Articles and Books

1)  Status of Missions
     A Nationwide Survey of Churches of Christ

Bob Waldron (MRN Executive Director) and Gailyn Van Rheenen.

Written to encourage and guide Churches of Christ to become better stewards of missions, the book reports the current practices of missions among Churches of Christ and personal interviews of 80 mission leaders and missions ministries. It also describes theological and strategic guidelines to encourage and guide local churches toward effective missions involvement. Stories of effective missions churches enable the reader to understand the nature and character of redemptive churches.
ISBN 0-89112-158-7, 125 pp. $15.95

2)  Missions Handbook for Local Churches

C. Philip Slate

This 81/2” x 11” Handbook by a veteran missions professor and facilitator of numerous missions workshops for local churches introduces congregations to best practices in missions. Intended as a guide, not a lock-step rulebook on how to do world missions, it contains both narrative to explain concepts, and interactive material to engage readers through self-analysis. It provides a framework within which to think and plan, pointing to appropriate sources worth consulting. A helpful bibliography is included at the end of each chapter. 2009. 123 pp. Spiralbound. $20.00

3)  Missions Policies for Your Church

A Sampling from Congregations across the Nation

Bob Waldron, D.Min.

Includes essential elements of a missions policy, suggestions for developing or revising a missions policy and five outstanding examples of congregational missions policies. 2008. 126 pp. Spiralbound. $20.00

4)   Sample Missions Policies.

We share these policies as models for your congregation to consider:

· Brentwood Hills Church of Christ, Brentwood, TN
· College Church of Christ, Searcy, AR
· Highland Oaks Church of Christ, Dallas, TX
· Hillcrest Church of Christ, Abilene, TX
· Memorial Road Church of Christ, Oklahoma City, OK
· Pleasant Ridge Church of Christ, Arlington, TX
· Pleasant Valley Church, Little Rock, AR
· Westover Hills Church of Christ, Austin, TX

5)  Supporting National Preachers.

If your congregation is currently supporting national preachers or considering doing so, you will find this collection of articles informative. Cents or Nonsense? The argument for national workers versus foreign missionaries is an article from World Pulse. Supporting National Preachers

6) Additional Articles from MRN’s Library.

Browse our Online Library to access scores of articles written with the sending congregation in mind. -->

Return to Top

Bible School Material

1)  Passport to Adventure Bible School Curriculum

An eleven lesson 4th through 6th grade Bible School curriculum  

Dr. Joyce Hardin, Ed. D.

Former missionary, Dean of the College of Education at Lubbock Christian University and MRN's Coordinator for Missions Education, Dr. Hardin has written several outstanding curricula for missions awareness.

Downloadable from Missions Resource Network

Reproducible Student Guide (11 mb) 1988. $10
Reproducible Teacher's Guide (23 mb) 1988. $15

2)  Journeys Around the World Bible School Curriculum

Bible School Curriculum for preschool through 6th grade

Joyce Hardin, Ed. D.

Published by Sweet, this excellent kit is now available exclusively from Missions Resource Network. With separate Leader Guides for Preschool and Elementary classes, Journeys Around the World is the next best thing to sending your kids to the mission field for the summer. Your learners will engage in both large and small group activities, and learning centers. Teachers will enjoy the creative and imaginative lesson plan each week, as well as a myriad of well-organized resources that make teaching a delight!
An entire summer’s worth of curriculum for ages 3-12 comes in one easy-to-use Kit. The Kit includes all the organizational, teaching, and student materials, as well as all the songs you’ll need for 13 weeks—regardless of the size of your classes. It contains 2 reproducible Leader Guides, each with a CD-Rom containing additional reproducible resource materials —one for both Preschool and Elementary, and 2 music CD’s of songs and narration. You’ll also receive a FriendSongs songbook and lyrics transparencies to make learning new songs a breeze. This is a great value for a comprehensive kit. 2002. Entire Kit only $99.95. Regular price: $245.00.

To view a Journeys Around the World sample lesson you'll need Adobe® Acrobat® Reader®. To download a free copy, click on the icon.

To view a complete sample lesson from the Preschool Leaders Guide, click here:Journeys Preschool Lesson.

Or if you prefer to view a sample lesson from the Elementary Leaders Guide, click here:Journeys Elementary Lesson.

3)  As You Are Going

A training manual for teens and adults about to embark on short-term mission trips.

Joyce Hardin, Ed.D.

Going on a mission trip and don't really know what to expect?

Whether you are traveling to another country or working in the next state, As You Are Going will help you learn what mission work is all about and how to reach out to people in cultures very different from your own.

