by Jason Joyner | Sep 10, 2007 | Biblical worldview, Blog, Islam, ministry, missions, prayer
This week marks the beginning of Ramadan, the month of fasting for Islam. It is one of their holiest times of the year. As such, they fast from sun-up to sunset, spending time seeking Allah during the day and breaking fast at dusk with feasting.
The last 15 years has seen a coordinated effort by Christians to pray strategically for Muslims around the world during this time. This is the 16th edition of the effort, which has a worldwide reach.
We know that the conflict between the world of Islam and the West is a huge issue with lots of complexity and challenges. I encourage everyone to look into this material and participate with the prayers of thousands of Christians during this time. It has always been an insightful time of learning and blessing for my wife and I as we treat the prayer booklet as a nightly devotion.
You can get involved in a couple of ways. World Christian Books publishes a handy prayer booklet that gives you information on Islam and daily topics to pray through. You can still get one in time to start if you order right away! They even have a kids version of the booklet to do as a family. I’ve ordered this for the first time to do with my boys.
If you don’t want a booklet or have time to order, then there is an online reference you can use as well. It looks to have deeper information than what was put in the booklet.
Finally, in the materials I received with our booklets (our church participates in it), it had an advertisement for The Crescent Project, a ministry that strives to educate the North American church about Islam and equips us to reach our Muslim neighbors. There is a $35 online seminar that can be done through this group. I haven’t done this yet, but I think I will. I will report back on this if I do. This looks like a good resource for anyone with a heart regarding this matter.
As the church, we all have an opportunity to do something for the gospel to shine in such dark times and regions. We may not be called to go (although be honest, when was the last time we asked?) but we can intercede for Jesus’ light to be revealed and freedom proclaimed to the captives. Please take a look at this material further over the next month.
by Jason Joyner | Aug 27, 2007 | Blog, ministry, missions
Phew. I’m back in the saddle after a couple of days on the couch. Being in the medical field, I could always see that back pain/spasms weren’t fun. Now I can testify to the fact. Thanks to all those who said a prayer on my behalf – it is working!
In other news, my little church did something a little different yesterday. We had been talking for a while, wondering what would happen if instead of going to church we tried to get out and be the church. We’ve got a good core group that tries to shine light in our every day lives, but what if we did something different and a little bit radical as a body?
So, instead of having a church service, we went out to the local park next to the lake. Despite a “rather blustery day” as Pooh might call it, we set up in the central gazebo. After doing some prayer walking around different parts of the park, we put up signs advertising “Free BBQ” and started cooking for any who would come.
The day turned out really well. We had a steady trickle of folks from 12-4. Nothing overwhelming at one time, but we ran out of food at the end! We had cops, bike riders, families, a guy w/the cardboard sign looking for work, and skaters all stop by for a burger, hot dog, or glass of lemonade. We got to visit with several people. At least two families said they wanted to check out our church after this.
It seemed like a simple thing – go bless people. I have to believe it was more profound than that, both in our hearts and the people who witnessed it. We’ll see what comes of it, but the main thing to us was the idea that “obedience is better than sacrifice.” God is good, and we didn’t get blown north.
Anyone else have stories like this? How did it go?
by Jason Joyner | Aug 27, 2007 | Blog, ministry, missions
Phew. I’m back in the saddle after a couple of days on the couch. Being in the medical field, I could always see that back pain/spasms weren’t fun. Now I can testify to the fact. Thanks to all those who said a prayer on my behalf – it is working!
In other news, my little church did something a little different yesterday. We had been talking for a while, wondering what would happen if instead of going to church we tried to get out and be the church. We’ve got a good core group that tries to shine light in our every day lives, but what if we did something different and a little bit radical as a body?
So, instead of having a church service, we went out to the local park next to the lake. Despite a “rather blustery day” as Pooh might call it, we set up in the central gazebo. After doing some prayer walking around different parts of the park, we put up signs advertising “Free BBQ” and started cooking for any who would come.
The day turned out really well. We had a steady trickle of folks from 12-4. Nothing overwhelming at one time, but we ran out of food at the end! We had cops, bike riders, families, a guy w/the cardboard sign looking for work, and skaters all stop by for a burger, hot dog, or glass of lemonade. We got to visit with several people. At least two families said they wanted to check out our church after this.
It seemed like a simple thing – go bless people. I have to believe it was more profound than that, both in our hearts and the people who witnessed it. We’ll see what comes of it, but the main thing to us was the idea that “obedience is better than sacrifice.” God is good, and we didn’t get blown north.
Anyone else have stories like this? How did it go?
by Jason Joyner | Aug 21, 2007 | Blog, internet, missions, movies
I had to check this out when I first saw it on Christianity Today. The Interior is a movie being released segmentally on its website. The result is a TV show like feeling of episodes, but it will be brought together at the end to be available on DVD.
It has an extremely interesting premise: a young missionary couple deals with their initial deployment into the field in the rainforest of Brazil. They are linked with an older missionary couple who are a little… different. As the interview says, this is a premise that has a lot of potential and has been untapped for the most part.
The filmmakers have been very bold – taking a second mortgage to fund the project, doing auditions via YouTube, yet the project seems to be succeeding and building a community.
The writer says that it is not necessarily a movie exclusively for Christians. He intends to show real struggles. The first four episodes are available online, and I can say that there is plenty of God talk and some surprising challenges presented. One scene in a church really tickled me – you’ll have to check it out. I haven’t really watched Lost, but the influence is there in the cinematography (at least to my untrained eye).
I don’t know where this is going, but it looks very intriguing and is bold in its vision. Check it out!
by Jason Joyner | Aug 21, 2007 | Blog, internet, missions, movies
I had to check this out when I first saw it on Christianity Today. The Interior is a movie being released segmentally on its website. The result is a TV show like feeling of episodes, but it will be brought together at the end to be available on DVD.
It has an extremely interesting premise: a young missionary couple deals with their initial deployment into the field in the rainforest of Brazil. They are linked with an older missionary couple who are a little… different. As the interview says, this is a premise that has a lot of potential and has been untapped for the most part.
The filmmakers have been very bold – taking a second mortgage to fund the project, doing auditions via YouTube, yet the project seems to be succeeding and building a community.
The writer says that it is not necessarily a movie exclusively for Christians. He intends to show real struggles. The first four episodes are available online, and I can say that there is plenty of God talk and some surprising challenges presented. One scene in a church really tickled me – you’ll have to check it out. I haven’t really watched Lost, but the influence is there in the cinematography (at least to my untrained eye).
I don’t know where this is going, but it looks very intriguing and is bold in its vision. Check it out!
by Jason Joyner | Aug 2, 2007 | Blog, missions, prayer
We simply must pray for the Korean Christians held hostage by the Taliban. As missionaries participating in humanitarian efforts, they are trying to bring some healing to such a war-torn land. I pray that no other martyrs are made out of this selfless group.
Like others, I wonder where the international outrage is over this event. (hat tip to The Point)
