Archive for missional

May
3

Welcome John Thomas, New Hope Marketing and Sales Manager!

by newhope

Please join me in welcoming John Thomas to New Hope Publishers! I really had no intention of interviewing John when I received his resume, but through a series of events orchestrated by our wonderful God, I decided I needed to talk with him.  And I am so very glad I did! His vision for New Hope is evident. It’s hard to believe he has only been here a couple of weeks.

 I didn’t imagine the Lord would bring someone like John, a combination of marketer, thinker, theologian, educator, and above all, pastor. His heart and energy are evident in the fact that he and his wife adopted a baby girl after they had grandchildren! And if this isn’t enough, he loves to laugh—that has to be a requirement around here. (I would think anyone with grandchildren who adopts a baby would have to be able to laugh!)

 John is married to his high school sweetheart, Ann. They have three adult sons, two daughters-in-law, and four grandchildren. They are also the proud adoptive parents of Addie Beth, a 23 month old baby girl.

Joining the New Hope team has returned John to his roots. Growing up in the family printing business, he learned all things ink and paper: sales to concept to design to production to delivery. For John, clearly communicating the gospel through print and digital media is crucial to fulfilling the Great Commission and the Great Commandment. Helping churches get on mission is his passion.

 In addition to his sales and marketing experience, John has served as both a pastor and educator. He has served churches in Florida, Alabama, Kentucky, and Mississippi. He is a graduate of The Baptist College of Florida (B.A.), and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (M.Div., Th.M., and Ph.D.).

 God’s plans are always better than ours. He has proven this again and again. We are indeed grateful that John has joined the New Hope team.

0 Categories : Blog
Nov
19

A Theological Reflection from the Killing Fields

by newhope

Recently I had a discussion about the words of the song Imagine that accompanied a short video based on the movie The Killing Fields. When I reviewed the lyrics I found them to be incredibly relevant to how atrocities can happen like those that the Khmer Rouge under Pol Pot inflicted on the people of Cambodia.

You might want to listen to the lyrics of Imagine. John Lennon’s song imagines life without heaven or hell, past or future. Pol Pot acted without regard for the past or the future. When leaders of any kind make decisions that only consider today, the ultimate outcome has to be disaster. In fact, the best decisions are made looking back and forward, concerned for the past, and committed to building a better future. To live for today disregards the wisdom of the sages and the hope for a better tomorrow.  Without heaven there is no hope, and without hell there is no penalty for the torture and killing of an entire nation. Throughout the Old Testament God admonishes His people to remember His goodness throughout history, for the goodness of God in the past assures us that He will indeed fulfill His promise of a future with hope throughout the days ahead.

Imagine speaks of life without countries or religions as a way to peace. Pol Pot didn’t come from outside his country. He didn’t espouse any religion. He was Cambodian. He was a citizen of the country he destroyed. No doubt some believe that without loyalties there will be peace. But if we dare take a good look within, we will find and admit that the peace we seek doesn’t exist within us. We can change everything about our world and we will still be the same hungry souls searching for peace. Peace is a divine attribute of God and only accessible through Him. The good news is that the Lord offers peace to all who trust in His Son, Jesus Christ.

Lennon’s song talks of imagined unity. Pol Pot dreamed of a godless society where power and evil ruled. He had a dream that included a delusional unity of people without freedom. As long as unity is perceived as a dream, or as an achievement of mankind, we will miss the gift of Christ that in Him we are one. In Christ there is love, and not hate. Christ asked His Father, God (and I believe God granted His prayer), that with all of our uniqueness in culture, language, education, position, and wealth, we would be one. Unity isn’t a dream, but a freedom we have in Christ.

Imagine suggests the absence of possessions as a step toward the absence of greed. Pol Pot confiscated everything the people owned. He drove the people from their homes.  He took their freedom and required that every person was to be the same, treated the same, own the same (own nothing), and live the same. Everyone’s home was taken, their land was taken. They were given the same amount of food and ate at the same time. Ask those who lived through this if such a lifestyle ended greed or hunger. Ask if sharing came naturally, or instead each sought their personal survival. Visit Cambodia and observe the pain of people without possessions.