Dr. Hardin uses Bible study, creative cultural games, group activities and useful personal applications to prepare your heart, mind and soul for the greatest work you will ever do, teaching others about Jesus. Journal and scrapbook pages will help you capture memories to bring back for years to come. 2006, 112 pp. Spiralbound. Publisher: 21st Century Christian. $12.99

Reproducible Teacher’s Manual of 92pp + numerous appendices available on reproducible CD through 21st C. $12.99

4)  Cross-Cultural Reentry

An Annotated Bibliography

Clyde N. Austin, Ph.D.

Dr. Austin, former professor of psychology at Abilene Christian University and early researcher in the field of cross-cultural reentry, served as the founding chair of the Board of Trustees for Missions Resource Network. This was a ground-breaking work and was used by the U.S. State Department. L. Robert Kohls, Ph.D., Executive Director of the Washington International Center and Vice President of Meridian House International in Washington D.C., commented, “. . . much that had been written on the topic was lovingly and painstakingly drawn together, analyzed, evaluated, and annotated to produce the best bibliography of books and articles on re-entry phenomena.” ISBN 0-915547-00-7. 128 pp. Paperback. Published by ACU Press, 1983. 

$12.95

5)  Cross-Cultural Reentry

A Book of Readings

Clyde N. Austin

 

This companion volume to Austin’s An Annotated Bibliography was widely received as a landmark in its field. V. Lynn Tyler, Ph. D., Administrator of the David M. Kennedy Center for International Studies at BYU, stated, “This is a benchmark study-sharing volume that will be a great service for many years to come.” ISBN 0-915547-74-0, 288 pp. Paperback. Published by ACU Press, 1986. 

$10.00

Return to Top

Workshops and Seminars

Following careful research and 25 years of experience, Missions Resource Network has developed an eight-seminar curriculum to help congregations develop into effective and faithful stewards of God’s global mission. Most churches will want to begin with the first two core seminars.

1| Missions Power for Your Local Church (Core Seminar)

Why do some churches have vigorous and healthy missions programs while others manage only lethargic and anemic efforts? The trouble often is in both their understanding of the church’s mission and in the way they plan and execute their missions programs. This seminar examines Ten Power Steps to increase your congregation’s stewardship of God’s missionary vision and measures 10 criteria of a great missions church. Participants are helped to develop two-year goals for each of the 10 criteria. Informative, strategic and motivational. This is a core workshop for missions committee, elders, ministers and education leaders. Seven hours. Cost: $800 plus expenses, including $5.00 per person for workbook and other materials. Schedule this workshop from Missions Resource Network (1-888-641-2229 or Email missions@MRNet.org).

 

2| Sponsoring Church Seminar (Core Seminar)

Helps your church avoid problems by laying a foundation of respect for those you send as missionaries, then treats three important competencies sponsoring churches need for a healthy missions program: (1) how to properly care for and nurture their missionaries (an introduction), (2) how to choose the right missionary, and (3) how to select a mission field. For elders, ministers and missions committee. Six hours. Cost: $800 plus expenses. Schedule this seminar from Missions Resource Network (1-888-641-2229 or Email missions@MRNet.org).

3| Writing a Missions Policy

Does your church make missions decisions as problems arise and tensions are high? Or does it rely for most of those decisions on prayerfully developed policies that were crafted after careful thought and research? While a deliberate, informed missions policy should not become a tyrant, it can be a wonderful servant to help reduce or eliminate impulsive and often ill-informed decisions in missions. By the end of this one-day workshop, participants will have written the first draft of a large section of their missions policy. For missions committees. Six hours. Cost: $800 plus expenses. Schedule this workshop from Missions Resource Network (1-888-641-2229 or Email missions@MRNet.org).

4| The Green Side of Missions

This seminar discusses MRN’s research of the salary packages provided by the nation’s leading evangelical missions agencies and how this may help your congregation establish an equitable missionary compensation package. Items addressed include base salary, housing expenses, cost of living allowance, insurance, and retirement benefits that your congregation may want to provide your missionary. Six hours. For elders and missions committees. Cost: $800 plus expenses. Schedule this seminar from Missions Resource Network by phone (1-888-641-2229 or Email missions@MRNet.org).

