Mobilizing the Gospel

Christar
  • 5.0 (7)
  • Christianity
  • Updated Biweekly

Mobilizing the Gospel exists because the Great Commission is too great to do alone. Over 40% of the world’s people are cut off from the good news of Jesus. No one organization, project or person can reach them all. But together, the Church can. At Christar, we believe every follower of Jesus has a role to play. Mobilizing the Gospel is a conversation about the many ways the Body of Christ participates in God’s redemptive work around the world. It explores opportunities and challenges in establishing churches among the least-reached and equips you to better understand and be involved.

  1. Marketplace Professionals

    5d ago

    Marketplace Professionals

    Description Not all global workers are financially supported by sending churches. Some find jobs overseas in areas of the world where people don’t have access to the gospel. Marketplace professionals purposefully use their careers to further the gospel by being salt and light to their co-workers and the communities where they work and live. What are the challenges and benefits? What role do sending churches and mission agencies have in helping them and furthering their purpose? Join Ron as he talks about his role as a marketplace professional and how he saw God work. If you’re interested in using your professional skills in a cross-cultural context, learn some ways to prepare now! Guest Bio Ron served 25 years overseas as a marketplace professional. His primary ministry involved evangelism and discipleship with the goal of church planting.

    35 min
  2. Global Workers and Aging Parents

    Jun 18

    Global Workers and Aging Parents

    Description As global workers age, so do their parents. What do they do when their parents need more care? How do they decide whether to return to help or stay in their host culture? Dorothy shares how God led her to care for her parents as they grew older, as well as insights and resources that have helped her. Though the journey of caregiving is not easy and not the same for all of us, God directs our steps and leads each of us to serve Him and our parents for His glory. Learn how you can pray and support cross-cultural workers who love God, love their ministry and love their parents. Guest Bio Dorothy has been with Christar since 1996. She was born in Southeast Asia but moved to the U.S. as a teenager. She has degrees in nursing, accounting, cross-cultural ministry and marriage and family counseling. She was part of church-planting teams in Central Asia for 10 years, the far East for eight years, and Southeast Asia for two years. Now she is the member care point person for global workers in the Far East. She also mentors pastors and missionaries and helps with member care in several Christar mobilization centers.

    26 min
  3. Strategic Missions for the Local Church

    Jun 4

    Strategic Missions for the Local Church

    Description How can churches effectively use their resources for the Great Commission? Ellen Livingood, president and director of Catalyst Services, shares how churches can expand and improve their global outreach. Every year, missions committees look at their budgets and try to determine where to invest. How do they decide? Do they look at organizations, locations in the world or the person who wants to go serve overseas? If a church doesn’t have a missions committee, what are the first steps in starting one? If a church needs a fresh vision, how do they get it? Join us as we talk about the church’s role in God's global work and as Ellen shares resources to help inform the church's decisions and direction in missions. Guest Bio Ellen Livingood founded Catalyst Services in 2005 and continues today as its director. With unique expertise built on wide experience in both agency and church, she brings to Catalyst an extensive background in communications, mission agency administration, mobilization and consultation. For a number of years, she served as both coordinator of TEAM’s church partnerships office and director of global outreach at Grace Point Church in Newtown, PA. Today, from a base in suburban Philadelphia, Catalyst serves the missions community across North America and around the globe, calling on the expertise of other experienced mobilizers as needed.

    36 min
  4. If I Knew Then What I Know Now

    May 21

    If I Knew Then What I Know Now

    Description Drawing from over four decades of experience in global ministry, Pat shares what he knows now that he would have loved to have known back at the beginning of his career. He looks at training and how we learn and shares examples of how God has worked (and continues to work!) in and through him. As he cites what he has learned about his relationship with God, he gives practical and inspirational advice to those preparing to go and those already serving. Listen for a reminder that God is good and faithful no matter where we are serving in the Great Commission. Guest Bio Pat had the privilege of being raised in a Christian home. He heard the gospel at Reinhardt Bible Church in Dallas and believed in Christ as a child. He went to Wheaton, majoring in history, and studied missions at Dallas Theological Seminary, and then Islamics at Hartford Seminary. He took a gap year between college and seminary and took a trip around the world, and God called him to reach Muslims. Pat and MaryAnn married after Dallas, and they have three daughters and seven grandkids. They served in Iran for four years, mobilized for Christar for another five years, and then served for five years in the Middle East. They also served in the Christar mobilization center for 16 years. He continues to minister locally in reaching least-reached people in his community, mentoring others to reach out as well, and he travels to other countries to train believers to bring the great news of Christ to the nations.

