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Story Topic: Reflection
03 Dec 24
by
Mike Pettengill
in
Church planting Reflection

God’s Mission for the Church: A Look at Matthew 28:18-20

When we are making disciples of non-believers, baptizing them, and teaching them God's ways, God will receive greater glory.

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28 Oct 24
by
Mike Pettengill

9 Practical Ways to Prepare for Missions

While waiting to go to the field, don’t be idle. Take time now to increase the probability of success as a future missionary.

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06 Aug 24
by
Hannah Jones
in
El Salvador Reflection San Salvador

God Exists in the What-If Spaces … So We Don’t Have to

What if we could live fully in the present by entrusting our fears to a loving and sovereign God?

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16 Apr 24
by
Kim Church
in
Kampala Reflection Uganda

Jars of Clay

I struggled to find the patience I needed to navigate my three crying children as my Muslim neighbor continued banging on my gate.

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12 Mar 24
by
Mike Pettengill

Missionaries Should Communicate and Churches Should Demand It

When forced to cut back on support, churches will cut “the missionary we've been supporting for years, but just don’t hear from anymore.”

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10 Oct 23
by
Lloyd Kim

Bless Us That We May Bless Others

As we pray, we can boldly ask for God’s blessing so that we can be a blessing to the nations.

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15 Aug 23
by
Anthony English

Our Global Missions Mandate

As God’s focus is on the nations coming to Christ, so our focus must be on the nations coming to Christ.

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11 Jul 23
by
Lloyd Kim

50 Years of Global Missions: Cultivating Humility in the Face of Adversity

As we encounter ongoing challenges in global missions, we can take encouragement from Hebrews 11 and the faith and humility of Moses.

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09 May 23
by
Lloyd Kim

From the Coordinator: 50 Years of Missions—Looking Back, Looking Forward

As MTW turns 50, we look back and give thanks to God for His great faithfulness and grace to our beloved missions community.

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21 Mar 23
by
Mark Bates

Should We Still Send Missionaries?

Why should we send missionaries around the world when there are so many needs here?

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21 Feb 23
by
Mark Bates

The Smoke of a Thousand Villages: Responding to the Mission of the Church

Today, the gospel is spreading like wildfire. Yet many places around the world there is still no sufficient gospel witness.

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24 Jan 23
by
Lloyd Kim

From the Coordinator: Missions Leaders, Come and See

We are hearing more and more stories of people coming to faith during the pandemic, but we are also hearing of a greater need for workers.

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22 Nov 22
by
Lloyd Kim

Lay Up Treasures in Heaven

If we spend our lives pursuing material things, we will inevitably be disappointed because they don’t last.

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25 Aug 22
by
Paul Kooistra

Thoughts on Giving

Stewardship is not only a grace, but also a spiritual discipline.

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26 Apr 22
by
Lloyd Kim

From the Coordinator: In the Midst of the Suffering

Can you imagine the effect this war will have on a whole generation of Ukrainian children? Their parents? The nation?

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22 Mar 22
by
David Stoddard

Broken Reeds and Smoldering Wicks: Isaiah Provides a Perspective on the War in Ukraine

Isaiah reminds us how God gets His will done in dark places, and offers wisdom for believers ministering in the Ukraine crisis.

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07 Dec 21
by
Lloyd Kim

Following the Spirit's Lead

As God directs us in living out the Great Commission, is our initial reaction one of fear or excuses? How can we shift our response?

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09 Nov 21
by
Lloyd Kim

We Are Not in Control

Recognizing that we are not in control can be a path to peace in times of turmoil if we will take refuge in Christ.

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29 Jun 21
by
Lloyd Kim

True Life, Abundant Life

A friend confessed wanting to spend his wealth on luxuries for himself and his family, but he knew they wouldn't bring lasting joy.

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02 Feb 21
by
Katy B.

A Firm Foundation

This year of pandemic has upended basic life struggles and taken many of us into areas that feel more fearful, more anxiety-inducing.

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26 Jan 21
by
Eowyn Stoddard

What Do Missions and Childbirth Have in Common?

What is true on a physical level about childbirth, is also true on a spiritual level about the labor of love called missions.

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15 Dec 20
by
Alli Hazrati

Serving Solo

Being single on the mission field had its challenges. Looking back, it is so clear how it also presented unique opportunities.

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17 Nov 20
by
Lloyd Kim

From the Coordinator: How Does Racial Justice Relate to Missions?