5| Evaluating Missions Effectiveness

Have you wondered why some missionaries are not as productive as we might want? This half-day seminar presents seven realities that undermine missionary effectiveness, then explores seven ways to enhance missionary productivity. Important questions are raised, questions like: How does one measure spiritual success? For what will missionaries be held accountable? Will measurement result in thoughtful, spiritually-grounded missions? In light of these observations, do we still need to ask tough questions? What role does character play in performance? Also addressed are why typical appraisals fail, the reasons for appraising missionary performance, and a Five-Step Appraisal program. For elders, ministers and missions committee. Five hours. Cost: $700 plus expenses. Schedule this seminar from Missions Resource Network (1-888-641-2229 or Email missions@MRNet.org).

6| Dreaming the Missions Dream Again

Sometimes churches had a dynamic missions program but the years passed, interest waned and the missions budget shrank. Members recall the “good old days” but don’t know quite how to begin restoring a vibrant missions spirit. This seminar addresses the issues involved with beginning again. Schedule this seminar from Missions Resource Network (1-888-641-2229 or Email missions@MRNet.org). For elders, ministers and missions committee. Three hours. Cost: $600 plus expenses.

7| Caring for Your Missionaries

This workshop enables missions leaders to more effectively care for their missionaries and their families throughout the missionary career cycle. Important themes of this workshop include the screening of missionaries and their families, the need for cross-cultural conflict management training and interpersonal dynamics. Addresses issues missionaries will face on the field including initial losses and gains, security issues, caring for their children, furloughs, and on field care. Missionary Care policy will also be addressed. Six hours. Cost: $800 plus expenses.

8| Reentry Seminar for Churches

Reentry is substantially more stressful for missionaries and their families than initial entry to a foreign field. This workshop addresses how the local church can make this transition less stressful on the single missionary and/or missionary families. Four hours. Cost: $600 plus expenses.

Presenter: Dottie Schulz, Ph.D. Fifteen years of mission experience in Amsterdam and a doctoral dissertation on missionary reentry. She holds licensure from the State of Nebraska as a Licensed Mental Health Practitioner, Certified Professional Counselor, and Certified Marriage and Family Therapist. She was Associate Professor of Family Therapy and Human Services/Psychology at Friends University in Wichita, KS. She also served as adjunct faculty at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Dottie also served at York College (NE) where she was Professor of Psychology and Family Studies and Director of the Cornhusker Center for Human Development until coming to Missions Resource Network in 2004 where she serves as Director for Missionary Care.

9| Reentry and Debriefing for Returning Missionaries

These personalized sessions are designed to help missionaries cope better with their cross-cultural reentry and the transition to their home culture. When two or more families have expressed a need for this workshop, time and place will be determined. Three days. Minimum of two couples. Cost: $800 per couple; $500 per single.

10| Stewards of the Mission Regional Workshops

With the help of the missions community in Churches of Christ, we have identified the competencies needed by local churches to effectively and faithfully engage in international evangelism. These competencies are addressed in eight basic modules that comprise the Stewards of the Mission workshops we facilitate at host churches in select regions of the nation. The presenters are from our various Christian schools and missions ministries and are available following the workshops to serve as consultants to help you implement the training in your congregation.

Global Missions Conference

Convened every three years, this conference attracts more than a thousand people from across the nation and around the world. The last conference was held July 23-26, 2008, at the Arlington Convention Center in Dallas, Texas. Facilitated by MRN, but planned by a brotherhood-wide steering committee, this inspiring conference provided more than 75 classes on missions, 23 interest groups and a youth and children’s program. The next GMC is scheduled for October 19-22, 2011. >> More

 

Return to Top

Antioch Award

Each year, since 2002, MRN has presented the Antioch Award for Congregational Excellence in World Missions to an outstanding mission-sending congregation. The Antioch congregation of Acts 13 worshipped the Lord, listened to His voice and, after fasting and praying, laid their hands on Barnabas and Saul and sent them out. The example of that ancient congregation and its modern-day counterparts can help your congregation catch a vision of her important role in global missions.

• 2002   Austin Avenue, Brownwood, TX
• 2003   Central, Amarillo, TX
• 2004   Pleasant Valley, Little Rock, AR
• 2005   Memorial Road, Oklahoma City, OK
• 2006   White Station, Memphis, TN
• 2007   Southwest, Jonesboro, AR
• 2008   White's Ferry Road, West Monroe, LA
• 2009   Sunset, Lubbock, TX
• 2010   Park Plaza, Tulsa, Oklahoma

Return to Top

Points of Entry for Your Congregation

If your congregation is just awakening to world missions, consider the following entry points into missions:

· World Bible School
· Apprenticeships
· Short-Term Missions

We pray that these resources will be a blessing to you and your congregation. Please let us know at missions@MRNet.org how we can improve our service to you and your church.