Les Sherman started coming to House Blend Cafe in Ocoee, Fla., when he needed a quiet and comfortable location to study for work. However, the coffee shop and restaurant became more than an out-of-home office to Les when he lost his job. “House Blend reached out to me, and it was like family,” he said. [...]
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Stories worth telling
She’s created her own worldview and chooses to see life from a postmodern perspective… They decided years ago to be involved in what God is doing in Russia—long-term… He’s gazing at the lostness in his area and begging for help… People love a good story. Think about it. What imagery (if any) comes to mind [...]
Making Missions Accessible Through Compassion
Sponsoring a child makes the mission personal The pastoral leadership of Stonecreek Church in Milton, Georgia, was troubled that missions involvement historically had been reserved for a church’s faithful core. They asked, “How do we engage a broader audience with opportunities for personal, global ministry?” This question led Stonecreek to begin a strategic partnership with [...]
Are three better than two?
Two’s company and three is … Not a crowd. I have been thinking about a partnership idea I believe will work. What if you were able to link together a: National church planter Sending or sponsoring church and its pastor Cross-cultural missionary Think about it for a moment. The national church planter could use the [...]
Seeking utter humiliation
Language-learning stories are arguably the most hilarious tales told by expatriates who have attempted to practice their conversation lessons in new settings. Never before have body language and pantomiming become so crucial to daily living. You may have heard of someone trying to request a “chicken breast” in the native tongue while at the grocery [...]
Reverse Mission Trip, pt.2
To keep going on my reverse mission trip theme. I wonder if this would work. I have never tried it and I am sure someone has so I would be interested in how did it work? Instead of you bringing your church to “do” a basketball camp or soccer camp that you could bring a [...]
Reverse Mission Trip, pt.1
With economic times being as they are in the States, I wonder how that will affect short term mission trips or humanitarian trips this next year? I know in Europe their currency is relatively strong(er). But here is another idea. Want to try something different? Each year we always have friends here in Europe who [...]
Skype Video Calls
A few years ago, our church sent out a young family to plant churches in Glasgow, Scotland. Their departure left a void in the gatherings, but sending people out has been a natural part of who we are. Since then, they’ve kept up with emails, newsletters, and on our church’s online forum. Nevertheless, it can [...]
Apartment Life
In missiological terms, it’s called a “platform.” It’s how you enter into the community, what you do, how you present yourself, in order to make a connection. Many missionaries aren’t “missionaries” at all, but doctors, teachers, businessmen, artists, social activists. A good platform allows for natural interaction with the people to whom you’re ministering while [...]
Ideas (some are good ones.)
We’re tired of the church being relegated to “pray, give, or go” when it comes to participation in missions. For too long, missions has been reduced to either the family that moves to another country, a trip the youth take in the summer, or money sent to who-knows-where to do who-knows-what. We think there are [...]
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