Teaching disciples to obey everything that Jesus commands impacts everything, including how we think about racial justice.

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01 Sep 20
by
David Stoddard

10 Things to Do During Tumult

We know storms are a part of life, so why has COVID-19 left many of us feeling anchorless? Here are 10 ways to steady our souls.

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31 Mar 20
by
Lloyd Kim

From the Coordinator: What Will We Endure for the Great Commission?

Jesus enters into the suffering, shame, and isolation of the most vulnerable. This is the pattern He sets for us.

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24 Dec 19
by
Lloyd Kim

The Rich Young Ruler

Jesus exposes the things that we hold on to for our significance, value, and security.

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24 Sep 19
by
Elisabeth Cary

Blue Knitting Needles

A grandmother’s influence and faithful prayers resonate from generation to generation

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27 Aug 19
by
Brett Rayl

Making Space for Transcendence in Secular Japan

Japan is one of the least religious nations in the world. How does this influence how we do ministry?

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04 Jul 19
by
Jenny*

Yes, Missionaries Struggle with Envy

Missionaries may exude strength and courage, but that can all too easily hide certain patterns of struggle we commonly face in our journey.

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02 Jul 19
by
Lloyd Kim

From the Coordinator: The Church at the Center

All the various ministries that we are engaged in ask the question, “How does this grow the Church, revitalize the Church, plant churches?”

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30 May 19
by
Lloyd Kim

Status: Loved

It is far too easy to engage in missions trying to earn God’s love. How much better to begin by reflecting on how much we are loved by Him.

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25 Apr 19
by
Mike Pettengill

Missiology Through Scripture: Sing to the Lord a New Song

Disciples of Christ go into the nations and declare the meaning of Scripture knowing the result will be the spreading of His joy.

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02 Apr 19
by
Katy B.
in
Belgium Brussels Reflection

Stuck Together in Brussels

It occurred to me as I was walking down the street that these connected-yet-uniquely-individual row houses is a good picture of the Church.

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26 Mar 19
by
Katy B*
in
Belgium Netherlands Brussels Netherlands

Sunday Stick Shift Lessons

For the past few months I've been learning how to drive a stick shift, in another country. Thankfully I've had a patient teacher.

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24 Jan 19
by
Lloyd Kim

Courage for the Call

As I sought the Lord, I remembered the mandate He’s given us to “Go and make disciples of all nations.”

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08 Jan 19
by
Lloyd Kim

Radical Generosity

The early Church had a keen awareness that they were part of a bigger story, a redemptive story. What resulted was a radical generosity.

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18 Dec 18
by
Mike Pettengill

The Gospel Came to You: One Shepherd

Like a shepherd standing between a bear and his sheep, Jesus placed Himself between us and an eternity separated from the Father.

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06 Dec 18
by
Mike Pettengill

The Gospel Came to You: A Righteous Branch

In our busy lives, advent is an opportunity to slow down and remember the real purpose for Christmas: honoring the birth of our risen King.

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24 Apr 18
by
Katy Brink

Home

What do we do with the tension of wanting to feel truly at home somewhere when our true home lies elsewhere?

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19 Apr 18
by
Jon*

The Rescue Mission

We as the Church need to understand that this rescue mission is not yet over. There are still sheep being held captive in the den of Satan.

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05 Apr 18
by
Chuck*

At the Point of Weakness

I'm learning that no matter how much of the language I learn or cultural insight I acquire, I'll always minister from a place of weakness.

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22 Mar 18
by
Jud Lamos

Pure Delight

Real success in missions lies in God conquering our hearts with His expressions of delight and glory.

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15 Mar 18
by
Stephen Rarig
in
Australia Perth Reflection

Dying on the Road

Our journey with God is not always going to be as we imagine. Jesus tells us this journey with Him will cost us our egos and our lives.

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27 Feb 18
by
Paul Meiners

Is Your Canary Singing? Paying Attention to Emotional and Spiritual Health on the Mission Field

As coal miners kept an eye on a canary for signs of danger in the mine, missionaries should look out for warning signs in those around them.

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22 Feb 18
by
Rebe McReynolds
in
Adoany Madagascar Reflection

Rethinking Our Need for Control

Jesus lived His life among the crowds. Do we really need to control the messes, or do we need to get better at just being who we are?

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15 Feb 18
by
Jessica Ringsmuth
in
Addis Ababa Ethiopia Reflection

Evil for Good

In Ethiopia I counseled kids who'd had unspeakable evils done to them—and quickly learned I couldn't put my hope in my own preparedness.

