Today's gospel messenger...

In 1984 I, Mark Hedinger, was a young married man and a fairly new Christian. I was helping to establish a church for the deaf along the Mexico-Texas border. From the perspective of 30 years, what does cross cultural gospel ministry look like now?

It used to be all about pith helmets and snake bite kits. We were trained to live in rural and jungle areas; Today's gospel workers more often work in the high-rise apartments of world class urban centers.

It used to be all about getting a visa as a recognized full-time "religious worker;" Today's gospel workers more often work as professionals in the marketplace. They tell the Good News and make disciples as part of their job in sales, medical, business, or community development careers.

It used to be all about figuring out the culture and language through the course of many, many years; Today's gospel workers are part of a globalized world where "the language and culture industry" is a recognized part of life.

It used to be that ministry overseas always meant travel; Today's gospel messengers can use technology to make and sustain long term, meaningful relationships even from a distance.

It used to be that North Americans and Western Europeans were the "goers" and other nations were the "receivers;" Today's gospel messengers are more likely citizens of Asia, Africa, or Latin America than they are from the US, Canada, or Europe.

Over the coming months, WorldView's publications are going to consider these changing trends in global gospel outreach. Adjusting our methods to fit these trends is part of the challenge of our day, and we look forward to sharing the challenges and opportunities as we prepare God's evangelists to make disciples in an unfamiliar language and culture. 

The Lord is near to all who call on him,...       Psalm 145:18

Prayer:  We have been praying for people to sign up for our new pre-field language acquisition course.

Answer:  We had our first couple express interest in taking the course.

Prayer:  We asked trained professionals who can assist/coach missionaries who have language learning difficulties. 

Prayer:  Carol has been praying for help in finding materials/resources that would help her better coach missionary language learners who struggle.

Answer:  She found several books and other materials that met her need.

Prayer:  We prayed for our partner organizations, that they could/would identify people within their ministries whom Carol could train to be language coaches.

Answer:  One of those ministries has now submitted a name for a possible coach-trainee, perhaps beginning as soon as this fall.

Prayer:  That WV might launch additional sites for WV language training in the US.

Answer:  A church in Seattle, WA has recently shown interest. WV is having conversations with this church regarding a class at their location, likely early next year.