Welcome to Mission Hits, a monthly blog highlighting stimulating and significant recent resources related to world mission and world Christianity.
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Welcome to Mission Hits # 63 (February 2025)
A new edition of Mission Hits for you - a fresh roundup of top recent resources related to global Christianity and world mission.
From big theological questions (Is the missionary call biblical?) to practical missionary skills (How do you write a great newsletter?), and covering topics like polycentric mission and prayerful sending, you'll find it all here. I truly hope these resources are as enjoyable and beneficial to you as they’ve been to me.
If you know anyone who might find this a useful monthly resource to receive, then please do pass this on and encourage them to sign up. And please feel free to send me any suggestions or feedback (chris.howles@fromeverynation.net).
Have a blessed and mission-minded month ahead, and I'll see you again soon for the next edition,
Chris (Howles)
Director of Cross-Cultural Training, Oak Hill College (UK)
Doctorate in Intercultural Theology, Fuller Theological Seminary (US)
ESSENTIALS (if you only have time for one...)
Essential for Missionaries
This isn’t a weighty missiological debate, but it matters - and probably more than we realise. Every missionary reading this could improve their prayer letters in some way. So, what are the top tips for writing better ones?
Essential for Church Leaders
Of course there are different approaches and perspectives and experiences of this question. Here is one, explained well by Brooks Buser (Radius International) in this article for missionary.com "I worry that when we look for guidance and confirmation outside the church and the Bible we can fall too easily into mysticism." We may not always realise it, but church leaders must think carefully about these questions when deciding whom to send and when.
Essential for Mission Agency Workers
Author's privilege! A couple of thoughts from me on a contentious but crucial question: "Perhaps the real challenge isn’t the false dichotomy of choosing between evangelism and social action as if the two can’t co-exist profitably and fruitfully, but rather learning to hold them together in a way that reflects the fullness of the gospel." Mission agencies clearly need to keep exploring these questions, and this might be a good starting point.
Essential for Christians Partnering as Senders
A 28-day guide with general prayer points, each paired with a Bible verse, to help you pray for cross-cultural gospel workers and the people and places they serve. Would you commit to using your March to do this for one mission partner you know? Leanne Monge Barrera for the 'Global Missions Toolbox' website.
GENERAL (well worth your time)
"So, who makes the best missionary? Or to phrase it another way: who makes an effective missionary?...Regardless of our God-given personality or marital status, the Kingdom is best served when we employ our strengths and allow others to do the same." The question of how introverts navigate cross-cultural gospel ministry compared to extroverts is interesting and important. This article explores the topic well By Krista Horn for the 'A Life Overseas' blog.
A slightly more unusual one for Mission Hits, but I’m convinced many serving missionaries would greatly benefit both personally and in their ministry from further, deeper theological and missiological education. But how do you know when the time is right? Here are ten suggestions, including "That We Really Do Not Know It All," "That God Was Leading Us to Something More," "We Wanted to Equip Others More Effectively," and "We Desired to Engage Thoughtfully with Others on Contemporary Missions Issues." From the Ephesiology blog.
Author's privilege! I was pleased to contribute a section of this article for Premier Christianity Magazine (UK), where I spoke about migration and interculturality in churches and communities worldwide today: "Christians are more migratory than any other religion. There’s something inherently God-given about being people on the move because we have a God who cannot be trapped in a particular place. Yes, God came down in a particular place. But look at Pentecost, with a view to all peoples, all languages, knowing and hearing the gospel of Christ. It’s ultimately a universal faith; a translatable faith.”
AUDIO/VISUAL (podcasts & videos)
Author's privilege! Last October, I had the great joy of preaching from Acts 12 at All Souls Langham Place - a particularly special moment for me, as John Stott, a personal hero of mine, served as rector there. 28mins long, the sermon is titles 'God's Unstoppable Mission'.
