Go.Be.Do A Buckner Global Missions Conference - April 12, 2008
The Latino Challenge for Global Mission
Latin American missiologist Dr. Samuel Escobar, in a recent conference given at the Spanish Baptist Seminary in Madrid, Spain, spoke of several aspects of doing missions in today’s “post-modern” context of globalization. Referring to the growing proportion of today’s missionaries coming from the Southern Hemisphere, Dr. Escobar mentioned “formal” and “informal” dimensions of the church’s efforts to fulfill its mission calling, both being of vital importance in God’s economy. I thought of Latin American friends in both those categories: some here in Spain as missionaries sponsored by their home church or other mission-sending agency; and other Latin friends whose arrival in Spain was not “in response to God’s call,” but representative of their particular struggle for survival, yet because of their faith (either brought from their homeland, or acquired during a time of adaptation in their new country), they were also fulfilling a missionary calling! We need the “big picture” from God’s point of view to understand how the “formal” and “informal” dimensions of missions complement each other and help advance the Gospel.
Read MoreThe Islamic Challenge to the American Church
Allah Wa-Akbar, Allah Wa-Akbar: The Islamic call to prayer blasts out in the darkness of the early hour. It’s 5:15am and I, still in my sub-conscience sleep, can hear my father as he rises for prayer. Ever since I can remember, my father in his crippled state has risen early to start his first of five daily prayers.
Read MoreMy Journey to Islam and Back
I want to reassure believers that we serve an awesome and merciful God who is still very much in the miracle business! I know this because He worked an incredible miracle in my life. I journeyed from Christianity to Islam and back. Several years ago, I was living the full-blown “Christian” life – on staff at a Christian school, involved in ministry, choir, missions, and youth groups. If the church doors were open, I was there. In my heart, I truly thought I was serving the Lord in the best possible way. However, in 2002, traumatic events suddenly and completely obliterated my apparent foundation.
Read MorePastor PLUS Africa
by Victor Upton
I read an article recently that indicated there are more than 50,000 volunteers from the United States working in foreign countries every year. Half of those volunteers go with “faith based” groups. Many volunteers return and remark that their service was a “life changing” experience. My experience was like that last year after traveling to Guatemala, Nigeria and Kenya.
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