EXPLORE: VAISAKHI

Exploring traditions from other cultures is one way to expand your family’s view of the world and cultivate a heart for the peoples that God loves. Learn about Vaisakhi (vu-SAH-kee), the most important holiday of the year for Sikhs (seeks).

Celebrated annually on April 13 or 14, Vaisakhi (vu-SAH-kee) is similar in significance to Christmas or Easter among Christians. There are 28 million Sikhs worldwide—making the Sikh religion the fifth largest in the world! The majority of Sikhs live in the Punjab region of northern India. Sikhs believe only one God exists and that all religions worship him. A core aspect of their faith is treating everyone equally. Sikhs also strive to work hard, be honest, help the poor, and serve others.

Sikhs celebrate Vaisakhi for two reasons. One, it marks the beginning of the Sikh community of faith, started by Guru Nanak in 1699. 

Two, it signals the start of the spring harvest in northern India. People gather in their fields to harvest crops, particularly wheat and mustard. While some reap the crops, others sing and play the dhol (dole), a large wooden drum. The work of gathering is transformed into a community festival.

Once crops are collected, families use the harvested wheat and mustard to prepare traditional foods–roti (ROH-tee), a round flatbread, and green curry flavored with mustard. Families wear new, colorful clothes, and attend a service at the gurdwara (guhr-DWAH-ruh). In this place of worship, the guru reads from the Guru Granth Sahib, (GOO-roo grahnt SAH-heeb), the Sikh holy book.

Afterward, everyone in the community marches in a parade through the village. Vibrant yellow and orange decorations reflect the golden wheat fields at harvest time. People sing and play the drums and tumbi (TOOM-be), a small instrument that looks like a one-stringed guitar. Women perform a special harvest dance called the bhangra (BAHN-gruh).

Sometimes activities for children are set up and free food is provided for all at the gurdwara. More than a place of worship, the gurdwara serves as a community center where food, friendship and shelter are extended to all. Vaisakhi is a joy-filled celebration that reflects Sikh core values and is shared by family, friends, and the entire community.

Read my full article with kid-friendly ways to pray and an activity at Via Families.

Resources for Cultivating Missions Awareness in Kids

Between sports practices, school projects, yard work, and the ongoing rhythm of church, it can be a challenge to regularly intercede for the world with our kids. Let’s take the work out of the family world prayer equation and replace it with simple ways to meaningfully pray for people around the globe.

Read the full article where I share six family-friendly resources to pray for the world on the The Upstream Collective.

Around the World: Letters from Children Across the Nations

Around the World: Letters from Children Across the Nations fosters meaningful connection and global prayer in kid-friendly ways.

Brief overview: 

Engage your children with God's heart for the world by reading fictional letters from kids around the world. Your kiddos will learn about the cultural and religious landscape in age-appropriate ways.

With country facts, prayer prompts, and discussion questions about each geographic location, this is a fabulous book to add to your family library. 

Recommended age range: 4-12

Strengths: 

• Beautiful illustrations to pull children into this resource.
• Content is written to draw kids into what it looks like to follow Jesus in another culture from child's perspective.
• Provides overview facts along with a map to help kids get an understanding of that part of the world.
• Includes specific ways kids can pray.
• Invites children to think deeply about that day through discussion questions.

Additional Notes:

• This is a great resource to walk through your kids to foster a heart to pray for the world together.

Overall rating: 9 (out of 10)

Unreached People Group: Miao

Welcome to the mountains of Southwest China! As the wind blows across the tall green grass, we will climb up the side of the mountain past towering pine trees toward that big maple tree. Do you see it? That’s the middle of the Miao (pronounced mee-OW) village hidden far beyond roads and cities. Miao families are animists. This means they believe in spirits and think the created things around them are alive and could either help or hurt them. Life is hard in this hilly land where crops can’t grow on the side of steep slopes and water must be carried from far away. And the gospel hasn’t reached this village yet where a six-year-old girl lives with her family.

Swing by Via Family to read the full story, uncover a family activity, and learn ways to pray for the Miao.

Finding Abundant Life in Our Shifting Circumstances

Fatima tugged her red head scarf back over her hair as she prepared a rice dish for lunch. She was the only Christian among a family of Muslims. Fatima hadn’t wanted to marry a nonbeliever, but as an orphan her extended family couldn’t afford to care for her beyond childhood. While her husband and his family were considered modern in their culture and knew she was a believer, they made it difficult for her to spend time with any Christians. And after a couple years of marriage without producing a child, there was talk of a second wife.

Across the globe while residing in Africa, I received the call bearing news no one wants. Cancer. The doctors said my mom only had five “quality” years to live. I was 22. I fumbled with the phone as tears slid down my freckled cheeks.

Around the world, Christian women face a myriad of obstacles–persecution, infertility, family illness–as they follow Christ. But one truth remains the same: all are offered abundant life in Jesus.

Read the full article on Christian Parenting.