Dr. Craig Ott (Trinity Evangelical Divinity School) provides an 11-minute video response to the question, "Should the American Church still send missionaries?" With his extensive experience and expertise, Ott covers a wide range of material in a short amount of time. He addresses valid concerns and objections while also offering a compelling vision for the future. This video would be a valuable resource for pastors and mission agencies to use in both large and small group settings. Bookmark it!
Brad Buser is a compelling speaker with an inspiring story of serving among an unreached group in Papua New Guinea. Many of you will find this 30-minute interview from last month's Cross Conference in the US both engaging and impactful. (or podcast here)
DIGGING DEEPER (challenging but rewarding)
Tite Tiénou (Chair of Global Theology and World Christianity, TEDS) writing for Lausanne in typically excellent fashion. "The polycentrism of Christianity we witness today is the result of God building his church among the diverse nations of the earth. Today, as in the past, theological multiplicity and diversity are not opposites. Thus, we should understand the unity of the global church as unity-in-diversity."
Ted Esler (President, MissioNexus) is always incisive, thought-provoking, and measured simultaneously, whilst never shying away from challenging assumptions and traditions. This article is no exception. Should missionaries learn the local vernacular, or is relying on trade languages sufficient? What did Paul do? Whether you agree or disagree, it’s worth a read.
Missiologist Darren Carlson has used a geospatial network mapping model of the Roman world (check out the website here) to calculate that Paul’s third missionary journey with his companions likely cost over 4,000 denarii - equivalent to 11 years of a typical labourer’s wage or roughly half a million dollars in today’s currency. While there’s room for variation in the precise stats, the sheer size of this number raises fascinating questions about missionary journeys and the church in those early decades.
BOOKS (recent releases)
Links are to Amazon for best info/reviews. Other outlets are available...
Abeneazer G Urga, Jessica A Udall, Edward L Smither (Editors)
Author's Privilege! I'm thrilled to have a chapter in this book: "What Has Quito to Do with Jerusalem? C. René Padilla’s Integral Missiology in the Context of James 2:1–17" The whole book looks outstanding. I'm very much looking forward to reading all the other excellent-looking contributions. "[This book] explores the missionary dimensions of the Epistle of James through three parts: the missionary motive is the reason behind missionary efforts (the why), the missionary message reveals what missionaries communicate (the what), and the missionary methods outline strategies for mission (the how)."
Chris Burnett & Mark Tatlock (Editors)
"Biblical Missions: Principles, Priorities, and Practices brings together experienced and biblically focused missions voices to equip evangelical students worldwide for a faithful gospel witness today. This comprehensive textbook is designed to equip pastors and church leaders around the world in biblical missiology and practice [and] not only address the principles of biblical missions theory but also offer recommendations for faithful field applications, both within historically missions-sending countries as well as in Majority World countries that are reaching their surrounding regions with the gospel."
Aychi B. R. & Dave Coles
"Despite much opposition, faithful servants of Christ are boldly seeking and finding people ready for spiritual change. Whole families and groups are coming to faith, not just individuals. Disciples are making more disciples and new churches are planting more new churches. How is rapid kingdom multiplication spreading in such challenging places? Living Fire describes 22 factors that enable these movements to ignite, accelerate and sustain the advance of the gospel among unreached African peoples."
MISCELLANEOUS (varied but valuable)
"Isis slaughtered the men one-by one, hoping that some would deny their faith. None Did." The 21 is a 12-minute animated film inspired by neo-Coptic iconography and produced in collaboration with the global Coptic community. It tells the harrowing story of 21 Christian men - 20 Egyptian Coptic Christians and one Ghanaian Christian - who were brutally beheaded by ISIS militants on a beach in Libya in 2015. The film is a powerful and moving work, especially when the animation is interspersed with real footage of the men before their deaths. While it is thoughtfully crafted, this is a film best watched with care, when you feel ready, and if it feels appropriate for you. Gina Zurlo has written about the film for Christianity Today magazine.
I forgot to include this last month, but of course it's never too late. Catalyst Services with their annual collection. Some must-reads!
