Missions Resources
This video was created as part of the Seeking Shalom project. Learn more here: www.luptoncenter.org/seekingshalom. All rights reserved 2016. The Lupton Center | FCS
Learning to Help
We recommend the following books and podcasts:
When Helping Hurts: How to Alleviate Poverty Without Hurting the Poor... and Yourself
by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert
Poverty is much more than simply a lack of material resources, and it takes much more than donations and handouts to solve it. When Helping Hurts shows how some alleviation efforts, failing to consider the complexities of poverty, have actually (and unintentionally) done more harm than good.
But it looks ahead. It encourages us to see the dignity in everyone, to empower the materially poor, and to know that we are all uniquely needy--and that God in the gospel is reconciling all things to himself.
Toxic Charity: How Churches and Charities Hurt Those They Help (and How to Reverse It)
Veteran urban activist Robert Lupton reveals the shockingly toxic effects that modern charity has upon the very people meant to benefit from it. Toxic Charity provides proven new models for charitable groups who want to help--not sabotage--those whom they desire to serve. Lupton, the founder of FCS Urban Ministries (Focused Community Strategies) in Atlanta, the voice of the Urban Perspectives newsletter, and the author of Compassion, Justice and the Christian Life, has been at the forefront of urban ministry activism for forty years. Now, in the vein of Jeffrey Sachs's The End of Poverty, Richard Stearns's The Hole in Our Gospel, and Gregory Boyle's Tattoos on the Heart, his groundbreaking Toxic Charity shows us how to start serving needy and impoverished members of our communities in a way that will lead to lasting, real-world change.
Western Christians in Global Mission: What's the Role of the North American Church?
Missions specialist Paul Borthwick brings an urgent report on how the Western church can best continue in global mission. He provides a current analysis of the state of the world and how Majority World leaders perceive North American Christians' place. Borthwick offers concrete advice for how Western Christians can be involved without being paternalistic or creating dependency. Using their human and material resources with wise and strategic stewardship, North Americans can join forces with the Majority World in new, interdependent ways to answer God's call to global involvement.
The world has changed drastically in the last few decades. The success of the missions endeavor has turned past missionary fields into powerful missionary forces. Doors that are closing to Westerners are opening to those from the Majority World. In some places, globalization is yielding to nationalism. There is growing concern in the West about possible negative impacts of our going on those we go to. The pandemic has drastically altered travel and virtual engagement. In the face of these–and more–changes, how does the American church fit into global missions? What is our best contribution now? And what is the role of those in congregations across the US?
Over the course of eight episodes, this podcast talks to thought leaders, missiologists, and ministry practitioners from five continents to learn how they are experiencing these shifts, and what challenges and opportunities we face in contributing to the fulfillment of the Great Commission.
Global Service
Looking for other ways to engage in Global Missions? Check out the following:
We wholeheartedly recommend the Perspectives on the World Christian Movement course to study global service Biblically, historically, culturally and strategically.
Want to see how God is moving in and through our global partner in France? Consider the Paris Prayer Conference.
Interested in our denomination’s sending agency? Have a heart for Muslims? Go HERE to learn more.
Advocate for the end of slavery: https://freedomcommons.ijm.org/state/georgia
Email tafanie@allsoulsfellowship.org to contemplate how God may be calling you!
Encouraging our Missions Partners
Want to encourage our missions partners? Here are some practical ways to encourage them as they minister full time:
Pray. One of the most important ways you can serve our missions partners is to pray for them. Take time to regularly pray for the country, work, school, relationships, ministries, faith, encouragement, health, marriages, safety, wisdom, special events and day-to-day events of these individuals and families.
Engage. Follow them on social media and sign up for their email updates. Read and reply to updates!
Talk to them. Use WhatsApp, Skype, or FaceTime to stay in touch.
Give. Sacrificially fund their work.
Visit. Consider a vision trip to “taste and see” how the Lord is working in their part of Atlanta or in their region of the world. Or, if for work or vacation you are visiting any of the countries and cities where our partners live, consider reaching out to take them to dinner or coffee, and give them encouragement from their All Souls family.
Write. Send an email, card, or care package. Send your Christmas card to them and remember their birthdays.
Email missions@allsoulsfellowship.org for gift ideas, contact information, or to engage further.