What Women Want

I just read an interesting article about "what women want", and the implications of this to how we do church.  Thought-provoking stuff.  And even though it's not specifically about missions (like most of the stuff on this blog), it's certainly worth a look.

Check it out here. 

Update.....San Antonio

I wrote to Kevin, our contact in San Antonio, about the new Spanish-language service that we helped to promote for his church.  The first service was held Sunday, so I asked for an update.  Here is what he wrote:

"Things went pretty well. We had nineteen people show up to our service. Two families have leadership roles in other Hispanic churches in the area. One of them will come as often as possible! What I saw yesterday with those who will consistently be here is a foundation for doing outreach/door-to-door evangelism, etc. I am very excited to see where the Lord will take this...............We are very grateful for your willingness to come to SA and be a part of God’s work in our city. The Lord bless you all of you and your families, and the church for allowing/enabling you guys to minister with us."

Opportunity

Today I want to pass on a little info about a webinar that is coming up in a couple of months.  It is called  "Blazing A Trail Through The Missions Strategy Maze".  As you can see from the title, it's all about helping churches develop a strategy for going deeper in world missions (which, I will add, is not as easy as it sounds).  I am familiar with the folks who are involved in putting this thing together, and I'd say that it should definitely be worth your time.

The webinar will take place on November 7, and is free.  It will last one hour.  You can find more information about it here.

I Have One, Too

Unless you live deep in the bowels of the earth (in which case you probably wouldn't be reading this), you know that we just celebrated (August 28) the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have A Dream" speech. Dr. King was a flawed man, but there's no denying his moral courage or his gifts as an orator.

To mark this historic occasion, I thought I'd jot down a few dreams of my own.  Though I'm under no illusion that my "speech" will be remembered 50 years hence, I write it anyway, for my own edification if for no one else's.

I HAVE A DREAM.......

• that one day we will have elected representatives who are serious about the fiscal mess we are in.  If they can't bring themselves to reverse course, could they at least take their foot off the gas? 
• that one day we'll have one entire presidential campaign without any mention of the words "fascist", "racist", or "Adolf Hitler".
• that just once a popular Disney channel star would not insist on showing us how "grown up" they have become.
• that more boys and girls would know the security of growing up with a mom and a dad, and that one could long for this without being labeled a "hater".
• that  more American church members would develop a taste for solid biblical preaching, and demand the same of those who would lead them.
• that one day Hollywood will make at least one movie without wall-to-wall profanity and innuendo. And while we're at it......could we get one where the religious person in the story isn't a kook, philanderer or serial killer?

There.....I feel better now.  Will my dreams ever become reality?  It's not likely, in my opinion.  But as King well knew, it's OK to hope for a better world, even if we never get a perfect one.

Labor Day

This past weekend a group of about 22 of us went to San Antonio to help some friends there with a new church start.  As I've written before, it's an established English-language congregation that is starting a new Spanish-language service next weekend, so we went there to help spread the word about it.  After blanketing the area with flyers Saturday morning, we helped with a block party Saturday evening.  It was a short trip, but a very fruitful one.  I'd even say that it was worth missing most of the Georgia - Clemson football game.  And that's saying something!

 

ESL Training

Have you ever found yourself secretly coveting the spiritual gifts of others?  Do you wish you could preach/sing/play/teach like ol' what's-his-name?  If so, then let me assure you that you possess a skill, right now, that is coveted by millions, and by which you can make a significant difference in the lives of others.  And you can begin right away.  In other words, you speak English.

Next month we begin another semester of English (ESL) classes at FBC.  At the moment we could use a couple more folks willing to help.  No teaching experience is required.  If you love people and have a good grasp of English, you're in.

  

On September 13 and 14 a Basic ESL Teacher Training course will be offered at our local baptist association office.  I've been through this training and can tell you that, while it won't make you an expert, it is very good, and will give you the tools you need to get going.  You can get more information about it here.

A word to the wise.....we don't get lots of quality training events here in the valley, so don't let this one pass you by!

¡Viva México!

For some time now I've longed for the Perspectives materials to be translated into Spanish.  That wait is almost over.  The translation work is virtually complete, and there have now been several Spanish-language Perspectives classes held around the world, including one recently in Mexico.  You can read more about that here.

This is a big deal for several reasons.  Suffice it to say that if the Church in Latin America were to be mobilized on a grand scale, it would mean HUGE progress in reaching the nations with the gospel.  Please join me in prayer that the planned projects would proceed apace, and that many creyentes would catch the vision for what is possible.