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. A Little Couch and the Kingdom of God

    2D AGO

    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
  2. 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
  3. 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
  4. Grace to Go

    MAR 12

    Grace to Go

    Description In the second part of their book, Grit to Stay Grace to Go, Sue Eenigenburg and Eva Burkholder write about staying well when others go. Join them as they talk about some of the losses and the grief when others leave our teams before we are ready to say goodbye. It is too easy to judge motives or hold grudges rather than to release our teammates to their next steps with grace and love. How can global workers be a blessing as well as intentionally bless those who leave while they continue on in ministry? 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.

    27 min
  5. Grit to Stay

    FEB 24

    Grit to Stay

    Description Even when workers are prepared for the hard realities of ministry overseas, it is almost always harder than expected. They juggle many roles, often feel rootless and face multiple unexpected stressors that tempt them to leave rather than stay. In the first part of their book, Grit to Stay Grace to Go, Sue Eenigenburg and Eva Burkholder write about developing grit through the challenges faced in cross-cultural ministry. Join them as they talk about some of those challenges as well as the truths global workers cling to in order to persevere. 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.

    25 min
  6. Short Term: An Invitation to Challenge Perspective

    FEB 12

    Short Term: An Invitation to Challenge Perspective

    Description Many career global workers started out with a vision trip to see what cross-cultural ministry is like. Haley tells us what led her to venture out for a short-term trip and how that changed her life. It wasn’t all easy, but God used the challenges and blessings to lay on her heart the importance of following where He leads. She shares what others should know if they are considering a vision trip. Join us to hear what Haley learned about global work and how it shaped her future. Guest Bio Haley is from Olathe, Kansas and moved to Manhattan, Kansas to pursue a degree in music education at Kansas State University. The Lord led her to switch her degree to entrepreneurship, and she graduated in 2023. During her time in college, she participated in campus ministry and went on a mission trip to South Asia in 2022. God had been stirring a desire in her to pray for her place of service beforehand, so when the opportunity came to go on this trip, it was an easy yes. Since then, God has been growing a desire in her to see Him worshiped among the nations. She took the Perspectives course in spring 2023, which continued to fan the flame for overseas ministry. Currently, she is serving in a nonprofit ministry that works with youth from low-income families, seeking to combat the mindsets associated with growing up in poverty. She attends Grace Baptist Church in Manhattan, where she also serves as a youth leader.

    27 min
  7. Church Teams and Global Workers Serving Together

    JAN 29

    Church Teams and Global Workers Serving Together

    Description How can churches and long-term global workers partner effectively in short-term ministry? We know relationships of trust must be built and communication is key. What else helps churches choose to pursue opportunities they hear about from those they send? How do both short-term teams and cross-cultural workers benefit from such an alliance? Daniel Bethel, International Director of Christar, helps us learn to serve together better for the Lord’s glory among the nations. Guest Bio Daniel Bethel is a devoted follower of Jesus looking to see people become disciples of Jesus. He is married to Karrie, and they have two children. A little over 17 years ago, Daniel moved to Southeast Asia where he led a team focused on seeing multiplying churches planted among a Hindu people group. He also focused on coaching and mentoring teams and individuals seeking to implement church-planting strategies in various parts of Southeast Asia. Daniel has helped facilitate many church-planting trainings in Europe, North Africa, Southeast Asia and South Asia. After 13 years in Southeast Asia, Daniel took a new role as the director of all fieldwork for Christar International. He worked with regional leaders hoping to promote healthy people on healthy teams, planting healthy churches. After five years in that role, the International Board of Christar appointed Daniel to his current role as the international director.

    32 min
  8. Involving Kids in the Great Commission

    JAN 15

    Involving Kids in the Great Commission

    Description Kathy Noel, the director of Child Discipleship at Calvary Church in Lancaster PA, is intentional in helping kids learn about the history of missions as well as what God is doing in the world today. She talks about how to impart a vision for the Great Commission to children in the church as well as at home and shares relevant, practical ideas that will encourage kids to pray for global workers and share Jesus in their community. Guest Bio Kathy Noel has served in children's ministries for the past 35 years. Presently, she is the Director of Child Discipleship at Calvary Church in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where she has been on staff since 2003. Kathy's passions include writing Bible curriculum, teaching children the overarching one story of the Bible and encouraging parents in the discipleship of their children. Kathy grew up in Ontario, Canada where she earned her elementary teaching degree. Before joining the children's ministry world, Kathy taught second grade in both public and private schools in Canada and the U.S. Over the years, she has enjoyed being able to encourage and train children's ministry workers both at home and abroad. Kathy met her husband, John, on a short-term missions trip to France in 1984 and they have been married for 38 years. Next to her husband, the loves of her life are her two grown sons, their wives and her three (soon to be five) grandchildren! When she is not busy in ministry, Kathy loves pouring her time and energy into hospitality, home decor and organizing, reading a good book, bike-riding and, most of all, traveling and exploring new places.

    37 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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