. Where Are We looks at our changing world and church and how those changes impact unreached people group ministry.

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Southeast Asia Least-Reached Peoples

A PowerPoint detailing the status of the Great Commission and least-reached peoples in eleven countries of Southeast Asia.

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Joshua Project Overview

An overview of Joshua Project outlining the vision, activities and audience of this initiative.

View Download

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time: 52:24

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