When Safety Isn’t Our Top Priority

The moment I stepped inside our third-floor walk-up apartment, I knew something was wrong. My heart raced as I scanned our dining room and noticed my work laptop was missing. Someone had also stolen two personal laptops and a digital camera—all because we forgot to shut the only window granting access to our apartment.

We lived in a rougher Chicago neighborhood because we couldn’t afford the rent prices in the nicer area a few blocks north. One block made a big difference in safety.

My husband was leaving for a one-month work trip later that afternoon. The closest family was an eight-hour drive away. I would be solo with two little ones after a break-in the police refused to come investigate—even though the thief left his drawstring bag with a package of partially eaten chips on our doorstep.

Fear consumed my mind. Why did God plant us here?

The Safety Obsession

We returned to the United States in 2015 after living overseas for four years. One common theme I noticed among Americans upon our arrival was an intense focus on safety. It was easy to pinpoint after living cross-culturally.

Parents needed to buy the safest car seat. Homes needed security cameras to deter a robbery. Neighborhoods were deemed acceptable based upon their website “report card.” Children must be positioned for academic and athletic achievement to secure college scholarships. Money must be saved for retirement.

While many of these endeavors are good and sensible, we often cross a line from living wisely to seeking to control our lives. We can quickly slide from using wisdom to guide our steps to placing our hope in safeguards that will not guarantee the type of protection we seek.

Read the full article on Revive Our Hearts.

Read Around the World This Summer

INTERNATIONAL KID LIT PICKS 

Whether you're looking for a new book to explore together, a novel to fold into a library summer reading program, or a well-told story for a long road trip, here are some international kid lit books to add a splash of worldwide adventure:

Picture Books (ages 3–8)

Lailah's Lunchbox: A Ramadan Story: Lailah is old enough to participate in the month of fasting for the first time, but living in America makes it different. When classmates are confused about why she doesn't join them during lunch, a school librarian provides a quiet space for Lailah in the library.

Binny's Diwali: Binny finds the courage to tell her classmates about her favorite holiday, Diwali. This is a great book to discuss some differences between Hindus and Christians regarding religious beliefs.

Boxes for Katje: A Dutch girl receives a package in the mail from an American girl that sparks the beginning of a friendship and impacts an entire community.

The Pet Dragon: A Story about Adventure, Friendship, and Chinese Characters: Lin looks for her missing pet dragon. This book overflows with creativity and adventure!

The Floating Field: How a Group of Thai Boys Built Their Own Soccer Field: Desiring to have a place to play soccer, some Thai boys figure out a way to build a soccer field—one that floats! My eight-year-old really enjoyed this book and read it three times!

The Yeti & the Jolly Lama: An old Tibetan tale told in a modern way. With a touch more religious themes, some debriefing may be necessary, but these are good conversations to have with our kids!

King for a Day: Experience a kite flying contest with Malik as he protects another from a bully in this picture book.

For You Are a Kenyan Child: Experience a day in a Kenyan countryside village with a boy caring for his family's cows, but gets distracted with other things. A fun read with beautiful artwork.

Cora Cooks Pancit: A delightful picture book that weaves the excitement a child has stepping into a big kid job with Filipino culture. 

Finding My Dance: Tells the story of a Native American professional dancer, Ria Thundercloud. Ria started dancing at powwows and as her love for dance grew, she explored other types of dancing. While it was challenging to be one of the only Indigenous dancers around, she never gave up. I think slightly older kids would glean more from this book. The storyline deals with bigger issues than preschoolers and early elementary students can fully track with (but they can certainly read it and benefit from it!) I would suggest ages 7-11.

Chapter Books (ages 6–10)

In Fear of the Spear: This Imagination Station book gives kids a glimpse into a South American tribe touched by the gospel. This book touches on the deaths of missionaries to this tribe, but doesn't dwell on it. Debriefing how the tribal people are referred to at different points may be helpful to cultivate respect for those who are different from us.

Sunlight on the Snow Leopard: Jack and Annie visit Nepal on a mission to find a ghost (part of the Magic Treehouse series).

The Belgium Book Mystery: Two sisters travel with their parents to Belgium to solve a mystery. This book is a quick read, but gives a glimpse into life in Belgium.

Captain Coconut & the Case of the Missing Bananas: The perfect dose of silly while still folding in mystery, math, singing, and culture for young readers.

The Great Cake Mystery: Precious Ramotswe's Very First Case (Precious Ramotswe Mysteries for Young Readers): From the author of the African-based No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series with Detective Precious Ramotswe, young readers can join Precious when she was a girl on her first case tracking down a cake thief.

Meet Yasmin: Pakistani-American Yasmin uses her imagination to solve everyday problems.

Middle Grade Books (8–12)

The Bridge Home: Four homeless children navigate life in India together. This beautifully written book allows readers to experience what life is like for kids who end up on the streets in age-appropriate ways. The storyline is engaging and based upon the stories of real street kids. I recommend reading together and discussing how the author defined Christian beliefs versus what the Bible teaches.

