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Crawling Through The 10/40 Window

May 21, 2013 | Mike Pettengill

For more than two decades, much of the Christian world has been turning its gaze toward the 10/40 Window. Increasingly the North American evangelical church, the richest church in the history of the world, has been redirecting its missionaries and other missions resources toward the darkness within the this area of the globe. The goals are highly commendable, but are these methods prudent? Argentine-born evangelist Luis Bush coined the phrase "10/40 Window" in 1989. The Joshua Project currently defines the 10/40 Window as those 69 countries that sit between ...

Update from TGC International Outreach: ESV Study Bibles for Pastors in Uganda

May 17, 2013 | Bill Walsh

When we donate Packing Hope resources to missions and churches for the work overseas, we routinely ask for a report back. We often receive great stories and images, which we share with you as time allows. Last week, I received this great report from Jeff Hensley who pastors Heritage Christian Fellowship in Medford, Oregon. I think it really exemplifies the ideal scenario for our collaboration: solid, biblical resources getting into the hands of pastors in Asia, Africa, and South America and being deployed in the context of long-term relationships and mentoring....

Panel Seeks to Resolve 'Son of God' Translation Controversy

May 8, 2013 | Michael Clark

Late last month the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) Global Review Panel presented a 33-page report with ten recommendations for Wycliffe Global Alliance and SIL International concerning their process of translating divine familial terms, like "Father" and "Son," in Muslim contexts.  Responding to several Bible translation controversies, Wycliffe and SIL requested last spring that the WEA review their process of translating divine familial terms. These controversies stem from the fact that Muslims often misunderstand the divine familial language found i...

Church Planting in the Desert: Relatively Safe and Immediately Strategic

May 3, 2013 | Trillia Newbell

Tucked away in the desert of the Middle East is a land known for its lavish buildings, bustling economy, and international culture. The United Arab Emirates (UAE), located along the southeastern tip of the Arabian Peninsula, borders Saudi Arabia and Oman. In a day you can reach Kuwait, Iraq, Yemen, and Iran—some of the most war-torn countries in modern history. Some may be surprised, then, to learn the UAE is relatively safe and definitely peaceful. What may be more surprising, evangelicals have enjoyed a public presence here since the early 1960s. ...

Update from TGC International Outreach: TGC13 and Khmer Relief Project

April 24, 2013 | Bill Walsh

We recently returned home from the The Gospel Coalition 2013 National Conference in Orlando and are catching up with life and work. What a tremendous time it was for TGC International Outreach! My wife, Cindi, and I felt so privileged to meet with so many in attendance. Our team engaged in nearly 100 meetings with missionaries, publishers, supporters, and nationals from all over the world. The five days were long and intense but incredibly encouraging. We are always touched by how the Lord is clearly building his global church. As we've done at other confere...

Blessed to Be a Blessing

April 18, 2013 | Mike Pettengill

God has provided enormous blessings to today's Christian church in the Western world. We enjoy amazing freedom, resources, and opportunity. Yet world poverty and Christian persecution endures. Why has God blessed our churches in such times? God's call to Abraham gives us insight: "And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing" (Genesis 12:2). Our country, our churches, and our families have been blessed in order to be a blessing to the world. Are we using those resources to bless the worl...

God's Promise and a Petrol Station

April 17, 2013 | Gloria Furman

It seemed like such a small thing in comparison to the Hebrews' deliverance through the Red Sea. Nonetheless, I felt like bursting into a song of praise like Miriam did when the water came crashing down on the pursuing Egyptian army (Ex. 15:21). The Lord had triumphed gloriously on our behalf, parting the tempestuous waves of our fears. We rejoiced to see the rock-solid foundation that remained unshakeable beneath our feet. My husband, David, and I often reminisce about this story from nearly five years ago. We don't want to forget what the Lord taught us that ...

I Am Not Abraham's Mistake

April 16, 2013 | Derek Rishmawy

September 11 was a weird day for me. I was a sophomore in high school and distinctly remember thinking to myself, Oh God, I hope it wasn't Arabs, as soon as I heard a plane had crashed into the first tower. I'm three-fourths Palestinian and at times have a distinctly Arab cast to me. My last name is Rishmawy. Admittedly it was a selfish thought, but I just didn't see that going well for me in high school. And I was right. That afternoon in football practice, upon discovering I was of Arab descent—a "Palestilian" according to one educated linguist ...

