Mission Connection Magazine
Mystery ReaderTake pictures of various church leaders (maybe even local “celebrities,” such as the mayor of your city) reading the adult mission books. Include youth and children as well. Photograph people in different settings, always with their faces hidden and the books highly visible. For instance, show the pastor mowing the yard with a reading book in one hand and a hat covering his face or the youth pastor reading a book by flashlight in a movie theater. It is important to have their faces hidden to make the guessing more difficult.
Insert the photos into a PowerPoint presentation, or display them on a bulletin board or tabletop display. Depending on the number of photos you use, you might want to number the photos and provide a sheet with the appropriate numbers and blanks for people fill in, as they see the photos.
When presenting the books, show the PowerPoint or have a person standing by the bulletin board or display. The first person to guess all the right people wins a prize! Explain that mission books help all of us understand what God is doing around the world through the Church of the Nazarene, and have council members ready to
distribute books to those in attendance.
Debra Voelker
Washington Pacific District
2010-11 NMI Mission Books for Youth and Adults
* Denotes youth books
African Voicescompiled by Mark and Nancy Pitts
After living almost 25 years in the northwestern United States, Mark and Nancy Pitts heard God’s call to serve Him in Africa. But this book isn’t about their story; it’s about the many stories they have heard as they shared meals together with African students, university faculty, pastors, district superintendents, school leaders, and many others.
Become acquainted with some of the current and future Nazarene leaders from Africa. They are people full of passion and integrity, courage and persistence. And they are your brothers and sisters in Christ.
Contagious Compassion:
The Life and Ministry of Tom Nees*by Neil B. Wiseman
After many years of successful ministry in various locations around the United States, Tom Nees—pastor, father, and third-generation Nazarene—began grappling with how the Church could better help those plagued by despair and hungry for hope. In response, Tom obeyed God’s call to the city where he embarked on a ministry of compassion at the Community of Hope in Washington, D.C.
Read about Tom and the many people whose lives he touched. Then ponder anew how compassion truly is the action side of holiness.
Extreme Argentinaby Pat Stockett Johnston
Several people who journeyed to Argentina as part of the Extreme Nazarene project told their inspiring stories. From helping to build the Bruno Radi Convention Center to ministry in a women’s prison, park puppet shows, plaza evangelism, and film showings, each participant returned home a changed person.
The journey doesn’t stop there, however. Perhaps God is calling you to join the next Extreme Nazarene project as He seeks willing souls to draw lost people to Him.
First a Flicker, Then a Blaze:
Nazarene Missions in Indiaby Richard Gammill
Across the centuries many have sought to extinguish the torch of Christian faith the Apostle Thomas brought to India, but the brightness of its flame remains undimmed in many Nazarenes who valiantly serve their Master.
Open the pages to their stories . . . stories of faith, of courage, and of conviction. Then thank God for the more than one hundred years of ministry the Church of the Nazarene has seen in this vast and mysterious land—the land of India.
Cold Winds, Warm Hearts:
The Church of the Nazarene in Bulgaria*by Teanna Sunberg
During the years of Communism in Bulgaria, the winds of opposition blew strong against those who followed Christ. Stories abound of people who sacrificed family, jobs, and even their lives for the sake of the Gospel. But today hope dawns anew in this once bleak land.
Author and missionary Teanna Sunberg will take you on an exciting and spellbinding journey of the growth of the Church of the Nazarene in Bulgaria. Your heart will be warmed as you discover how God honored those who remained faithful to Him even in the midst of severe opposition.
The Tower of Babel Was a Bad Idea:
The Joy and Agony of Second-language Learning*by Amy Crofford
The process of learning another language is long and hard, and missionaries often become discouraged. After an exceptionally difficult day at language school, one new missionary quipped: “Whoever thought of the Tower of Babel should have been shot on the spot!”
Between the pages of this book lie heartfelt and humble stories of people who have obeyed the call of God to journey to a new land and minister in a new language. May their words—and their obedience—inspire and encourage your heart.
2010-11 NMI Mission Books for Children
All-Reader Books
Ethan, a Soccer Player for Jesusby Elaine Cunningham
Eleven-year-old Ethan loved to play soccer and tell others about Jesus. He was excited when he saw a missionary use an evangelistic soccer ball to share the Gospel. Ethan suggested that his family take some EvangeBalls on a Costa Rica mission trip. Despite the soccer balls getting lost, his bus getting stuck in the mud, and a sprained ankle, Ethan shared the gospel story with kids who came to play soccer.
Bite of the Cobraby Tami Brumbaugh
Ten-year-old Rahul was bitten by a cobra. After receiving special herbs from a mantrik (similar to a magician) and antivenin at a hospital in Mumbai, his legs remained paralyzed. While begging on a street corner, Rahul heard about Jesus. Despite threats from Hindu neighbors, Rahul and his family attended a JESUS Film showing. They not only found spiritual healing, Rahul was physically healed.