Soul Lanterns: A Japanese girl explores the lasting impacts of the bombing of Hiroshima in her community. This book was translated from Japanese into English and allows readers to better understand how drastically the lives of Japanese people were forever changed in an instant. I would recommend reading this together so you can guide discussions as needed.

Zayd Saleem, Chasing the Dream: Pakistani-American Zayd dreams of becoming a basketball player even though his family wants him to play the violin instead.

Amal Unbound: Amal mistakenly insults the village landlord after his car hits her. Amal ends up as a servant in the landlord's household as punishment. With engaging characters and an intriguing plot, this book is a page turner!

I Am Malala: How One Girl Stood Up for Education and Changed the World (Young Readers Edition): Pakistani girl, Malala, stands up for what she believes and made a difference in the world. This makes a great audiobook for a road trip!

The Boy at the Back of the Class: Introduces readers to a 9-year-old determined to befriend the new kid and who teaches us all the beauty in seeking to understand and care for our friends no matter the obstacles.

A Long Walk to Water: Follows the stories of two Sudanese kids about 20 years apart. Salva is a Sudanese boy who is displaced by the war and walks across entire countries to refugee camps. Nya is a Sudanese girl who walks miles to collect unsafe drinking water and doesn't have time to attend school because of the long journey.

Inside Out & Back Again: Journey with Hà from Saigon to Alabama when war reaches her homeland and her family must start over in the U.S. The family isn't well-received by some in their community and this topic can be a starting point to discuss the importance of reaching out to those who aren't like us. 

This book is written in verse. 

At two points, the topic of Christianity comes up. The first one is when the mom lies on their refugee application about being Christian to increase their odds of getting selected. The second one is when Hà's entire family is baptized even though they aren't Christians by a church. I think these provide reasonable talking points with our kids about genuine faith and helping others without strings attached.

May your reading transport your family around the globe this summer!

May 28 is International Day for the Unreached, but let’s remember: Missions isn’t an add-on

Zarmina leaned forward, her white head covering slipping off her gray hair. She looked at the faces of her Western guests. Perhaps these women would know why she kept having the same dream for years. A man in shining, white clothing beckoned her to come.

She tugged the scarf back over her head. Her brown eyes darted between the two ladies seated on her floor cushions. No woman in the Central Asian community could make sense of her recurring dream. She took a deep breath and shared this odd dream with these first-time tea visitors from another country.

And to her surprise, these foreigners knew exactly what this vision meant.

Around the globe, 42.5 percent of the world is considered unreached with the gospel. This means from the time one is born until the day that person dies, one doesn’t have a chance to hear who Jesus truly is—or know a Christian to ask questions.

And to complicate the matter, the Church only gives 0.01 percent to ensure the good news reaches those who don’t have access.

Read the full article on the Denison Forum.

5 Simple Ways to Fold a Biblical Worldview Into Your Family This Year

Years ago I stood in my kitchen as I stirred a pot of spaghetti. Guilt consumed my thoughts as I pondered how I was teaching my little ones about God's greatness and our joyful responsibility to share His greatness with the world. I struggled to find kid-friendly ways to live this out and resources to guide focused time. How could I showcase how amazing God was and our role in seeing the gospel reach the ends of the earth?

That was the beginning of my journey to help families access resources to disciple our children with a global and biblical worldview without it feeling overwhelming.

We can teach our children about God’s greatness with daily—or even weekly—habits that can take less than 10 minutes! This new year can be the year your family begins their worldview adventure and takes simple steps toward cultivating a perspective grounded in Scripture, but also incorporates God's global plan for all nations to know and worship Him—without even leaving your couch.

FOLDING IN A GLOBAL AND BIBLICAL WORLDVIEW

Here are five ways you can fold a global biblical worldview into your family today:

1) Determine a consistent time you could pray for the nations for a couple minutes together. 

Perhaps this is during a mealtime prayer, in the car on the way to school, or before bedtime. Select a time that fits with your family’s rhythms and then make a plan to pray. If you need help guiding your prayer time, consider using a resource like Window on the World, Wycliffe Kids Around the World with Kate & Mack, or even one of the free global prayer guides I wrote in my free resource library.

2) Read international kid lit together.

Each night before bed or during Saturday morning breakfast, read a chapter together! There are great international kid lit books for all ages—from picture books to chapter books to middle grade! I regularly share international kid lit book reviews on my blog and make recommendations on my World Religions Family Prayer Guides. But consider grabbing a copy of Cora Cooks Pancit, Sayd Saleem: Chasing the Dream, or The Bridge Home to get rolling today!

3) Read missionary biographies together.

Each night before bed or during Sunday morning breakfast, read a chapter together! YWAM has ample missionary biographies to kickstart your reading. And if you prefer to listen as your family does chores or eats, they also have audiobooks.