Why do we allow the brutality of oppression and genocide? We have the power of God within us, and His Word to commission us. “Rescue those being taken off to death, and save those stumbling toward slaughter. If you say, ‘But we didn’t know about this,’ won’t He who weighs hearts consider it? Won’t He who protects your life know? Won’t He repay a person according to his work?” (Proverbs 24:11-12 HCSB).  

Sudan, The Congo, Somalia, Burma, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iraq, are a few of the countries identified as places where evidence of genocide cannot be ignored. Even so, in each of these places Christ is at work. Our intercession is urgent and necessary, whether it comes in the form of prayer or in joining those who are working on the front lines to bring freedom and hope.

 

1 Categories : Blog
Sep
28

Interview: Sandra Johnson, Triad Ladder of Hope Founder (Ministry to Trafficking Victims)

by newhope

The following interview was conducted by New Hope Digital this month via email with Sandra Johnson, founder of Triad Ladder of Hope. Triad Ladder of Hope believes there are 4 steps to ending slavery in the Triad area of North Carolina: awareness, rescue, restoration, and reentry.

Since 2005, Triad Ladder of Hope has been working to raise awareness about the issue of human trafficking within the United States. By actively partnering with a number of other agencies, the group is able to offer physical, emotional, and spiritual assistance to human trafficking survivors. Victim services are provided by a clinical social worker who is licensed by the North Carolina Social Work Certification and Licensure Board.

Triad Ladder of Hope is currently raising funds for a safe house to shelter women of all backgrounds who have escaped trafficking. The ministry is a privately funded, faith-based nonprofit. The Piedmont Triad area of North Carolina includes the cities of Winston-Salem, High Point, and Greensboro, as well as surrounding counties.

How did you first get involved with the issue of human trafficking?

My missions pastor recommended me to another organization. I worked for them under a federal grant for 8 months, then felt God leading me to step out on my on.

How did the Triad Ladder of Hope ministry start?

Sandra Johnson

Triad Ladder of Hope was the call God placed on my heart. As I learned about the horrors of slavery in our country and in our state, my heart was broken for those who were being exploited in such a horrible way. Their rights were stripped from them, and they are forced to do work with little or no pay and are treated worse than many of us treat our pets.

I had to change my mind-set on prostitution. Our society views prostitution like this: it’s the lifestyle they chose, and we as Christians don’t want to have anything to do with them. The average age for entering prostitution is just 12 years old. They have no way of getting out. God calls all of us to help the least of these.

I talked to my pastor and the director of missions in our area and in different ways they confirmed what God was leading me to do. I felt like I could not just sit and do nothing. I had to help those who were literally voiceless. Five years ago, few people knew slavery was active in our country and many still do not know.

How are women referred to Triad Ladder of Hope?

We receive referrals in many ways: from local law enforcement, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the national trafficking hotline, other organizations, and sometimes self-referrals.

How do you partner with other service providers in the Triad area?

We network with many other organizations including churches, the Salvation Army, Lutheran Family Services Carolinas, and the North Carolina African Services Coalition. We are part of the North Carolina Coalition Against Human Trafficking and the Rescue and Restore campaign (US Department of Health and Human Services).

What specific services does Triad Ladder of Hope offer to women leaving modern slavery?

Networking with other organizations, we offer women a safe haven, giving them the hope of a new life. We provide shelter, food, clothing, trauma counseling, medical care, and legal assistance. We also provide job skills training through Christian Women’s Job Corps (national WMU). If possible, we help them make contact with their family. Everything that each of us take for granted we try to provide for our clients. We share God’s love by building a loving relationship with each client.

How does Christian Women’s Job Corps (CWJC) specifically benefit women who’ve escaped human trafficking?

Each CWJC site is customized to meet the needs of the participants and their community. We were able to incorporate the CWJC model to help victims of slavery. The purpose of CWJC is to provide a Christian context in which women in need are equipped for life and employment. It also provides a missions context in which women help women.

