Simply ChurchThis past weekend I met with a group of people to discuss missions. Traditional church is complex and complicated. Think of what goes into a typical Sunday morning service, let alone the upkeep of a building, handling the finances, keeping the programs running. Ordinary people, who have no training in ecclesiology and who have jobs… Read More
Lottie Moon, height 4 foot 3 inches, was a powerhouse for the gospel. Born to affluent parents who owned a tobacco plantation in 1840, she was indifferent to her Baptist upbringing until the age of 18, when she underwent a spiritual awakening at a revival meeting on her college campus. At the age of 33,… Read More
Occasionally, I get a comment on my blog that is so important, it’s worth creating a guest post so others read it. The story that Larry tells of how he came to change his mind about women in ministry is outstanding. Larry Bennett is an experienced mission’s trainer to developing world pastors and leaders. He… Read More
One of the most outstanding church planting movements of our time is going on in India. Victor Choudhrie has written a book, Greet the Church in Your House detailing the principles behind this movement. It will come out as a Kindle book in September. This post is the final part (first part starts here) of a section… Read More
We just returned from a two week trip to Taiwan, an island off the coast of China. Tony’s parents originally were called to work in China, but when the Communists took over just a few weeks after they arrived, they moved to Taiwan where Tony’s father, a doctor, opened a clinic. Tony was born in… Read More
As I investigated the Scriptures on the subject of commercial fishing in the Gospels, several things became apparent. There are several passages that talk about fishing: Matthew 4:18-22 and Mark 1:16-19 Jesus calls the four disciples who are fishermen and tells them he will make them fishers of men. Luke 5:1-11 Jesus tells the disciples… Read More
While I was in the UK two weeks ago, a not-yet-Christian came to the church that meets in our home. She is friends with some of the students who attend regularly. Apparently it was a very ordinary time. But at the end she was asked, "Would you like to give your life to Jesus?" "Yes,"… Read More
Photo credit: SadieMaeGlutz (Creative Commons) We have friends in India who are seeing large numbers of both high-caste Hindus and people from other religions become followers of Jesus. They use the sacred books of those religions to point to Christ. When they have clearly demonstrated Christ within those books, they can then point them to… Read More
There are many pitfalls for the unwary in a cross-cultural context. Here are some bloopers I, or those with me, have made: India: placing my Bible on the floor. Mozambique: beckoning someone to come with my palm facing up, rather than down. Muslim nation: offering (as a woman) to shake hands with a man when… Read More
Photo credit: EugeniusD80 (Creative Commons) We were sitting in our hot tub with some dear friends who are long-term missionaries in Japan. Jim’s wife is Japanese, so they have a unique understanging of that nation. They and their family are planting simple/organic churches there. As usual, our conversation ranged widely as we put the world… Read More