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I'm currently reading through Tim Keesee's Dispatches From the Front and Mindy Belz's They Say We Are Infidels. The Lord is using both books to expand my understanding of the incredible advances, unique opportunities, ever present challenges, and tremendous needs discovered on the front lines of gospel ministry. Thankfully, my bubble of American Christianity is being punctured, as I thrill to see the God of the nations working among the nations and as I weep at the horrible persecution faced by so many of my brothers and sisters in Christ around the world. I am continually finding myself deeply challenged by what I'm learning is happening to and through the church globally, and I realize that my experience here in America is more the exception than the rule, both in the effects of the gospel and in its obstacles. I'm not sure what the end result will be in how God is challenging me through these resources, but I'm already finding myself stirred toward three responses: (1) yearning to see gospel advance on the frontlines of the United States of Amercia, (2) desiring to be more global in my own gospel vision, and (3) strategizing how to mobilize our singles group, which is uniquely positioned to really make an impact as we take risks for the sake of the gospel. Concerning that last response in particular, I've already started exploring ways in which we can participate in global frontline missions from Indianapolis — financial aid to persecuted Christians, support for Bible projects, short-term mission trips, etc. I'll keep you posted and would covet your input and prayers, too. In the meantime, I want to highlight below some resources that I'm finding particularly helpful to remove the blinders from my eyes and to help me see the successes and suffering of my Christian family worldwide. Persecution Updates & Haystack Prayer Group These resources from Frontline Missions International (the Persecution Updates and the Haystack Prayer Group) are a valuable tool for receiving real-time updates on situations in which our brothers and sisters are being persecuted, especially in the 10/40 window. Just today, I received the following update. The West African nation of Mali is among the top nations that persecute their minority Christian population. Mali is a Muslim country currently under siege by radical Islamists in the north, whose goal is to overthrow the government. Because of previous attacks against Christians by Muslim extremists, many believers have left the country. However, Beatrice Stockly, a Swiss missionary, remained, in spite of being abducted and held for 10 days in 2012 for the crime of sharing her Christian faith. She is known for her kind and gentle demeanor, demonstrated as she passed out flowers and Gospel literature to women and children around the city. After her first capture, Beatrice was ordered to leave Mali and never return. Many, including her mother and brother in Switzerland, urged her not to return to Mali. However, her response was “It’s Timbuktu, or nothing.” So she returned. On January 8, 2016, Beatrice was again kidnapped from her home in Timbuktu by Islamic terrorists and is still being held. Please pray for special grace for Beatrice in her captivity and for other believers in Mali. Frontline Missions also offers a free 31 Day Prayer Guide that will assist you in praying for our brothers and sisters who live in countries known for having high persecution rates.
 They Say We Are Infidels by Mindy Belz This has been a fascinating book to read so far, for many of the same reasons as the Dispatches. However, its goal is less to chronicle the advance of the gospel, and more to tell the stories of Christian brothers and sisters silently suffering across the Middle East. The book's subtitle is "On the Run from ISIS with Persecuted Christians in the Middle East," and I've learned much about charity, endurance, and mission from the faithful testimonies of these dear believers. Furthermore, the author provides much helpful behind-the-scenes insights into the politics generating the last decade-plus of chaos in that region. You can learn about the book here and listen to an interview with the author here.  FX Conferences & NEXT Missions Training
These two ministries form the recruiting and training arm of Frontline Missions International. The Frontline Experience (FX) is a conference designed for those who have a heart for missions in restricted-access settings. NEXT training assists serious Gospel risk-takers as they explore long-term, cross-cultural gospel ministry through field experiences, mentoring, language acquisition, and professional development. |
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