Triad Ladder of Hope’s mission is to care for the whole person. Victims of slavery are a group with extensive needs, and we work to meet those needs while ministering to them. Once our clients have reached a level where they are able to move back into society and live on their own, we help with training in life skills and job readiness.

CWJC was a perfect fit for the mission of Triad Ladder of Hope.

What types of slavery situations are you dealing with in the Triad area?

North Carolina ranks 8th among the states for highest human trafficking rates. Here we see labor and sex trafficking of men, women, and children. They can be as young as 5 or older than 50. A lot of our clients have been held in bondage in private homes. We have also worked with victims of sex trafficking.

Victims come from many countries, including the US. Americans can become victims here in our country, and many are taken to other countries where they are victims. The government estimates that 15,000 to 20,000 people are trafficked into our country every year. (I have been using that figure for 5 years, and, with this being the fastest growing crime in the world and second fastest in the US, I would say this statistic is probably no longer accurate.)

Victims can be from any country or continent—Russia, Thailand, Africa, Vietnam, Ukraine, China, India, and many others. There is not a country human trafficking does not touch.

Do you have any idea of the number of possible victims in the Triad area?

We know there are many, but we have no way of counting those living in slavery.

Have the types of slavery situations been changing in recent years?

I don’t know that it has been changing so much as growing. Drug lords and gangs are beginning to look at human trafficking as more profitable than selling their drugs. And it is more profitable. Drugs are a one-time sell; humans, on the other hand, are resalable and are constantly making the trafficker a profit.

What happens to victims trafficked from other countries? Do they stay or return? How difficult is it for them to be granted status to remain here?

US Immigration will have to certify the person as a victim of human trafficking. Law enforcement must be involved in the process, and the victim has to assist in any investigation (this does not apply to minors). Many in slavery, because of fear, will not come forward due to this requirement.

Once a victim has been certified, there are government monies available for them and they can apply for a T-visa. Human trafficking victims also have the option of returning home at the US government’s expense. A majority choose to stay in the US.

It is often a long process. We just reunited a formerly trafficked mother with 3 of her 5 children. It took almost 2 years, and we worked with 2 other organizations to make this happen. We are now working to bring the other 2 children here.

In some cases, we have seen U-visas used for victims of slavery.

What do you recommend as a first step for an individual who wants to get involved in helping trafficking victims?

Become educated! Know what the red flags are, what signs to look for, and what to do if you come across a potential situation that may be human trafficking. We do community training so citizens know what to look for. Most of the trafficking hotline tips come from citizens. Everybody can do something: pray, give, take action by raising awareness.

Why have you decided not to take government funding?

In Matthew 25, Jesus charges us with the privilege of taking care of those in need. Slavery is a community problem! We strongly believe it is our responsibility as the body of Christ to fight this battle and not to defer to the government.

Who will be the voice and fight for their freedom if the church doesn’t? In the 1800s it was the people of God who stood up and did something to put a stop to slavery.

We also want the freedom to openly share the love and hope of Jesus with our clients. We do not force anything on them; we are as Jesus in the way we love them. If they adhere to another religion we respect their background, and we love them as Christ loves us. There has never been a greater need in history for churches to rise up and join the fight against slavery.

There are more people living in slavery today than ever before in history.

How can churches get involved in the fight against human trafficking in the US?

Pastors need to address this issue from the pulpit. The estimated number of men sitting in our churches who are involved in pornography is unreal. Pornography fuels sex trafficking.

Our churches need to get out of their comfort zone, get out into their communities, and support and get to know their law enforcement. I went to church with a victim of slavery and, at the time, did not know she was a victim. Victims and predators alike can be and are sitting in our church pews.

Members of our churches need to know what to look for and how to identify victims. We should go into the night clubs, strip clubs, and on the streets at night and reach out to those who are in need of rescue.

Follow Triad Ladder of Hope on Facebook and Twitter.

Editor’s note: For more information on human trafficking, especially in the US, you may be interested in reading Not in My Town by Charles Powell and Dillon Burroughs.