TGC13 Media and eBook Sale

April 15, 2013 | Collin Hansen

  Thank you to the many thousands who joined us last week for five days of fellowship, teaching, and worship together in sunny Orlando. We believe God was honored as speakers and singers from around the world made much of Jesus as revealed in the Gospel of Luke. Within a couple weeks we hope to make media from all of the plenary talks, workshops, and many special events available, as usual, for free. We appreciate our sponsors and donors who make it possible to spread these resources around the world. We're thrilled that the conference livestream...

TGC13 Missions Preconference - Sunday Schedule

April 6, 2013 | Staff

Hear from missionaries, theologians, pastors, and other church leaders on how we can play our part in the Great Commission. We are asking God to bless this event by spreading passion for global missions among those who attend. We dare to pray that many will respond by committing themselves to cross-cultural outreach both at home and around the world. Watch our free livestreaming video feed (live.thegospelcoalition.org) of the follow events and sessions (all times are EDT): 8:30 AM - Worship and Prayer for the World 9:00 AM - Missionary Testimony ...

TGC13 Missions Preconference - Saturday Schedule

April 6, 2013 | Staff

Starting today, hear from missionaries, theologians, pastors, and other church leaders on how we can play our part in the Great Commission. We are asking God to bless this event by spreading passion for global missions among those who attend. We dare to pray that many will respond by committing themselves to cross-cultural outreach both at home and around the world. Watch our free livestreaming video feed (live.thegospelcoalition.org) of the follow events and sessions (all times are EDT): 1:00 PM - Pre-Conference Begins with Worship and Prayer for the ...

Revival in Germany Needs Biblical Theology

March 21, 2013 | Matthias Lohmann and Mike Clark

Imagine, if you can, a training center for young doctors whose curriculum focused entirely on studying individual parts of the human body. One day students might investigate the elbow, which would arrive hermetically sealed and sterile. Next, attention would shift to the kidney or the eyeball and so on. Over time, each part of the body would become the subject of extensive analysis, being dissected and re-dissected into ever smaller units, which would themselves then become the focus of further scholarly inquiry. Yet at no point would students ever investigat...

Why Serving the Common Good Isn't Enough

March 18, 2013 | Jeff Haanen

Recently evangelicals have renewed their interest in "the common good." Several years ago Gabe Lyons started a traveling conference called "Q," which chose the tagline "ideas for the common good." Andy Crouch, executive editor of Christianity Today, recently counseled evangelicals to restore the historic phrase to our shared lexicon. This Is Our City regularly features stories about Christians making "common good decisions" in their city. It's as if evangelicals have self-consciously come out of their narrow religious enclaves and finally ca...

Why a New Student Missions Conference?

March 14, 2013 | John Piper

As a member of the leadership team that conceived and is launching the Cross Conference, I am thrilled to be part of it. Here is my seven-point answer to why this conference exists (December 27 to 30, 2013, at the Kentucky International Convention Center in Louisville). One With 7,000 schools of higher learning, and 15,000,000 students, and a spread of 5,000 miles (from Maine to Hawaii), there is room in America for another conference about the most important issue in the world. Two In fact, we believe that God is stirring among young peopl...

Missions: Not Safe But Good

March 11, 2013 | Mike Pettengill

A quick search produces a dozen missions organizations advertising "safe" mission trips. But they cannot guarantee this promise, nor do they have the biblical authority to do so. While these organizations make promises they cannot keep, the apostle Paul was more honest with Christians when he said, "Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted" (2 Timothy 3:12). Suffering, an expected element in Christian living, should not be hidden from the faithful. It is sad how in recent years the words sacrifice, martyr, and submission...

Solidly Reformed, Strikingly Small

March 5, 2013 | Augustus Nicodemus Gomes Lopes

Here in Brazil the majority of Reformed and conservative pastors have small congregations, from 80 to 120 members. This fact is well known and has often been leveraged as criticism against Reformed doctrine. If Reformed theology is so biblical and good, the thinking goes, why can't its preachers and defenders convince people? Why do so few attend their churches? And why can't these churches grow or get many young people to attend their services? I know Reformed churches in Brazil that are dynamic, growing, evangelistic, missions-minded, and relatively l...

Pray for Peace that Trumps Tribe in Kenya

March 4, 2013 | Cornell Ngare

Today, Kenyans are trooping to the ballot to vote for a new government and leaders. One of the greatest immediate fears is whether or not the post-election days will be peaceful. The memory of post-election violence in 2007 and 2008 is still fresh on our minds. Many remember these days as fading flashbacks of news items seen on television from the comfort of their peaceful neighborhoods. But for some of us, the memories are much more vivid—too vivid. No one thought it would get this serious. We ignored the death threats after the election results wer...

