Missions Hub

Friday, June 23, 2006

INTRODUCTION

Missions Hub deals mostly with links related to short term and long term Christian missions.

From this blog you will launch out into various directions and enter into wonderful adventures.

You can go to Resources Hub http://www.resourceshub.blogspot.com/ and link to other hubs.

Sooner than later you may wish to create a free account with Furl http://www.furl.net/ This will allow you to save book marks online while you are web surfing. And you will be able to share those links with others from your Furl account.

LINKS

Web Based Missions Directory

http://www.mislinks.org/

MisLinks is a web-based directory focused on offering helpful links to Web-based resources for missionaries, mission pastors, teachers, and researchers, students of mission and mission agencies

Short term mission resources

http://www.ywam.org/books/booksearch.asp?category=short-term

especially video series Go Prepared http://www.ywam.org/books/vid_goprepared.html

Go Prepared are excellent videos. And the booklet is jammed with useful information, It is a great orientation for those going on a short-term trip. Experts on various fields offer wisdom and insight. Many missionaries are used by God to lead short-term trips. This needs to be part of their toolbox.

ILS International

http://ilsinternational.net/

The purpose of this CD-ROM is to provide you with the latest and most accurate information of each of the countries, languages and related people groups of the world.

FINDING THE RIGHT MISSION AGENCY

www.ifmamissions.org/findagcy.htm

Here is an excellent guide for the person that is investigating one or more mission agencies. It suggests what to look for and what to ask during this critical phase.

Finishers

www.finishers.org/core.html

Finishers offers an interactive online process to help missionaries get ready and find a suitable mission agency. This is oriented to the boomer generation but most of it is applicable for any age. Here is a list of agencies from their site http://www.finishers.org/resources/ministries.php

Advancing Churches in Missions Commitment (ACMC)

800-747-7346

http://www.acmc.org/

ACMC offers resources and consulting to assist churches to advance in their missions commitment. They can help your missions committee, missions pastor or church planter to better weave missions awareness and action into the fabric of the church.

IFMA

http://www.ifmamissions.org/

Here is contact information on dozens of mission organizations.

Voice of the Martyrs

800-747-0085

http://www.persecution.com/

Voice of the Martyrs offers resources to educate about the persecuted church worldwide. If you are going where there is persecution then alert your supporters to this resource. They will better understand how to pray.

Operation World

http://www.gmi.org/ow/

Here is the official web site for Operation world. They are the leaders in prayer evangelism related to international missions.

North American Mission Board (NAMB)

703-610-9009

http://www.namb.org/

NAMB is the missions division of the Southern Baptist Convention with LOTS of useful information online.

US Center for World Mission

626-398-2336

http://www.uscwm.org/

The USCWM produces and publishes resources to motivate and equip Christ's body to join Him in His Biblical purpose to "bless all the families of the earth" (Gen. 12:1-3). The USCWM also engages in a variety of activities toward ensuring, as soon as possible, that each distinct people group is "reached"--that a viable movement is established to evangelize and disciple each people group.

LANGUAGES

Learning the language of the people where you will be going can be a huge help. It will aid you in the airport, hotel, restaurant, taxi, bus, market, etc.

Those you minister to and minister with will be very honored that you choose to learn their language.

Do not feel that you must be an expert to be accepted. Do your best in your studies. When you become part of the culture then your practice will accelerate the learning.

There are all kinds of ways to learn the language of the place where you will be going. If you are going on long term assignment then with agency will arrange for language school and that will likely be an intensive experience in a special location.

If you are going on a short-term trip then you can get the kinds of language aids for the tourists. These can help you to navigate the different culture.

If you are feeling led by God to a particular country or people group then you can find out what language they speak and begin to learn it a little at a time before you leave.

After you master some of the basics, then you can seek and find international students and/or residents that speak that language. Go to the restaurants and grocery markets that cater to those kinds of people. Pray and trust God to link you up with the right people.

You can also go to the web sites of the countries and read the languages of their news, sports, weather, etc.. In some cases they may have streaming audio and streaming video.

