Have you ever questioned your purpose in the stage and location of life you are in currently? Do you ever wonder if you are making a difference, or if you are even on the path that God intended? Does it seem like others around you are experiencing a faith adventure or a mission experience that you are missing out on? We don’t have to travel to far corners of the world to be on mission. This book is an invitation and exploration to open your heart and eyes to experience the mission he has for you right in the community you are in. Understand your Mission My Town.
Mason LaVerle is a young man on a mission–a mission to save his people’s way of life. Mason was raised in a tiny, isolated Montanan sect, the church of the Aboriginal Fulfilled Apostles. But the Apostles face a dwindling membership, so Mason is sent on an outreach operation to bring back converts–specifically brides. As he discovers shopping malls, fast food, and faster women, the forces of faith and the forces of America collide, leading Mason to the brink of missionary madness.
Small Town Mission is a practical guide for gospel-centered mission in small towns. If you haven't noticed, people who live in small towns have limited options for restaurants, shopping, and books about mission. Small towns desperately need normal, everyday people like farmers, factory workers, teachers, secretaries, and small business owners who think and act like missionaries to reach their friends, neighbors, co-workers, and extended families for Christ. This book aims to help local churches in small towns do that. After all, mission isn't just something that must be prioritized globally and in big cities; it must also be prioritized locally and in small towns.
In the 1980s, Erika Bornman’s family join, and ultimately move, to KwaSizabantu, a Christian mission based in KwaZulu-Natal, which is touted as a nirvana, founded on egalitarian values. But something sinister lurks beneath ‘the place where people are helped’. Life at KwaSizabantu is hard. Christianity is used to justify harsh punishments and congregants are forced to repent for their sins. Threats of physical violence ensure adherence to stringent rules. Parents are pitted against children. Friendships are discouraged. Isolated and alone, Erika lives in constant fear of eternal damnation. At 16, her grooming at the hands of a senior mission counsellor begins. For the next five years, KwaSizabantu wages emotional, psychological and sexual warfare on her, until, finally, she manages to break free and escape at the age of 21. Escaping a restrictive religious community is difficult, but rehabilitation into ‘normal’ life after a decade of ritual humiliation, brainwashing and abuse is much more painful, as Erika soon discovers. She cannot ignore her knowledge of the grievous human-rights abuses being committed at KwaSizabantu, and so she embarks on a quest to expose the atrocities. Mission of Malice – My Exodus from KwaSizabantu chronicles Erika’s journey from a fearful young girl to a fierce activist determined to do whatever it takes to save future generations and find personal redemption and self-acceptance.
Small towns are big mission fields that are almost totally neglectedby modern churches. City ministry has become, for many,the definition of godly ministry. This is a call to take the gospeleverywhere, big or small, because that is what Jesus told us to do. Donnie Griggs uncovers the biblical teaching that helps churches get in line with Jesus' mission to reach all people.
This is the story of one man's burden for the city he lived in and loved. Detroit, once America's leading industrial city, falls with political corruption, racial intolerance, and its auto industry's refusal to change. Bob spearheads the partnering of his New York City church with an inner-city Detroit church, trusting God's power to take one small step in revitalizing Detroit. This book may challenge you to trust God to raise you from your own struggles. "Bob Chancia has accurately and passionately communicated the issues facing Detroit as well as the hope for Detroit-the Gospel of Jesus Christ ... because Jesus is the only hope for Detroit and all men. Bob, a native New Yorker, loves Detroit as much as we native Detroiters. I couldn't put this book down! A must read!" -Diane Denaro Frank, founder and executive director, AngelHouse.org "Here is the account of a miracle touching two great cities. New York's Calvary Baptist Church, by joining with Detroit's Citadel of Faith Covenant Church, has displayed the power and presence of Christ in helping bring a once great city back to vibrant life. Bob Chancia has beautifully and forcefully recounted this miracle that touches two cities." -Rev. James O. Rose, pastor emeritus, Calvary Baptist Church, New York City; Dallas Theological Seminary board of directors for nineteen years.
Now in Paperback!In this intimate treasury of wit and wisdom, Richard Bolles, author of the job-hunting bible: WHAT COLOR IS YOUR PARACHUTE?, explores the spiritual aspects of finding one’s place in the work world. For anyone who has ever wondered how to make the most of their unique natural gifts, or how to find a vocation that is both socially responsible and personally fulfilling, this enlightening and empowering little volume provides immeasurable guidance. Originally appearing as an appendix in PARACHUTE, this book has led countless people through life’s most difficult passages and is sure to inspire anyone who is either new to the job market or reconsidering their place in it. A guide to exploring the spiritual aspects of finding one’s mission in the workplace. Previous editions have sold 85,000 copies.
Prayer that Must, The Power of Conversational Prayer is a joyous immersion into conversation with the Lord, emphasizing the qualities of His voice and practical avenues of prayer. It is packed with personal examples and practical teaching that are relevant for the prayer novice and experienced intercessor alike. You will learn how to discern God's voice from your own thoughts, articulate specific questions and hear God's wisdom and direction, pray on target for family members that are struggling, receive inner healing for painful emotions, worship authentically, and grow in intimacy with God. Each chapter includes discussion questions for personal reflection or small groups. Alone or with a circle of friends, Prayer That Must is a journey to the heart of God.