4) Incorporate discussion about world religions into your family’s life. Using my World Religions Family Prayer Guides, walk through what other world religions believe and how your family can pray for them. These free guides include a short video, activities, book recommendations, and prayer prompts. This can easily be used for homeschool purposes or for families who need a quick, reliable resource to direct their time.

5) Sign up to get a missionary’s newsletter from your church. 

Tracking with a missionary from your church will give your family a real-life connection between understanding God’s greatness, the need for the gospel to be shared around the world, and how someone from your church is doing exactly that! When your missionary comes back to visit during break, invite her over to hear more stories and let your kids ask questions about the culture and ministry. Plus you’ll encourage the missionary along the way.

I invite you to join me as we disciple our children with a global mindset. One that makes much of Jesus and shows how our prayers (and maybe even going!) is important in God's global plan for all nations to know and worship Him. 

Join my quarterly newsletter so we can link arms together! Let me save you lots of time by providing the tools and resources to keep things simple and meaningful as you disciple your kids in this essential area: God's worldwide greatness.

Laboring Together for the Gospel

Fireflies at night

“People from your church seem different from other Americans,” an Afghan refugee said to my husband and me one evening over a decade ago. “Is it because of your faith?”

My husband and I exchanged surprised glances.

It was like someone lobbing a slow ball as you grip a bat at home plate—what better opportunity to talk about Jesus than to be directly asked?

But this observation was years in the making.

While we had met this Afghan family a few months ago, our church had been investing in their lives for a couple of years.

I was giving English lessons to the wife, and often my spouse would come along to chat with the head of the household.

This question would shape my understanding of the importance of witnessing to nonbelievers as a church.

It’s easier to write off someone as a “good person” than to determine an entire group of people are the same.

The power of laboring together for the gospel is for outsiders to see its transforming power displayed in the lives of church members.

How the Early Church Was Laboring Together for the Gospel

Throughout the book of Acts, we see a pattern in ministry: Christians aren’t going it alone—they work together.

Acts 2:1 HCSB says, “When the day of Pentecost had arrived, they were all together in one place.” The Holy Spirit came when the disciples were together, not sitting in their separate homes.

The coming of the Spirit served as a springboard for testifying about Jesus powerfully to crowds in multiple languages.

Here are multiple examples of how the early church labored together for the gospel:

• The lame beggar was healed when Peter and John were together, and it led to sharing the gospel with a group gathered in the temple (Acts 3).
• Saul was welcomed into the family of Christ by Ananias, praying for his healing (Acts 9:17) and escaped a plot to end his life because believers lowered him down a basket at night (Acts 9:23–25).
• Peter didn’t visit Cornelius’s household solo but brought along others from church (Acts 10:23).
• Barnabas discipled Saul by bringing him along in his ministry (Acts 11:25).
• The church commissioned Paul and Barnabas to share the gospel with Gentiles (Acts 13:3).
• Paul consistently folded believers like Timothy and Silas into his work (Acts 15:40; Acts 16:3).
• Priscilla and Aquila pulled Apollo aside when they realized he wasn’t up to speed about Jesus, resulting in his outreach growing (Acts 18:26–28).

Again and again, the early church members partnered together to live out their faith, and as a result, the gospel flourished.

Read the rest of this article on Living By Design.

Bible Translation: Expanding Our View

3 Ways to Celebrate World Bible Translation Day With Our Kids

Eight Bibles grace my bookshelves, including six different English translations. I own five children’s Bibles. And this isn’t even counting the partial portions of the Bible I possess—such as a Greek New Testament, Psalter, or children’s biblical storybooks. But I’m not the only one with more than one Bible.

According to the Center for Bible Engagement, most American Christians have four Bibles in their home and have access to numerous English Bible translations. But possessing copious quantities of Bibles isn’t common. Many Christians around the world don’t even have their own copy of the Bible—much less several translations. Some believers must share a single Bible, while others read God’s Word in a second language because the Bible has yet to be translated into their heart language—the language one thinks, prays, dreams, and speaks in.

According to Wycliffe Bible Translators, 1.5 billion people don’t have a Bible translated into their heart language. While we can celebrate reading God’s Word in English—the heart language of many Americans—people around the world still lack access to the Bible in their heart language.

Given the excess of English Bibles and scarcity of access to the Bible for many Christians worldwide, this highlights the urgent need for Bible translation. But when we consider the need for Scripture in languages around the globe, we must not rely on our highly literate leanings to determine the best medium to translate the Bible into new languages.

FACTORING IN ORALITY

According to the International Orality Network, oral learners comprise 80% of the world’s population and navigate life best when information is delivered verbally. By contrast, Americans are vastly literate which means we navigate life better when we can read information.

In the days of Jesus, the culture was also oral learners. Jesus often spoke in parables to the crowds, the letters written by the apostles in the New Testament were intended to be read aloud, and even the book of Revelation was penned with the expectation to read “aloud the words” (Rev. 1:3).