    27 min
  5. Reaching the Deaf

    May 7

    Reaching the Deaf

    Description Within least-reached people groups is another least-reached group: the Deaf. Join Faith as she talks about ministry to the Deaf around the world, helping us understand their needs and opportunities to pray for and serve them. And listen to learn about Deaf churches that have been planted in far corners of the world. Bio Faith is an MK from West Africa, as well as a CODA (Child of Deaf Adults). She’s also a third-culture kid, as her father is American, and her mother is German—or does that make her a fourth-culture kid? She received her degree in biblical studies from Emmaus Bible College (University) in Iowa. Faith and her husband, Mark, have six children and six grandchildren. Faith joined Christar in 2021 to coordinate the Deaf Initiative.

    30 min
  6. A Little Couch and the Kingdom of God

    Apr 23

    A Little Couch and the Kingdom of God

    Description How can a global worker use a small couch in her little apartment for the kingdom? Join Hilary as she shares how God used her hospitality to touch souls with the love of Jesus and expand the vision of those who already love him. She talks about a lost friend, a believing friend who has suffered loss and a short-termer willing to explore what cross-cultural ministry looks like. How can we use what we have in ministry so that least-reached peoples can know Jesus? Bio Hilary has been serving in Central Asia since 2011. Though she has struggled with learning the language, health and living up to the culture's expectations of hospitality, she is learning to say "yes" to the opportunities that God gives her, even when the only thing that she has to offer is her couch.

    30 min
  7. First Term Challenges and Joys

    Apr 9

    First Term Challenges and Joys

    Description The first term in global ministry is filled with challenges, joys and more challenges! Some of those challenges we know about; others are unexpected because you can’t cover everything in pre-field training. Join Nica as she shares her first-term experiences and how God met her during lots of rain, some flooding and language learning. She talks about the importance of grace for yourself and leaning on God to face whatever comes your way. If you are a member of a sending church or someone preparing to go, listen in for a realistic picture of what that first term is like. You will be challenged and encouraged as you hear of God’s faithfulness no matter where we serve. Guest Bios Nica and James and have just celebrated their first anniversary of life in Southeast Asia, serving with World Team. They are currently in their language and culture learning phase of ministry, with the ultimate goal of sharing the gospel among an unreached people group. In their free time, they enjoy playing board games with their two kids Mirah (6) and Theo (4), going on family walks, playing the Wii U together and drinking bubble tea. James participates in a weekly board game night with his friends, and Nica enjoys baking sourdough anything. Her current obsession is bagels.

    33 min
  8. Do I Stay or Go?

    Mar 26

    Do I Stay or Go?

    Description In the third part of their book, Grit to Stay Grace to Go, Sue Eenigenburg and Eva Burkholder write about how global workers can determine whether to stay on the field or leave. It is never an easy decision, and there are no easy answers. But Sue and Eva ask some excellent questions and give points to ponder as cross-cultural workers wrestle with going or staying. Guest Bio Eva Burkholder is a third-culture kid, wife, mother, grandmother, former global worker, author and the member care lead for Christar U.S., all of which add a global and soul care dimension to her writing. She is the author of Favored, Blessed, Pierced: A Fresh Look at Mary of Nazareth and co-author of Grit to Stay, Grace to Go: Staying Well in Cross-Cultural Ministry. She and her husband live in Texas, where she rejuvenates by crafting and spending time with her two sons, their wives and her granddaughter. Connect with Eva via www.evaburkholder.com, Facebook and Instagram.

    23 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

Mobilizing the Gospel exists because the Great Commission is too great to do alone. Over 40% of the world’s people are cut off from the good news of Jesus. No one organization, project or person can reach them all. But together, the Church can. At Christar, we believe every follower of Jesus has a role to play. Mobilizing the Gospel is a conversation about the many ways the Body of Christ participates in God’s redemptive work around the world. It explores opportunities and challenges in establishing churches among the least-reached and equips you to better understand and be involved.

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