Mission Ministry

When Jesus thought about the church, what did he imagine? Most churches are small, and rightly so. With power being redistributed in our time, networks of smaller enterprises are both growing and thriving. The yearning for participation and empowerment has us all looking for versions of church that make room for everyone. Perhaps, after all our hand wringing and insecurity about the size of our churches, we have missed the point. Microchurches can be strong, beautiful, accessible, and potent portraits of just what Jesus had in mind, if not for all time, at least for ours.

Most going abroad to serve are not thinking about the process of transition, and yet if you do, it can make the difference between a smooth entry and re-entry, or a decidedly bumpy landing. Veteran of serving abroad Amy Young is the perfect companion to guide you through the much-neglected process of transitions. Practical in nature, Looming Transitions places a strong emphasis on: keeping your soul fertile as you stay grounded in Christ; looking for the lighter moments; learning about yourself; and much more!

The Cup of Our Life is available to anyone seeking a more intimate and disciplined life of prayer. Author Joyce Rupp illustrates how the ordinary cups used each day can become sacred vessels that connect listeners with life and bring them into closer union with the divine. She explores how the cup is a rich symbol of life, with its emptiness and fullness, its brokenness and flaws, and its many blessings.

Promises in the Dark by Dr. Eric McLaughlin strengthens the hearts of listeners to persevere in God’s calling to walk with those in need. As a missionary doctor in Africa, McLaughlin knows how walking closely with those who suffer and bearing others’ burdens can easily lead to burnout or cynicism - unless we find the path to perseverance that the Lord provides. McLaughlin explores how to endure in such a yet-to-be-redeemed world as ours, which is full of tragedy and heartache, pointing to God’s promises.

God Wants to Unleash Us into Fruitful Disciple-making Beyond Our Wildest Dreams. What if passionate Jesus followers began to multiply rapidly until thousands of lives and families were transformed? What if, instead of hard work with little fruit, God began to do “exceeding abundantly beyond all you could ask or imagine?” Imagine those you’ve invested in sharing Jesus freely, making their own disciples, and then training them until they too can disciples others.

Just like we do today, the writers and chief actors of the Old Testament felt a deep longing for the presence of God. It is symbolized in the temple ruins, and before it the temple itself, and before that the ark of the covenant and the tabernacle that housed it, and before that the Garden of Eden. In response to this longing, God shares his ultimate mission, in which his people play a part: the expansion of Eden, the temple of God's presence, to all peoples throughout the earth.

Jim's volumes of personal journals, written over many years, reveal the inner struggles and victories that he experienced before his untimely death in 1956. In The Journals of Jim Elliot, you'll come to know this intelligent and articulate man who yearned to know God's plan for his life, detailed his fascinating missions work, and revealed his love for Elisabeth--first as a single man, then as a happily married one.

Mission at Nuremberg is Tim Townsend's gripping story of the American Army chaplain sent to save the souls of the Nazis incarcerated at Nuremberg, a compelling and thought-provoking tale that raises questions of faith, guilt, morality, vengeance, forgiveness, salvation, and the essence of humanity.

Margaret Agard and her new husband Parker felt the call—sell all that you have and follow in missionary work. Starting out in one of Parker's projects (a restored 1980 El Camino), Agard shares a compelling and often humorous account of the life of modern-day servant/missionaries. From an inner city Hispanic church to the wilds of Alaska, Agard's account of missionary stories radiates warmly from her skillful depiction of the characters she befriended. Agard invokes people and life lessons that become a part of you.

His street name was Daylight. But he was a nightmare. On the streets of New York, darkness and violence reigned. Dimas "Daylight" Salaberrios began selling drugs when he was 11 years old, and by 16 he had served his first stint at the notorious Rikers Island prison. Dimas saw only one way to survive: by reigning over the streets. He would be the richest, most powerful ruler in the hood...or die trying. Street God is the true story of one man's dangerous journey through the underworld.

On Loving God is first a touching description of God's love for us as a unmistakably demonstrated in the death of his Son. Second, it is a call for us to joyfully respond to God like the child who runs to and embraces her father whose love is sure.

Meals have always been important across societies and cultures, a time for friends and families to come together. An important part of relationships, meals are vital to our social health. Author Tim Chester sums it up: "Food connects." Chester argues that meals are also deeply theological - an important part of Christian fellowship and mission. He observes that the book of Luke is full of stories of Jesus at meals. These accounts lay out biblical principles. Chester notes, "The meals of Jesus represent something bigger."

Both an emerging term and a developing concept, business as mission (BAM) has drawn much fascination in both mission and business circles, with the concept of strategically using business to accomplish missional purposes. Though the term is ubiquitous in mission circles, there is great disparity in what it means. There has been much talk about BAM in theory, but far less research done on how it works out in reality.

Liz Forkin Bohannon wants you to rethink everything you've been told about finding your passion and following your dreams. Why? Hate to break it to you, but you're likely never going to "find your passion". Because your passion and purpose are something you build-actively - day by day. In her signature tell-it-like-it-is fashion, Liz shares 14 actionable principles that will teach you how to do just that. With total transparency, Liz shares hilarious and heartbreaking stories of her journey of screw-ups and successes.

With its Bible-based, time-tested strategies, tactics, and tools to combat the enemy, this book will empower listeners to be more alert to the wiles of the wicked one, take an offensive rather than a defensive stance against the enemy, wage more effective warfare, find rest in the midst of the spiritual storms, and live a life of victory. When the devil comes one way, he will flee seven ways and more with these scriptural tactics that will break the power of his devices. This book will serve as a quick-start guide for battle when all hell is breaking loose.

It's not your imagination: civilized human society is collapsing. Communities no longer work toward a common good; children are no longer our first priority; businesses no longer value hard work; arts and skills have been lost; and gender is decided by the individual, not biology. We cannot reverse national and global trends, says professor Anthony Esolen, but we can build communities that live up to humanity's promise and responsibility.

Brother Lawrence, a 17th century cook and shoe repairman in a monastery in Paris, was known for his peaceful devotion to God. Though not formally educated, his life experiences in war and his humble service in the priory led others to look to him for wise counsel. His words were later collected into this marvelous short audiobook that has inspired Christians for centuries. The Practice of the Presence of God has been of great help to believers such as John Wesley and A.W. Tozer.

When we really love something, we talk about it. This is true when find a great new restaurant, enjoy a sports team, or when we stumble onto a fantastic new product. We want to share the joy and tell others. We naturally “evangelize” and invite others to experience what we have found...

One of the largest Church Planting Movements in the world, the Bhojpuri movement began in the 1990s and continues to spread gospel light into the region of North India that has been called "the graveyard of missions." Drawing upon dozens of personal stories of transformation from within the movement, Victor John (with collaborator Dave Coles), guides us through insights and lessons learned along the way. Today, the Bhojpuri work is breaking through into neighboring people groups and marginalized social sectors, transcending language, ethnicity, religion, and caste.

In the midst of societal disruption and disillusionment, we're seeing signs of a new season of God bringing people into renewal and revival. Jesus is the Sent One who invites us to become like him and live as sent people. God is leading us into a new normal where all of us—not just the professionals—can encounter him and experience his work. Apostolic mission leaders Linson Daniel, Jon Hietbrink, and Eric Rafferty reveal God's invitation into everyday mission in the way of Jesus.