While many literate endeavors have been made to reach oral cultures, ministry leaders have recognized the value of taking a verbal approach to sharing and teaching the Bible. With approximately two billion people without access to the Old Testament (some may have a New Testament), Oral Bible Storying (OBS) meets the needs of cultures who are oral learners—whose worldviews and principles are shaped by singing, chanting, or speaking—in ways written text cannot. The Word of God can be carried to the most remote locations or busiest street corners because the speaker knows it by heart and prefers to communicate in an easy-to-pass-along verbal form by cultural tradition.

Around the world, Christian ministries have implemented OBS to craft Bible story sets for specific cultures. Each Scripture story set in a people group’s native language will cover spiritual needs of that culture, what it means to follow Jesus, and the big picture of the Bible all told in sequential order. Around 70 stories are carefully selected to share the gospel in a meaningful way. Often these projects can take around three years to ensure faithfulness to Scripture. OBS is a powerful way to get the Bible into the heart languages of oral learners.

EXPANDING OUR VIEW

Since 1966, World Bible Translation Day has been held on September 30 to celebrate the translation work of St. Jerome, the man responsible for translating the Bible into Latin. The English Bibles we read today were first translated into English by John Wycliffe in the 14th century. Each year believers can rejoice in seeing the gospel advance around the globe as more Bibles are translated into new languages.

As we desire to see the gospel reach to the ends of the earth, we must realize what works for highly literate Americans, will not necessary be best for highly oral learners in other cultures. Translating the Bible into a written book for languages without it is immensely valuable. But translating the Bible into oral Bible storying sets is equally valuable.

As we pause to consider the Bible’s availability to people worldwide, we should expand our view of Bible translation beyond a written copy to also include OBS. Both mediums get Scripture into the hands of those who didn’t have access. But depending on the culture, one medium will benefit a larger segment of the population.

CELEBRATING WORLD BIBLE TRANSLATION DAY

World Bible Translation Day is a great opportunity to link arms for the sake of the gospel reaching the ends of the earth. We can participate in the work of translating the Bible into new languages across the world and bring our kids alongside us as we do so. Here are three ways to celebrate World Bible Translation Day as a family.

1) You can start praying for Bible translation work using Wycliffe’s Bible Translators children’s book, Around the World With Kate and Mack: A Look at Languages From A to Z. This book helps kids see the impact Bible translation has on communities around the world, and it fosters a heart to pray for the Bible to keep being translated into more languages.

2) Gather your family together and tell a Bible story verbally. For tips on how to easily do this, check out my article, “Use Your Words: How Oral Bible Storying Can Serve Your Family.” When you finish, have your family pray for more OBS sets to be crafted for oral people groups around the world.

3) Send your kids on a Bible scavenger hunt. Have kids find all the Bibles in your home. Then calculate how many Bibles, different Bible translations, and children’s Bibles your family owns. Share what you learned from this article with your kids. Take time to pray for both written and oral translations to reach people around the world without access to Scripture.

Both traditional Bible translation and OBS are vital to improving access to the Bible across the earth. And as we celebrate World Bible Translation Day, we can incorporate prayer for both avenues of faithfully translating Scripture in Bible deserts around the globe.

3 Guidelines to Teach Our Kids About Other Worldviews

In 2015, my family and I returned to the United States after living overseas for four years. During that time away, homosexuality had become a hot topic in America. Living cross-culturally for years, I wanted to sidestep this highly politicized issue. But when my son’s best friend at preschool had two moms, I was thrust into the center of it. Whatever I told my three-year-old would reverberate to the ears of classmates, teachers, and parents. I wanted whatever cliff notes version my son repeated to overflow with grace and truth.

We can’t hide from worldviews that run counter to Christianity—nor should we. However, we can find ways to point our children toward biblical truth without removing them from every tricky situation. Sometimes parental wisdom means shielding our children from topics they aren’t ready for, but if we want our kids to learn how to navigate life in a secular world, we must teach them about worldviews that don’t align with Scripture.

Navigating the Worldviews Maze

Rather than sidestepping worldviews that may make us uncomfortable, here are three guidelines to dive into understanding other belief systems with your family.

1) We don’t shelter our children from the secular world, but instead teach them how to navigate it from a biblical worldview.

If we believe the Bible is “living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword” (Heb. 4:12), then we don’t need to be afraid to discuss opposing worldviews. Scripture is powerful! When we hold the Bible’s truth against other belief systems, we give our kids a front row seat to its beauty and worth.

A friend raising her family in a conservative Muslim culture shared how one day her son realized all his friends weren’t Christians, and wondered which religion was true: Christianity or Islam. Rather than rushing to assure her child that Christianity was the right choice, she walked through what Muslims believe versus what Christians believe.

At the end of the talk, she asked her son which religion he thought was true. His response was quick: Christianity. Learning more about Islam hadn’t weakened his faith, but strengthened it. A word of caution: I’m not advocating deep studies into other belief systems. Instead, be open to learning about and discussing the basics of what others believe in contrast to what the Bible teaches.

Read the rest of my piece at the Gospel-Centered Family.