 

4 Categories : Articles
Sep
8

Where Missional Discipleship Began

by newhope

Jesus went through cities and villages proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. He sat on rocks, walked up hills, sailed on boats, visited in homes, worshiped in synagogues, and traveled through wheat fields. He didn’t avoid the hard places, those where He was hated or misunderstood. He wasn’t fearful of the unknown. He didn’t hesitate to step off the beaten path or walk through the fruitful fields. With His heart overflowing with love for His Father and a burning urgency to accomplish His Father’s mission, He led the way to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and even the farthest reaches of the world.

Jesus didn’t go alone. He took His disciples. He took some women whose lives he had redeemed. He took many others who contributed to His ministry. It’s hard for me to imagine this large contingency of people who left their homes to travel with a radical itinerant preacher. Yet, those of us who know Jesus realize He fed their hunger for truth and satisfied their thirst for righteousness.

Jesus could have traveled alone, or with a small select group. The large crowd who went with Him wasn’t accidental. Jesus’ plan was the intentional missional discipling of these men and women. He was equipping them to live in the same way He lived. They heard Him, watched Him, and then helped Him. They learned for themselves this radical new lifestyle.

To understand missional discipleship in today’s world I encourage you to read two new books: Live Sent by Jason Dukes and  Live Like a Missionary by Jeff Iorg. You, too, can live for God’s mission.

0 Categories : Blog
Sep
6

Get the First 2 Chapters of “Deliver Me From Evil,” Human Trafficking Novel, Free

by newhope

Download the first 2 chapters of Deliver Me From Evil, the latest novel by award-winning author Kathi Macias. 

Deliver Me From Evil is missional fiction at its best, stirring the Christian heart and mind to action. This novel by Kathi Macias is the first in the 3-novel “Freedom” series focusing on modern-day slavery.  

Follow the story of Mara, sold by her parents in Mexico and then trafficked across the border into San Diego, California. There she is forced into sexual slavery. Bible-college-bound Jonathan and his sister, Leah, whose paths cross Mara’s, become involved in her dramatic rescue. Interwoven is the heartbreaking story of young woman in captivity in the Golden Triangle of Thailand, whose past life mysteriously connects to the young people in San Diego.

More

Read “The Church Must Stand Against Modern Slavery Worldwide” by Kathi Macias and follow the hyperlinks there to learn more about modern-day slavery, including recent issues and cases in Southern California.

Endorsements

“A startling encounter with the real-world horrors of sexual trafficking that could have come from the pages of any major newspaper.”—Lisa L. Thompson, MA, liaison for the abolition of sexual trafficking, Salvation Army National Headquarters

“I pray that this book will open the eyes of many. May our hearts be broken by what breaks God’s heart and may we be moved to action. As the young man and his family discover, nothing but abolition will do.”—Christine Nicolayeff (Prayer Chain), Breaking Chains

“Deliver Me From Evil reveals depth, honesty, and grace to guide readers toward a deeper faith and a heart challenged to make a difference in our world.”—Dillon Burroughs, activist and coauthor of Not in My Town

Download the first 2 chapters of Deliver Me From Evil, the latest novel by award-winning author Kathi Macias.

9 Categories : downloads
Aug
26

A Missional Worldview

by newhope

if someone asked you to explain your worldview, could you? You do have one, and whatever it is, your worldview will shape your life as well as the decisions you make along the way. If you are a Christ follower, then your worldview should be shaped by the worldview of biblical teaching and especially by what Jesus taught and modeled for his followers.

According to Christian Overman, we walk through life with assumptions about our lives and our world that “mold our thinking, shape our conclusions, and direct the decisions that lie behind our actions and attitudes.” Our assumptions control our life more than we realize. Many Christians segment their lives into “church” and “work” and “home,” not realizing that the Christian life is consistent and inclusive in all facets of living. Christians are called to be “on mission” in their homes, their workplaces, and through their churches. Yet, without a missional worldview, they may never connect their daily lives with ”God so loved the world.”

