#BestoftheBestFridays: Reaching Muslims; Good from ISIS?; Corrupt Countries; Tech in Missions

Upcoming MISSIONS Events CALENDAR

Missions Catalyst has put together an impressive calendar of upcoming missions events you just might not want to miss. Dealing with discouragement, isolation, fear, or feelings of inadequacy as you head overseas? This could be a great chance to get together with your tribe.

What catches our eye:

• taking the Perspectives on World Missions class online
• a second-language acquisition course
• Creating an Annual Fundraising Plan–a webinar from MissioNexus!–and Support-raising Bootcamp
• IMPACT gathering for those hoping to see Jesus among Unreached People Groups (UPG’s) of Southeast Asia (see here for our free printable prayer guide for UPG’s, and here and here or specific posts on the two largest UPG’s…both in Asia)

P.S. Did you know Johnson University offers a totally online Intercultural Studies course?

Building Friendships with Muslims: A $10 DVD Course

COMMA, the Coalition of Ministries to Muslims in North America, put this together–and from the feedback, it sounds like Journey to Jesus: Building Christ-Centered Friendships with Muslims will help you feel equipped and less offensive to those to whom you long to reach out. (Or wish you did.)

And check out COMMA’s upcoming conference in Orlando, to inspire, equip, empower to train, and network with those reaching Muslims. Who should go?

• Muslim ministry practitioners
• Pastoral staff who have a congregation that has contact with Muslims
• Students interested in long-term service among Muslims
• Missionaries on home assignment

You can still get the early bird rate until May 31, 2019.

What Good Can GOD BRING from ISIS?

You may have seen recently that ISIS is facing its final stand, reduced to 1.5 square miles in Syria.

Yet as we look back on its black legacy, we’ve heard rumblings: The terror of ISIS has been shaking people lose from Islam. Unfortunately, some simply become atheists. But as NBC News reports, Life Under ISIS Led These Muslims to Christianity. Though this article is dated, it tells of how Iranian refugees, seeking to know more about Jesus after being given Bibles, were actually reviving the Danish church.

You might also appreciate last year’s podcast from Christianity Today’s Quick to Listen: Muslim Refugees Are Finding Christ–and Facing Backlash. What a great reminder to continue to welcome refugees into our communities with open arms.

The Contest No Country Should Win: Transparency International’s Most Corrupt Countries

This index “ranks 180 countries and territories by their perceived levels of public sector corruption according to experts and businesspeople.” Chair Delia Ferriera Rubio explains, “Corruption is much more likely to flourish where democratic foundations are weak and, as we have seen in many countries, where undemocratic and populist politicians can use it to their advantage.”

Want to see where your country-to-be ranks?

The Missionary Life Cycle

From A Life Overseas, this occasionally humorous look at the stages of missionary life may give some good food for thought–including some ideas to face each with a little more health.

Which stage are you at?

5 Ways Tech is Impacting Mission

After hearing that solar-powered Bibles are being used to reach remote South Asian tribes, we thought you might also want to see five more major trends–as reported by the International Mission Board–revolutionizing missions. Ready to hear the latest?

And if you’re game, this course unleashes ways to use new media to reach the unreached.

Like this post? Don’t miss the rest of our #BestoftheBestFridays: The Best Stuff on Global Work around the Web.