A Mango and a Mud Churchby Jill Williamson
When ten-year-old Eddie visited a nearby Venezuelan village with his father—a missionary doctor—Eddie met Yuris, a local bully. Yuris claimed there was a curse on the village to keep missionaries away. But when a LoveWorks team from Point Loma Nazarene University arrived, they built a mud church in the village. Eddie gave Yuris an EvangeCube; and in return, Yuris gave Eddie a mango.
Advanced Books
Cobán Treasure Huntby Wes Eby
Missionary Jason Caine took his family on a month-long trip to Cobán, Guatemala. While Rev. Caine taught classes at the Bible school, his wife took their two children, Candy and Timmy, treasure hunting. Clues took them to a cemetery, city market, soccer field, and the Bible school in search of precious treasures—the most precious one being Alabaster.
Trouble in East Timorby Cheryl Crouch
Sidney and LaTeesha had a plan to become part of the “in-crowd” at their school. Halfway around the world in East Timor, a young boy struggled for a better life and the opportunity to play basketball. The two worlds merged when LaTeesha heard a missionary speaker and was confronted with the need. LaTeesha discovered a way to help and changed the plan.
The Mystery of the Ancient Anchorby Matt Price
Amina joined Lucas and Miguel and their missionary parents on a trip through France and Switzerland. When the three friends visited a historical inn, they learned that it was about to be torn down because of a missing artifact, a glass lamp fixture with an engraved coat of arms containing an anchor. While trying to solve the mystery, Amina learned about Christian faith; and all three discovered the ancient origins of the Christian faith in Europe.
2010-2011 Mission Education Curricula
Adult Curriculum
Living Mission
Living Mission informs, inspires, and involves persons in local churches for God’s global mission. The new adult curriculum offers a multitude of resources that will help educate your church about relevant mission issues, providing tangible involvement opportunities.
The annual resource is delivered in two segments during the year, allowing for more up-to-date information. Each mailing includes a mission leader’s planner, three lessons, three discussion-starter videos, several podcasts, printed materials, PowerPoint presentations, and CAUSE campaigns (opportunities for involvement), all neatly packaged in one box. A Living Mission Web site further enhances the resource and offers additional resources throughout the year; purchase of the curriculum allows access to the Web site.
Youth Curriculum
Reflection: Constructing an Incarnational Reality
Reflection: Constructing an Incarnational Reality explores the theme of God's Incarnation and how that should affect how we live and minister to those around us. Students will not only learn how others have lived an incarnational life, but they will be challenged to live incarnationally themselves.
Children’s Curriculum
Kidz Passport to Missions
Mexico, Central America, and South America Regions
The 2010-2011 Kidz Passport to Missions curriculum features the Mexico, Central America, and South America Regions. These regions claim some of the most impressive natural and man-made wonders of the world. In this land of wonders, there are multitudes of people who need the wonder of God. Lessons focus on the missionaries and laypersons who respond to God’s call “To Make Christlike Disciples in the Nations.”
A CD includes 24 activity sheets to supplement lessons and PowerPoint slides of the artwork for each of the Children's mission books listed above.
Living Mission: Adult Mission Education
Living Mission informs, inspires, and involves persons in local churches
for God’s global mission.
This is the purpose statement of NMI’s adult mission education resource called Living Mission. Living Mission offers a multitude of resources that will help you educate people about relevant issues and provide tangible ways they can be involved.
The annual resource, available for purchase through Nazarene Publishing House, includes a mission leader’s planner, lessons, discussion starter DVDs, podcasts, printed materials, PowerPoint, and CAUSE campaigns, all neatly packaged in one box. A Living Mission Web site further enhances the resource and offers additional resources throughout the year.
Living Mission began as an effort to simplify NMI’s mission education resources and provide everything a mission leader needs right at their fingertipsthe result is the Living Mission box.
How Do I Use Living Mission?
Simply put:
- Open the Living Mission box.
- Read the planner.
- Follow the instructions.
It really is that simple! Everything you need to conduct compelling mission lessons is included in the Living Mission box.
Living Mission is designed so you can lead lessons with media components or without. You can choose to do a 10-minute lesson, a 20-minute lesson, or longer lessons. You pick and choose what works best for you and your congregation.
Involvement Through CAUSES
Probably one of the most exciting components of Living Mission is the CAUSE campaign. The CAUSES provide involvement for people, allowing them to live out the passion stirred due to what they learned in a Living Mission lesson.
CAUSES include opportunities to go, give, pray, and learn more. The CAUSES offer a chance to be the hands and feet of Jesus to a people group and/or need somewhere in the world.
In short, Living Mission provides you, the mission leader, with an easy-to-use resource that will inform, inspire, and involve your church in God’s work, locally and globally.
Ann Baldwin
Living Mission Coordinator
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