Here are some easy-to-understand facts and stats about Christianity in the world today - great for sharing, discussing, or praying about in a church service or Bible study group. Includes: 'Atheism is declining,' 'Christianity is exploding in Africa and Asia,' and 'Christian martyrdom is falling.'
QUOTES (wise one-liners)
(1) "An easy-going, non-self-denying life will never be one of power. Fruit-bearing involves cross-bearing."
Hudson Taylor
(2) “We need each other’s vision to correct, enlarge and focus our own; only together we are complete in Christ.”
Andrew Walls
(3) "God help me make a difference for you that is utterly disproportionate to who I am."
David Brainerd
GLOBAL INSIGHT (critical news & trends)
"Undocumented immigration is a key issue in American politics, but it can be hard to nail down the basic facts about who these immigrants are, where they live and how their numbers have changed in the past few decades. I study the demographics of the U.S. immigrant population and have seen how the data has changed over time."
"A slowing economy, shrinking government benefits and a decades-long one-child policy have created a creeping demographic crisis in Xi Jinping's China. The pension pot is running dry and the country is running out of time to build enough of a fund to care for the growing number of elderly."
A fascinating and frightening description of a young man's migration from Afghanistan to the UK: "Between the crowd and the entrance to the airport, Pordale could see a Taliban checkpoint, where heavily armed men were holding lists in their hands and checking people’s documents. Pordale, whose father had until that morning held a high-ranking position in the democratic government, knew that their chances of getting to the airport and on to an evacuation flight were blown."
TWEETS (short but significant)
STATS (noteworthy numbers)
(1) The only two major religious traditions that are currently shrinking/falling worldwide are Chinese folk religion and atheism. SOURCE
(2) "About 10% of the global population – live within 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) of the coast, and another 5% of the world’s people live between 5 and 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) from it" SOURCE
(3) 16% of the world's population want to migrate away from their continent/region - up from 12% just 14 years ago. The number is an extraordinary 37% in sub-Saharan Africa. SOURCE
ONLINE EVENTS (Zoom seminars & conferences)
"How can UK churches support refugees today, led by Emily Shepherd (CEO, Welcome Churches), a passionate advocate for refugee welcome. This session will provide insights into the role of local churches in welcoming refugees and asylum seekers. Emily brings over a decade of experience in refugee support and will share real-life stories, practical advice, and ways churches can be at the forefront of hospitality and inclusion." Run by Acts 11 Project (Centre for Global Witness and Human Migration)Wednesday, 12th March 1-2.30pm GMT, £10.
"New insights into how Christianity has become a global faith that has not only spread but has become firmly rooted in diverse cultures. Challenges associated with increased migration in an age of globalization will also be examined as points of crisis and opportunity for today’s church as it seeks to negotiate and minister to the complexities of identity and belonging in an increasingly interconnected world." With Dr. Jehu J. Hanciles (Professor of World Christianity), March 17th-18th, 9.30-11.30am over 2 mornings. Hosted by the Overseas Ministries Study Center at Princeton Theological Seminary.
"The church isn’t just a building. The mission field isn’t just physical. And digital is more than a tool, it’s a mission field. This conference is an international digital gathering for those who refuse to be limited by walls. Whether you’re a pastor, content creator or digital missionary, this is your call to help take the gospel into the digital spaces." April 2nd, Free.
HIGHLIGHTS (Most popular from last month's Mission Hits…)
JUST FOR FUN (unrelated but interesting!)
This is a marvellous and compelling visual presentation of how big all the countries/landmasses in the world are in direct comparison with one another.
Choose any point on earth, and track what happens to a drop of water from that point as it makes its way to its final destination.
Wikipedia is a great site for learning about what we do know. This is its dark, intriguing twin sister - everything important that we don't know. The known unknowns, as I were. Categorised by topic, it's bizarrely fascinating.
Full searchable archives of all Mission Hits resources from edition #1
Questions, comments, or suggestions for the next edition?
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