Better or Worse? The State of Persecution in China

March 4, 2013 | Joann Pittman

It's been a confusing couple weeks for anyone paying attention to news about the church in China. If all you did was read Christianity Today, you probably have whiplash by now. On February 18, the magazine posted a story with the headline "How China Plans to Wipe Out Chinese House Churches." On February 25, it posted a response titled "China Is Not Trying to Wipe Out Christianity." The first Christianity Today article was a wire service story about ChinaAid Association's claim that persecution is getting worse in China. The response, offered by Chi...

Help Us Equip Italian Church Leaders

February 20, 2013 | Bill Walsh

The percentage of gospel-believing Christians in Italy is very small. But recent developments reveal signs of growth in the church. An interdenominational network of missionaries and indigenous leaders is steadily expanding. Increasing numbers of pastors and church planters are being equipped and sent. In September, Collin Hansen of The Gospel Coalition and Chris Castaldo of Wheaton College will travel to Italy to teach pastors and church planters in several cities across the country. Hundreds of leaders will be gathering for training and encouragement. You ...

6 Ways You Can Support Missionaries

February 20, 2013 | Jennifer Su McIntyre

"What can we do to help? Can we send you a short-term team?" As a missionary on furlough, I have often been asked these questions by supporters, home churches, and missions committees. Understandably, some supporters want to be as hands-on as possible in helping their missionaries. Sending a short-term team may look like an attractive option. But even when these offers stem from sincere motives, sending a short-term team may not always be the most helpful way to support missionaries. In fact, sometimes missionaries feel pressure to accept short-term teams e...

The Non-Negotiable Center of Missions

February 11, 2013 | Matt Smethurst

Does missions bore you? I know, you feel naughty just thinking it. But can't the topic sometimes feel abstract, distant, even personally irrelevant? Regardless of whether you're energized by it, missions is a matter of unspeakable significance. And if you've ever been on the lookout for an instructive and inspiring inroad to the subject, I have good news for you. Missionary veteran Zane Pratt will be teaching Introduction to Missiology [view syllabus] at The Gospel Coalition's upcoming 2013 National Conference in Orlando (April 6 to 10). In fact, you...

Check Your Motives for Missions

January 28, 2013 | Jennifer Su McIntyre

For most of my life, I've been zealous about evangelism. So when four years ago my husband and I first started sharing about our plans to become long-term missionaries to unreached Taiwan, mobilizing supporters seemed pretty straightforward. We told story after story of how sad people's lives would be without the gospel, hoping to elicit some tearful sentiment and subsequent support. Because we were heading off to a truly unreached area, we painted the image of throngs of people who suffered from such emptiness that they would greet our message with eager arms....

The Latest from TGC International Outreach

January 28, 2013 | Bill Walsh

  Earlier this month we launched a new Relief Project featuring the ESV Global Study Bible. Through great support from Crossway and a wonderful matching grant, your generosity enabled us to complete the funding in less than two weeks. This Bible is for "Global Christians" in every corner of the world—especially in places with few resources available for accessing and studying the Bible. It has been designed from beginning to end to be highly accessible for distribution on a global scale. Now, through your gifts, we are making this resource avai...

Missionaries Should Communicate---and Churches Should Demand It

January 23, 2013 | Mike Pettengill

On our last missionary furlough I spoke with dozens of pastors and church leaders about their churches' support for missionaries. In difficult economic times most churches were reducing their budgets. Without exception, every single church cutting support to missionaries told me they were going to eliminate support for "the missionary we have been supporting for years, but we just don't hear from anymore." Eliminating support for non-communicative missionaries is an wonderful idea, for two reasons: (1) churches must be good stewards of the resources they hav...

The Answer to Russia's Orphan Crisis

January 8, 2013 | Russell Moore

As the father of two sons born in Russia, I was enraged by Vladimir Putin's government ban on American adoptions from the former Soviet state, and I said so in every venue open to me. A Russian national (and evangelical Christian) responded to me via social media with a rebuke: "Russia needs the gospel, not Americans adopting our children," he said. "Why don't you Americans solve your own problems before interfering in ours?" I think his response is worth pondering. We must first acknowledge that this reaction is precisely what the Putin ...