5 Ways Your Church Can Faithfully Support Your Missionaries

Tears of joy filled Stacy’s eyes, her elbows propped onto a desk in Central Asia. She couldn’t believe the email from an acquaintance. Women from her sending church wanted to throw her a virtual baby shower. Stacy was expecting her first child, but Central Asian culture didn’t involve hosting a party for the expecting mother, but instead the soon-to-be parents would hold a big feast for family, friends, and neighbors about a month after the child was born.

Stacy hadn’t realized how much missing this American milestone would matter until she was halfway around the globe. But that detail hadn’t been overlooked by her sending church—including coordinating the delivery of gifts with one of the pastors when he would visit in the middle of her family’s first four-year term.

A church’s commitment and support for sent-ones is a key ingredient to seeing the gospel reach the ends of the earth and extends beyond prayer (although prayer is a non-negotiable component). The partnership between the local church and its missionaries is a work in progress and doesn’t transpire without intentionality.

Finding your role in missions

Cultivating an environment where church members value taking the gospel to nonbelievers around the globe and understand their part—through sending or going—is crucial. With feedback from pastors and missions leaders, here are five ways your church can participate in missions through sending out workers well.

1. Foster a missions-minded perspective within your church. Unless a church deeply cares about God’s heart for his glory among the nations, a fellowship will not be actively engaged in its global role. Elders should possess a vision for how to engage the lost worldwide and bring members along in this plan. One practical starting place: pray for countries around the world from the pulpit Sunday mornings.

Consider creating a monthly missions reading group to discuss books that equip those interested in missions (and members to grow in their understanding) that cover topics such as conflict resolution, cross-cultural evangelism, global discipleship methodologies, missiology, and ecclesiology.

Pop over to the ERLC's website for more ways to participate in sending out workers well.

Cultivating Discipleship to Build Community and Shine the Gospel

Taking a deep breath, my 16-year-old self marched up to a retired lawyer, Susan, from my church and asked, “Would you be my mentor?”

Susan’s eyebrows arched in surprise and a smile spread across her lips. “What would that look like?”

“Well,” I said. “I guess studying the Bible together once a week.”

She nodded her head. “Okay, then yes.”

Twenty-two years later, my understanding of discipleship has transformed. Learning to follow Christ isn’t merely about studying the Bible together—although that can certainly transpire—but more about a lifestyle that models pursuit of Christ above all else. The Bible exhorts us to spur each other on in our faith (Heb. 10:24, 25) and for older women to invest into younger women (Titus 2:3, 4). While inviting discipleship is good, we may wrestle with how to do so practically.

Sometimes I’ve struggled to remain proactive in discipleship. Lofty ideas of what discipleship “should” look like fill my mind and prevent me from partaking in the very means God designed to sharpen my faith and build biblical community. I can convince myself I’ll do that when I have more time. Or the right circumstances.

But discipleship can’t be relegated for only those who have ample free time and no troubles. Instead discipleship invites us to link arms together with our sisters in Christ in the messy, busy lives we have today and trust God can use our finite moments to bear fruit. Discipleship can take many forms and involves gleaning from those ahead of us, walking alongside us, and trailing behind us.

THOSE AHEAD OF US

Receiving discipleship from godly older women can feel as elusive as winning free coffee for life from our favorite café. And while it’s vital to have wise ladies speaking into our lives, sometimes our churches lack this population. Over the years, I’ve found myself in places where I had to become creative in seeking out these seasoned women of the faith. Sometimes it meant reading Christian books written by wise, godly women. Other times, I had to reach out to women no longer geographically close.

We must be intentional about what it is we’re seeking from these wiser women of faith. We likely won’t ask an older Christian to study the Bible one-on-one with us, but we may invite her over for tea to discuss parenting advice for the season of life we find ourselves, set-up a phone call to walk through a big life decision, or craft an email about an area of struggle to seek her input. We want to benefit from her faithful walk with Jesus over the years and glean from her perspective as we navigate life. Discipleship from this group may not involve weekly meetings, but continually inviting her voice to counsel us along our path. We don’t need to ask for a long-term commitment, but pursue her input along our faith journey.

THOSE WALKING ALONGSIDE US

Perhaps most surprising of the discipleship equation is peer-to-peer. We can readily grow in our faith and be sharpened by those in our same or near life season when we are intentional regarding our time. Often peer relationships are most easily accessible and can be used to deepen our faith—an “iron sharpens iron” framework (Prov. 27:17).

These peer relationships don’t necessarily need to be with close friends (but can be!), but encountered through keeping God at the center of a church relationship for a specified season of time. For example, we can invite another believer to read through a Christian book or study a book of the Bible together. This could transpire during a lunch break, after the kids are tucked in bed, or taking a walk after church. This meeting has a clear purpose and timeframe. Both people will benefit from this focused time and lives out the command to encourage one another in our faith while getting to know another church member. Additionally, once the study is over there’s no pressure to keep meeting (but you could!).