Jesus taught and modeled a missional worldview. In other words, all that He did was focused toward the fulfillment of God’s mission in the world. Jesus viewed the world and the community as places in need of Christian service and love. His concern was that God would be made known in both word and deed. He was “the love of  God” walking among the people.  According to Jesus, God’s love embraces family, friends, coworkers, neighbors, and peoples living in distant places. For Christ followers, a missonal worldview commissions them to be God’s love in the places where they live and work, where human need and spiritual darkness persist.

How important is this? David Dockery writes that how we understand the world has cosmic implications, for “there is a great spiritual battle raging for the hearts and minds of men and women around the globe.”  Dockery’s words remind us of the ultimate result if God’s people remain locked in “assumptions” that restrict their ability to respond to the great spiritual and physical needs in the world.  Perhaps now more than ever, Christians need to know that God is still sovereign, has come in his Son, Jesus Christ, and has a plan for each individual, as well as mankind and the world in general.

As you are thinking on your worldview today, here are a few questions to consider.

  •  What assumptions are shaping what you do with your life?
  • What do you understand about the urgency of the gospel and the movement of the world’s people to urban areas?
  • How do you respond to the growing cultural diversity in our nation?
  • How are you involved in ending  institutions such as hunger, poverty, prejudice, corrupt political systems?

The goal of a missional worldview is always to know more of God and His love for the world. For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life (John 3:16). The gospel is global good news!

 

 

Christian Overman, Assumptions That Affect Our Lives(Christian Overman, 1996)

 

David S. Dockery, “Shaping a Christian Worldview” in Shaping a Christian Worldview, ed. David S. Dockery and Gregory Alan Thornbury (Nashville: Broadman and Holman, 2002)

 

0 Categories : Blog
Jul
27

Beyond Body, Beauty, Boys: Inspiring Young Women to Live Missionally

by newhope

by Sarah Bragg

What does it mean to live missionally? Does it mean to give away everything you possess and live on the street? Does it mean you need to move to a foreign country? I think that sometimes we cross “living missionally” off our to-do list because we think it requires us to move far away or that it requires us to do something big, like selling all we possess.

And since most students aren’t allowed to just pick up and move on their own, it feels irrelevant to them. It feels like that calling is for somebody else. Yet the Bible is absolutely relevant to all of us, including students. You see, to live missionally simply means to live with an outward focus. And the last time I checked you don’t have to move away in order to be outward focused. You can live that way at 16 or 61.

In my book, Body. Beauty. Boys., I try to remove the veil from our eyes to see that God intentionally created each of us unique and to find contentment in those areas. The focus God’s plan, story, and purpose for each of us is to love God and love others. God desires for us to choose to collide with the people of this world.

I use the word collide because it’s not natural for us to think about others. It’s not natural for us to be outward focused. We have to force a collision. It’s easy to go through our day and not see the world around us. It’s easy to pass by people who are in need because we have so many other all-consuming things happening.

To be honest, I think that most of us are afraid to collide. We fear what others will think of us. We fear what it might cost us. We fear what we may lose if we think outside ourselves.

But what would happen if you laid your fears aside? How would your life and relationships be different if you lived with an outward focus?

Body

How could God use your body? Maybe you could use the times you exercise to pray for others. Maybe you could ask a friend to run with you because you know they need God and it would give you a way to talk to them. Maybe you could just take the focus off of how many calories you need to burn and think about giving thanks to God for the body He gave you.

Beauty

How about your beauty? Maybe you could purchase beauty products and give them to a local charity rather than keep them for yourself. There are even organizations that collect beauty products in order to give to girls rescued from sex trafficking. Or maybe every time you gaze in a mirror, you could pray for young girls around the world who need God.

Boys

And finally, what about boys? Maybe you could trust God enough to allow Him to use your singleness rather than spend your time trying hard to get a guy to notice you. You have more time to give to serving others when you are single than when in a relationship. You could sign up to serve on Sunday mornings in the children’s department or you could have time to go on the summer missions trip.

God created you to be a part of His story. No one enjoys a movie or book with a dull story. We want a story to inspire us, to move us. The same is true with you. God desires to do something great in you. He desires for you to begin to see yourself the way He sees you and to grab hold of the purpose for which He created you.