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01 Feb 18
by
Renee McLaughlin
in
Honduras La Ceiba Reflection

Foreigners in a Familiar Land

Years of living in a foreign country gives you a perspective that is hard to articulate. You sometimes feel uncomfortable being Stateside.

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25 Jan 18
by
Mike Pettengill

The Servant-Branch and Our Call to Follow

The call of the Christian is not to seek security or comfort. The call of each believer is to avail ourselves to God’s plan for our lives.

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11 Jan 18
by
Bill Yarbrough

We Need Each Other

The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you."

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16 Nov 17
by
Eowyn Stoddard
in
Berlin SW Germany Reflection

The Silver Man

A German street performer ignites a missionary's distaste for the people and country she serves. Until she realizes she is just like him.

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17 Oct 17
by
Rebe McReynolds
in
Adoany Madagascar Reflection

Finding Rest

“When the Lord gives us a clear path, then the conflict in my heart will cease.” This is often how we think. The problem is, it's not true.

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21 Sep 17
by
Jay E.
in
Berlin SW Germany Reflection

Thankfulness in Full

If our friend has taught us anything, it is that “abounding in thanksgiving” swallows up all that we have lost or left behind.

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14 Sep 17
by
Brian Deringer

Pilgrim or Fugitive?

"To many, doing global missions means merely visiting. However, incarnational ministry is a journey to the heart."

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17 Aug 17
by
Michael Oh

The Danger of "Fruitfulness" Without Purity

Winning or losing heart battles over confession, repentance, and humility is the difference between those who end well and those who don't.

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20 Jun 17
by
Lloyd Kim

Welcoming My Immigrant Family

MTW Coordinator Lloyd Kim is often asked how he got the name Lloyd. The answer lies in the couple who welcomed his Korean family to the U.S.

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08 Jun 17
by
Eowyn Stoddard

15 Ways to Lead Like Jesus

Are we getting more of our leadership paradigms from a business world model than from Jesus whom we proclaim?

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30 May 17
by
Lloyd Kim
in
Giving Reflection

Giving Doesn't Come Naturally

For most people, giving isn’t easy. In fact, it’s difficult. That’s because giving isn’t natural. It’s a gift.

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15 May 17
by
Richard*
in
Muslim Ministry Reflection

Do You See It? Learning to See Across Cultures

It is one thing to look at a situation, but it is quite another to see with understanding. This is the missionary’s dilemma.

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02 May 17
by
Erin Pettengill
in
Bata Equatorial Guinea Reflection

Being the White Minority

Being one of only 10 white people in her city, one missionary is learning to identify with the sojourner, and God's heart toward them.

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27 Apr 17
by
Michael Oh

Duty Is Not Enough

Missions is hard. It’s hard because there are sacrifices involved—big ones at times. And we are born complainers.

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13 Apr 17
by
Kevin DeYoung

The Glory of Plodding

What we need are fewer revolutionaries and a few more plodding visionaries.

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04 Apr 17
by
Mike Pettengill

How to Really Pray for Missions (And Not Just Say You’re Doing It)

If missionaries hold up their end of the deal, it is incumbent on those of us who stay behind to dedicate ourselves to praying for them.

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09 Mar 17
by
Mike Pettengill

Is It Ever OK for a Missionary to Lie?

Telling a lie is viewed as unacceptable in almost all religious and secular belief systems, but in some cases lying can bring glory to God.

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09 Feb 17
by
Mike Pettengill

5 Ways Christians Justify Avoiding Missions

We all make excuses. But it's good to remember we are all missionaries and every Christian is called to share the love of Christ.

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02 Feb 17
by
Staff

We Are Just One Link in the Chain

A pastor ministers to a missionary, the missionary disciples a student, the student shares the gospel. We each have a role.

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24 Jan 17
by
Mike Pettengill

Why Teaching English Is Such an Important Ministry

Teaching English in a foreign context can enhance disciple-making efforts and expand the impact of missionary labors.

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19 Jan 17
by
Kris Lundgaard

Cultures Declare the Glory of God

Cultures cannot help but retell the gospel in various ways—it’s embedded in creation, and culture is part of creation.

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12 Jan 17
by
Jason Polk
in
Addis Ababa Ethiopia Reflection

Wherever You Go

Missionary Jason Polk discovered that whether in St. Louis, or Tanzania, or Ethiopia, God's design for his holiness remains the same.