Read the rest of this article at The Round Farmhouse.

[1] https://christianityexplored.us/

[2] https://research.lifeway.com/2019/01/15/most-teenagers-drop-out-of-church-as-young-adults/#:~:text=Two%2Dthirds%20(66%20percent),from%20Nashville%2Dbased%20Lifeway%20Research.

How to Speak Up for Women and Girls in Afghanistan

Last August when I woke up to the news that Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, fell to the Taliban rule, my heart shattered. Faces of Afghan women and girls floated through my mind as I wondered what their futures held. I feared what little progress had been made over the past two decades would be decimated under the rule of the Taliban. And indeed it has.

As I drive my oldest son to school, I ponder how something commonplace can be denied mothers in Afghanistan. Women in Afghanistan aren’t allowed to drive, much less step foot outside their door without a male escort. While my son could qualify as an escort, once I drop him off at school I’d be in violation of being in public without male representation.

According to Richard Bennett, a Special Rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan, the Taliban declared girls’ education would end after elementary school and are “making women invisible in society.” The Taliban are making their priorities clear: women and girls have no public role in the society they wish to shape.

“In one of the poorest countries in the world, a country where children are regularly victims of explosive remains of war, a country still battling polio, not a campaign against hunger, explosives, disease, but one against women,” tweeted Shaharzad Akbar, former chairperson for Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission.

In a country that wishes to silence women and girls, the world is faced with a problem. How do we stand up for those whose voices are trying to be hushed? But a bigger issue casts its shadow over the world. Do we care? Or will we continue on with our lives claiming we tried, but couldn’t figure it out?

If it was our daughters who couldn’t attend middle school, we would be outraged. If we couldn’t drive ourselves to pick up groceries from Target, we would be angered. If our sisters were required to cover their entire faces in public, we’d be upset. But when it’s half a world away in a land ravaged by wave after wave of war, we shrug our shoulders. And with this lackadaisical response, we participate in the silencing of women and girls in Afghanistan.

WALKING ALONGSIDE AFGHAN WOMEN AND GIRLS

As Christians, we are exhorted to speak up for and to “defend the rights” of those who need help (Prov. 31:8, 9). While Afghan women aren’t helpless, they need others to show care for them as they walk through another dark chapter in their country’s history. As we understand from our own experiences, knowing we are not alone as we encounter turbulent times is instrumental in moving forward and holding onto hope.

The Bible teaches that both men and women are created in the image of God—one gender is not more valuable than the other. In Proverbs 31, the value a woman brings to a society and community is beautifully displayed. We want to remind Afghans, ourselves, and others of the incredible worth these ladies have, but aren’t currently experiencing in their homeland.

Afghan women are hardy and can teach the Western world much about resiliency. Many have lived through the first reign of Taliban terror, some even fleeing with the clothes on their back for the border. Most women have buried husbands, fathers, sons, brothers, and uncles from the never-ending war. Despite the instability, heartache, and chaos, they still can laugh over a cup of green tea with neighbors.

But we can support these women and girls in the dusty, rocky land of Afghanistan. We can take an active role in ensuring they know we see, value, and care about them. Here are five ways we can walk alongside Afghan women and girls:

5 WAYS TO SPEAK UP

1) Cultivate a connection to Afghan women and girls. When story headlines remain abstract, we are more prone to scroll past. But if we learn about the lives, culture, and stories of these ladies, we will be more likely to track with what’s transpiring because we care on a deeper level. For adults, I recommend reading In the Land of Blue Burqas. For kids, consider listening to the audiobook I Am Malala: How One Girl Stood Up for Education and Changed the World (Young Readers Edition) for ages 10 and up.

2) Spend time praying for Afghan women and girls. Consider utilizing these short stories with prayer prompts to guide your time. As we increase our understanding about the lives of Afghan women and girls, we can better pray for them.

 3) Follow organizations or individuals on social media channels such as Shaharzad Akbar, UN Special Rapporteur Richard Bennett, UN Women Afghanistan, or UNDP Afghanistan. These organizations and individuals can help us track with what’s going on in Afghanistan and how women are being impacted by the current government. When something catches your eye, be sure to post about it to your network to raise awareness.

4) Support organizations providing assistance to Afghan women and girls. These groups provide tangible assistance to those who need it in country.

5) Build relationships with Afghan refugees. Many Afghans have relocated to the US. Consider reaching out to a local refugee resettlement agency to see if you can help refugees transition to life in America. As you meet Afghans, ask questions about their lives and seek to gain their perspective on what’s transpiring in their homeland.

We can affirm the worth of Afghan women and girls and stand up to the forces that strive to mute their voices. We can choose to cultivate love for a people and land we may never meet or step foot in because we know our God is a God who sees and looks after (Gen. 16:13) every woman around the globe. And if God cares, then we should, too.

HOW TO PRAY FOR UKRAINIAN FAMILIES

"Bring the globe to the living room, please,” I asked my eight-year-old son.