There are LOTS of tapes in the public library to teach every major language. Go borrow these and redeem the times you are commuting in the car.

What follows are links to companies that sell products to teach a foreign language. Also check on http://www.lovetolearn.com/

The Learnables

800-237-1830

http://learnables.com/

Power Glide

800-596-0910

http://www.power-glide.com/

Berlitz

http://www.berlitz.us/

Berlitz offers all kinds of language lessons.

Rosetta Stone Language Library

http://www.travlang.com/onlinelearning/

Travlang is proud to offer the award-winning Rosetta Stone Language Software, delivered directly in your web browser, as an online course. Every feature is available, including voice record, speech recognition, interactive exercises, thousands of real-life images and graphics- all presented in an immersion style, teaching you regardless of your native language. All 24 languages are offered for immediate access.

The Rosetta Stone is used by NASA, the US State Dept, in 7,000 schools, and by over 4 million learners worldwide. And now it is available online as a cost-saving monthly subscription (only $19.95 per month!).

COMPANIES

Here are some of the companies listed in the Dallas Yellow Pages under Language. Most of them have offices all over the country. These are not inexpensive services but they are effective. If you are going to be raising thousands of dollars for airfare, hotel and food – why not invest some
of God’s money here too? In a short time you can quickly go up the learning curve.

Access Language Center

http://www.accesslc.net/

Inlingua

http://www.inlinguausa.com/

The Language Network

http://www.thelanguagenetwork.net/

Dallas International School

http://www.dallasinternationalschool.org/

Excelsior Language Center

www.excelsiorlanguage.com

COMMUNITY COLLEGE

There are courses offered at community colleges.

Here is the link to Dallas County Community College District.

If you live outside of Dallas then call your public library for the community college contact information.

http://www.dcccd.edu/

TRAVEL

Passport

http://travel.state.gov/passport_services.html

Above is the link to the US Department of State with all the basic passport information. The office in Dallas is at 600 Commerce Street in downtown Dallas. Their phone is (214) 653-7691.

To locate other passport offices click here http://iafdb.travel.state.gov/ It would be wise to get your passport early and keep it up to date. Then God can call you to leave the country on short notice without such a detail to trouble you. Even if you do not know when and where you are going to the mission field - why not go ahead and get your passport as a step of faith? And ALWAYS keep your passport in a safe place!

Visa

As soon as you know the country you will be going to -- look up the web site for the embassy. Just go to a search engine and search for the name of the country and the word “embassy”. Print out the instructions about visa, shots and any other requirements. Put this printout with your important papers and be sure that you follow the directions carefully. Begin the application for a visa sooner than later. There are all kinds of ways this process can be delayed. You need to work with as much margin as possible with such critical deadlines.

DALLAS COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES

www.dallascounty.org/html/citizen-serv/hh-services/services/foreigntravel.html

If you are required to get shots to go to the country, then here is one place that offers all the shots needed to travel anywhere in the world. The location is 2377 N. Stemmons Freeway. That is near the Southwestern Medical Center. The phone is 214-819-2162. If you live outside of Dallas, then call your public library for the contact information on the nearest the county health department and other places to get the needed shots.

Center for Disease Control

www.cdc.gov/travel/index.htm

Here is LOTS of information about disease prevention for travelers. The is information about shots and other measures you can take to prevent getting sick.

If you are going to an area that has diseases you are not familiar with then you can learn more about how to avoid catching it like avoiding the local drinking water or mosquitoes. Also put the name of the disease into a search engine.

Travel Animal

http://www.travelanimal.com/

Travel Animal has all kinds of books and supplies for the traveler. You can buy books from Travel Animal that give an overview from a tourist perspective. this will help you as the missionary to get an initial orientation and to better tell your supporters interesting tid-bits.

Travel Medicine

http://www.travmed.com/

Travel Medicine offers information and products for safe travel.

Travel Products

http://www.travelproducts.com/

Travel Products has a HUGE selection of travel products. It is very wise to get a money belt (or other secure way) to carry your money, passport and papers. You can get one here or elsewhere.