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10 Jan 17
by
Mike Pettengill

Demonic Activity and Missions

The mission field is not just a field for harvest, but also a field for battle.

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22 Dec 16
by
Andrew Shaughnessy

Christmas Was Grittier Than We Remember

The harsh realities of massacre and refugees on the run in the Christmas story are key to the narrative of redemption.

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08 Dec 16
by
Lloyd Kim

Exercising Your Spiritual Gift of Giving

Giving to missions not only validates, strengthens, and encourages missionaries, it also strengthens our own faith.

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01 Dec 16
by
Mike Pettengill

Has the “Me-Centered” American Church Lost Its Purpose?

The Church has fundamentally moved away from a body whose purpose is reaching the lost into one centered around the growth the individual.

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15 Nov 16
by
Mike Pettengill

Stop Saying Raising Finances for Missions Is Hard

It's not about trusting God with your money. The truth is you don't have any money. None of us do.

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25 Oct 16
by
Mike Pettengill

9 Ministries That Satisfy the Great Commission

The Great Commission is more than just evangelism. It's about making disciples who make disciples.

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13 Oct 16
by
Lloyd Kim

The Tragic Divide: Unreached People Groups

"What is tragic is that there are thousands of other villages and people groups who don’t have access even to one believing Christian."

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27 Sep 16
by
Mike Pettengill

What Jonah Can Teach Us about God’s Sovereignty in Missions

Jonah isn't really about a big fish and a reluctant missionary. It's a book about God and His sovereignty.

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20 Sep 16
by
Mike Pettengill

9 Pitfalls to Avoid on the Mission Field

We all have things that trip us up and take our focus off the goal. It's no different for missionaries.

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13 Sep 16
by
Chuck Linkston
in
Australia Reflection

God's Flight Plan

Fifteen years ago, my wife and I sensed a call to international missions. What we didn’t have was a “flight plan.”

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08 Sep 16
by
Mike Pettengill

Predestination and Missions: The Perfect Match

If salvation is determined, do we still need to do missions?

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23 Aug 16
by
Mike Pettengill

Taste and See That Missions Is Good

Now, when the world is moving away from Christ, His obedient disciples must strive to serve Him even more.

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16 Aug 16
by
Mike Pettengill

9 Ways to Care for Your Family on the Mission Field

You are the human who can most positively impact the struggles of the ones you love.

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09 Aug 16
by
Rebe McReynolds
in
Adoany Madagascar Missiology Reflection

Do You Have Any Absolute Non-Negotiables?

What if God asks you to give up the things you've decided are non-negotiable?

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04 Aug 16
by
Mike Pettengill

You're Back From A Short-Term Mission Trip, Now What?

Most mission trips result in an elevated enthusiasm for missions, but then life happens. How do you continue to feed your zeal?

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14 Jul 16
by
Mike Pettengill

9 Must-Read Books on Missions

Any disciple of Christ who wishes to expand their understanding of missions should have these books in their personal library.

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05 Jul 16
by
Eowyn Stoddard

Why Prayer is Critical to Missions

The only thing that our lost friends truly need—namely the Holy Spirit’s divine intervention to bring regeneration—is what we do not have...

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20 Jun 16
by
Mike Pettengill
in
1 percent Church planting Missiology Reflection

Send 1% of Your Church Members

What would happen if every church in the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) sent 1 percent of its membership to cross-cultural missions?

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16 Jun 16
by
Mike Pettengill

A Biblical View of Financing Missions

American churches are the richest in history not so they can have softer cushions for their pews, but so they can finance global evangelism.

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02 Jun 16
by
Mike Pettengill

The Insufficient Missionary

The daunting task of glorifying God in another culture seems too much to bear when all you see is your own sin and insufficiency.

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16 May 16
by
Tom Austin
in
Adoany Madagascar Missiology Reflection

Ministering to Oral Cultures in the 21st Century

An estimated 5 billion people are oral learners. As a result, an orality movement is emerging globally in Christian missions.

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09 May 16
by
Richard*

Remaining Faithful in the Mundane

A missionary’s life doesn’t always make for a good report. Truth is, much of what missionaries do is struggle to be faithful in the mundane.

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03 May 16
by
Mike Pettengill

Missionary Classism

Most of us are guilty of it. Senders and goers alike participate in it. Most of us judge missionaries and missions work on the wow factor.

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24 Apr 16
by
Richard*

The Light Has Come!

Many in West Africa lack electricity. Students often study by candlelight. But the spiritual darkness is a much greater concern.