Once the globe arrived, my boys and I plunked onto the carpet as I pointed to where Russia and Ukraine were located.

“Russia attacked Ukraine,” I said, glancing at each boy to gauge his response. “This started a war. People can lose their lives in war.” Overwhelming sorrow filled my heart as my throat tightened and tears threatened to run down my freckled cheeks.

An image I had seen the previous day filled my mind: a young mother on a crowded bus, her toddler reaching a hand toward her face. The mother’s expression captured the exhaustion and sorrow of this moment in history.

I had to pause for several minutes to regain composure before guiding my kids through a time of prayer for Ukraine.

HOW TO PRAY FOR UKRAINIAN FAMILIES

The sadness of living in a broken world where war can transpire as quickly as a screen swipe is heartbreaking. The unfolding of war between Russia and Ukraine is unsettling. Families fleeing military attacks. Hordes of people seeking shelter in underground subways. A sobbing father saying goodbye to his daughter because he must stay behind to fight. This should not transpire. The shadows of evil seem to be prevailing, but the book of Revelation reminds us to hope in Jesus who will defeat the evil one forever.

In Revelation, Jesus reminds suffering churches to turn their eyes to the One whose life, death, and resurrection are shaping and guiding the past, present, and future. When nations are at war and families are caught in the crossfire, we can still trust in the One who rules over all and has conquered sin and death (Rev. 1:17, 18). Jesus is with us in the midst of these heartrending realities (Rev. 1:13) and deeply loves His children (Rev. 1:5).

Read the rest of this piece with 12 ways to specifically intercede for Ukraine on Momma Theologians.

USE YOUR WORDS: HOW ORAL BIBLE STORYING CAN SERVE YOUR FAMILY

 

Looking at the car dashboard clock, I had just enough time to read to my boys before pulling out of the driveway. I flipped through my Bible to Mark 4, and read the parable about the sower who casts seed that fell on the path, on rocky ground, among thorns, and on good soil.

Setting the Bible on the passenger seat, I shifted our vehicle into reverse and headed toward my kids’ school.

“Who wants to go first?” I asked, glancing in the rearview mirror.

“Me! Me!” my preschooler squealed from the back seat. He launched into telling the story until he got stuck.

“What happens next?” I prompted. My preschooler turned to his seven-year-old brother.

“Other seeds fell among thorns,” his sibling prompted.

“Oh yeah,” my four-year-old said, and then confidently resumed. When he had finished, my oldest son launched into the parable. Once both boys had taken a turn, I told the story. Whenever I couldn’t remember a spot, one of them jumped in to nudge me back on course.

Incorporating Bible storying into discipling my children came from hearing how missionaries sometimes utilized this tool on the field. What started as a desire to memorize Scripture together and redeem the time in the car on the way to school, has transformed into some of my favorite moments with my kids each week.

Read the rest of my article on Gospel-Centered Family.

HOW TO HELP YOUR FAMILY PRAY FOR UNREACHED PEOPLE GROUPS

5 resources to highlight God’s heart for the nations

The Muslim call to prayer filled the Central Asian village. All the men in the house slowly rose from the floor cushions to cleanse themselves for prayer — all except the one Western visitor in a private guest room. Mohammed’s heart beat as fast as a hummingbird’s wings. He had waited years for this moment to transpire.

“I will stay with our guest,” he said, stroking his long black beard. Since hospitality and honoring guests are highly valued among Central Asians, the others nodded in agreement. Cultural standards dictated a guest should never be left alone. Mohammed could pray after the group returned.

Once he was certain the other men were gone, Mohammed leaned toward the guest and whispered, “All my life, I have wanted to be near to God.” With 10 minutes of privacy, the middle-aged Muslim man asked the visitor questions about a Bible passage he had read years ago. The guest wanted to give Mohammed a copy of the New Testament in his own language, but he wouldn’t be able to return to this newfound seeker’s far-flung village without raising suspicions. They would need to find a time when Mohammed could visit the city.

WHAT IS AN UNREACHED PEOPLE GROUP?

The concept of a person or group being unreached can be difficult to grasp in America where multiple churches exist on the same block. But in many parts of the world, this is not the case. A people group is considered unreached when less than 2% of its population is Christian and when that group lacks the momentum to see their people discipled. Simply put, when a people group is unreached, this means that from the time a person is born until the day they die, they do not have a chance to hear who Jesus truly is.

People who reside in an unreached country can’t walk down the street to a church to ask questions about Jesus, and it’s unlikely they’ll find a Christian in their community. If there are believers present, they are often not open about their new faith because of the persecution and high level of personal cost that comes with leaving their former faith behind. In parts of Central Asia, for example, it’s still illegal for a Muslim to become a Christian.

According to the Joshua Project, 42.5% of the world is unreached with the gospel. This includes 61% of people (about five billion) who reside in the 10/40 Window — an area between 10 degrees north and 40 degrees north latitude that stretches across Asia, the Middle East, and northern Africa.

Read the rest of my article on the ERLC website.