Sarah Bragg has worked with students in ministry for more than 10 years and worked in full-time student ministry for 6 years. Sarah also spent several years creating, developing, and writing a student strategy and curriculum called XP3 Students for Orange at the reThink Group. She speaks regularly to large audiences of teen girls, singles, and women’s audiences in church settings, at schools, at retreats, and at conferences.

1 Categories : Articles
Jun
27

Jeff Iorg: Praying Aligned with God’s Mission

by newhope

Author and seminary president Dr. Jeff Iorg shares how we can assume responsibility for praying strategically and specifically for missional advance.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

0 Categories : Podcast
Jun
21

A Discipleship Lesson from 1943 China (revisited)

by Andrea Mullins

 

1. Be still.
2. Express thanks.
3. Accept Christ into your life for today.
4. Find out God’s plan.
5. Hear God speak through Scripture about your part in His plan.
6. Remember your duty to witness for God in example, character, home, work, and spare time.1

By the flickering light of a peanut-oil lamp, early each morning Eric Liddell and a roommate studied the Bible and prayed for an hour. No doubt, Liddell’s unreserved commitment to God equipped him to be the guiding light for prisoners from nearly 20 nations who spent two years in a Japanese interment camp in China during World War II. Liddell’s plan worked, even in the worst of conditions. His friendship to Christ strengthened him to encourage his fellow prisoners until his death a few days before the end of the war in 1945.

Excerpted from: Eric Liddell, The Disciplines of the Christian Life (New York: Ballantine Books, 1985), 17-18.

0 Categories : Blog
Jun
20

Called to People Not Places

by newhope

by Jeff Iorg

Look for International Mission Study 2011 (London) materials available in August from WMU. Photo courtesy of the International Mission Board.

A missional Christian prioritizes people over places. This is true even for those who consider themselves called to be cross-cultural missionaries in the traditional sense.

God does still call some people to change geography—to learn a new culture and language to share the gospel in new places. But “place” is not the defining feature of this type of missionary call. The people, not the place, are God’s focus and should be the ultimate objective of anyone who claims a call to missions.

If the geography is the objective, you are only going on a religious junket—not living missionally as a missionary. If the place is the most important part of the call—you are just a religious tourist.

When a student at our school tells me he or she is called to be a missionary, my normal follow-up question is, “What people do you sense God leading you to reach?” My next question attempts to clarify their understanding of the nature of their call. If, for example, they reply, “God is calling me to China,” I ask them which Chinese church they plan to join while attending seminary.

Their answer reveals so much about their understanding of being a missionary. When a student answers, “Oh, I plan to go to an English-speaking church now, and start working among Chinese when we get to China,” then my response is kind but straightforward. “Oh, I thought you said you were called to reach out to Chinese people. It sounds like you really just want to take a trip to China.”

I try to say it nicely, but I also want to make a point. When God calls you to a specific people group, get busy reaching them (or at least preparing to do it by living among them). Why would a church, mission board, or sending agency support men and women to work with people in another country when they won’t first work with them in their own community?

Thankfully, most students understand their calling is primarily to people—not places. When they tell me about their call, they often ask me to direct them to the nearest church made up of their chosen people group.

One couple moved to seminary, expressed a call to missions in East Asia, joined a local congregation of believers from the country where they planned to serve, worked with second-generation teenagers in the youth ministry, started learning the language, increased their understanding of the culture, and jump-started the acculturation process. When they graduated we endorsed their service in East Asia with great pride, convinced by their lifestyle choices of the authenticity of their call.

The opportunity to work with people from almost any people group is found in almost every major American city today. Even many smaller cities and rural areas have growing international populations. If you are interested in reaching people from another culture, get busy!  You can live like a missionary—even in the cross-cultural sense—right where you are.

Adapted from Live Like a Missionary: Giving Your Life for What Matters Most.

Jeff Iorg enjoys umpiring baseball, reading, and searching for the world’s best barbeque restaurant. He and his wife, Ann, have three adult children. His personal ministry includes outreach to the professional baseball community in the Bay Area. He also happens to be the president of Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary.

0 Categories : Articles, Columns, Jeff Iorg
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