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17 Apr 16
by
Lloyd Kim

From the Coordinator: Growing Through Change

Last spring we initiated a home office redesign. We're hopeful about how He is going to move us forward and grow the kingdom for His glory.

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12 Apr 16
by
Mike Pettengill

Missionary, You Suffer for a Reason

When we doesn't value suffering, the result is a generation of Christians more concerned about safety and comfort than God’s glory.

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30 Mar 16
by
Mike Pettengill
in
Bata La Ceiba Equatorial Guinea Honduras

9 Ways to Raise Money for Short-Term Mission Trips

The fear of raising finances is a major reason why many Christians do not participate in missions. But we are called to reject fear.

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22 Feb 16
by
Mike Pettengill
in
Church planting Reflection

Are you called to missions?

The truth is, missions is not a calling. It is a command. Missions is not intended for a few, but for all Christians.

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13 Jan 16
by
Heidi Harrison
in
Athens Germany Greece Mercy

Why We Should Love Muslim Refugees

As I pondered the story of the enemy-loving missionaries killed in Ecuador, I couldn’t help but see an opportunity to examine my own heart.

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14 Dec 15
by
Lloyd Kim

What Does "Making Disciples" Really Look Like?

Knock, knock, knock. There stood a woman with her four young children, a family that our Peruvian national partner was reaching out to.

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02 Nov 15
by
Mike Pettengill

7 Ways You Can Launch a Missions Movement In Your Church

Even with limited resources, there are things any church can do to increase its missions focus.

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10 Sep 15

How Then Should We Pray? A Guide for Praying for Missionaries

Have you noticed that missionaries almost always say that their greatest need is prayer? Here is a nine-week guide to help you pray.

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18 May 15
by
Lloyd Kim

Fully Armored: From the Coordinator

How do you discern simply having a bad week from being spiritually attacked?

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20 Apr 15
by
Kathleen Shumate

What Is Reality?

We aren't meant to spend our lives honing a system of maximum pleasure and comfort. We are meant to spend ourselves for God's kingdom.

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13 Apr 15
by
Ben Johnson

Why Missions Is a Big Deal

Did Abraham orchestrate the events that led to the Messiah's entrance into history? Not a chance. God called Abraham to do one thing: Move.

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02 Mar 15
by
Mike Pettengill
in
Honduras La Ceiba Missiology Reflection

How Could God Use A Missionary Like Me?

Daily I look at my life and find nothing that points to the fact that I can be a good missionary. Yet I have seen lives transformed.

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01 Oct 14
by
Lloyd Kim

No Regrets: From the Coordinator

What an incredible message of hope we have for those who are experiencing deep loss and sadness.

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01 Oct 14
by
Brian Deringer

Dr. Paul Kooistra: A Tribute

After 20 years of faithfully serving MTW as coordinator, Dr. Paul Kooistra is now president of Erskine College and Theological Seminary.

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06 Jun 14
by
Paul Kooistra

“Show Me Your Faith!”

What would you ask the Holy Spirit to help you change in order to exhibit a deeper faith in Christ?

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10 Mar 14
by
Robin Price
in
Odesa Reflection Ukraine

When Loneliness Hits

It was a tough month for me—the hardest I've had since I arrived in Ukraine. They say that all missionaries "hit a wall" somewhere...

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15 Nov 13
by
Dr. Paul Kooistra

The Cost of Missions

There was a time when missionaries went into the world knowing it would cost them everything.

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01 Jun 13
by
Dr. Paul Kooistra

We Are Better Off

I was troubled when in junior high I read Jesus’ words, “But I tell you the truth: it is for your good that I am going away."

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09 May 13
by
Paul Henry

Why We (Missionaries) Need Your Prayers

How amazing it was that the Lord had him praying for us at the moment when I was wishing that I could tell people to pray!

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09 Apr 13
by
Jeremy Sink
in
Chiba Ishinomaki Nagoya Nagoya CBI

Sinking in Japan

We’d gone from living in a place where we were mostly competent and self-sufficient to one where we were functionally illiterate.

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01 Mar 13
by
Mike Pettengill
in
Honduras La Ceiba Reflection

Send Me Your Short-Term Missionaries

“Wouldn’t it be better if all those people sent you money instead of wasting their resources and your time?” Our answer is an emphatic NO.

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04 Jan 13
by
Dr. Paul Kooistra

God in a Messy World

I can’t remember a Christmas when the joy was blunted by as much human sorrow. My first reaction was, “Why does it have to be this way?”

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