Gospel.com Blog

By now, you’ve probably read reports about the massive cyclone that has left thousands dead and many more missing in Burma. Mission Network News reports:

The death toll could rise to over tens of thousands in Myanmar after a cyclone struck early Saturday, according to government sources. State radio says 22-thousand have died and thousands more are missing.

Some news sources report that the government’s response thus far has been slow or lacking. The road systems are not in good shape and communications are essentially down.

It is predicted that the cyclone may have the largest death toll since the 2004 tsunami in Indonesia which killed 181,000 people in its path. “Obviously hundreds of thousands of lives are being terribly impacted, having lost their bamboo homes and watching their family members die. It’s been horribly devastating,” said Gospel for Asia’s K.P. Yohannan.

It’s difficult to fathom that much death and destruction. And it’s all too easy to chalk it up as another “other side of the world” crisis that doesn’t affect us, and move on to the next headline. But when disasters like this strike, there is tremendous opportunity and need for a Christlike response. Among the many ministries and organizations already responding to the crisis are two from the Gospel.com community:

• Gospel for Asia, which has converted its Bible college in Rangoon into a makeshift shelter for refugees and survivors. They set up the shelter after the local police station was destroyed; it’s currently providing shelter to over 80 people, plus 70 children from a nearby orphanage that was destroyed.
• International Aid, which has a lot of experience responding to crises like this, is calling for financial help in organizing a large-scale relief effort.

In addition to these ministries, organizations such as the Red Cross are already reacting to the situation. Consider whether you can help out by supporting one of these relief efforts—and be sure to put the entire situation at the top of your prayer list. If and when we hear of other ministries in our community getting involved with relief efforts, we’ll note them here.

The status quo is never ‘”good enough.” And so, once a year, the staff of Hollywood Jesus gathers at Renton, Washington’s Harambee Church, for the Hollywood Jesus Annual Gathering—there to revisit HJ’s foundational goals, build bonds of fellowship, and hone skills in order to bring the best possible cultural insights to the web.

Better yet, the event is also open to readers, pastors, and writers from other publications! On tap for this year’s workshops—December 29 through 31—are writer and critic Jeffrey Overstreet, recently honored at the City of Angels Film Festival; Peter T. Chattaway, film critic for CT Movies and Books and Culture; Mike Gunn, Harambee pastor and co-founder of Seattle’s Mars Hill Church; James Harleman, Mars Hill pastor; author, animation scholar and educator Ken Priebe; Hollywood Jesus founder David Bruce; HJ Managing Editors Greg and Jenn Wright; and HJ Channel Editors Melinda Ledman and Maurice Broaddus.

That’s an impressive lineup of Christians on the cutting edge of faith and culture. If that sounds like something you’d like to participate in, you can read more about the Gathering and get registration info over at Hollywood Jesus.

Are big, planned events still necessary or useful in youth ministry today? So asks Mark Cornelison at the Youth Ministry Exchange. He argues that the logistical nightmare of planning youth ministry events is still worthwhile—so long as we understand the place of those events in ministry, and have a clear idea of what we hope to accomplish with them.

The Youth Specialties ministry addressed this same question a few weeks ago in Wendy Walker’s article More Than a One-Night Stand: Behind Mere Event Hype (PDF).

This November, the National Youth Workers Convention will take place in Atlanta, Georgia–but there’s something new happening at this particular convention! Before the main convention begins, there will be a special pre-conference gathering of women who are involved in youth ministry. It’s called Herstory, and it includes two main sessions and several different seminars and breakout sessions, all focused on the particular challenges and opportunities that face female youth workers. Whether you’re paid or volunteer, rookie or veteran, take a look at the Herstory website and consider attending it in addition to NYWC. It’s a chance to share your story, and to hear the stories of other women who know what you deal with in your ministry.

What are the primary values and principles of American culture today? Are these values compatible with Christianity? Can America truly be called a “Christian nation”? These are some of the provocative questions that will be addressed at a September 13 event hosted by Ravi Zacharias International Ministries in Atlanta, Georgia. Ravi Zacharias and Michael Ramsden will both be on hand to discuss the relationship between American society and the Christian life. Visit the event’s webpage to learn more or register to attend!

Every year, over 10,000 conferences take place in America. But the Revival Conference, scheduled for October 23-25 in Canton, Ohio, is different–it’s not just another conference, but an honest, sincere plea for revival in North America.

Among the ways that the Revival Conference will stand out is in commitment to worship and revival, without any focus on money or flashy music and performances. The event is hosted by the Sermon Index ministry, and features an impressive lineup of speakers and evangelists, including Roger Ellsworth, Keith Daniel, and Denny Kenaston. If you’re tired of conferences that are heavy on showmanship and light on content, Revival Conference may be just what you’re looking for!

There is no cost to attend the Revival Conference, although if you plan to attend, you’re asked to register in advance at the Revival Conference site. Stop by the Revival Conference site to learn more or to register to attend; and also visit the Sermon Index forums, where discussion of the upcoming conference is already underway!

Answers in Genesis has been working for years to build its Creation Museum–and the grand opening is finally here! There’s been a flurry of media attention centered around the Museum (it was recently featured on Good Morning America and the New York Times); and Answers in Genesis has responded to recent criticism of the Museum on its website. Now that the Creation Museum is open, stop by the website to see what’s in store, or to plan a trip out to Kentucky to visit it yourself.

The registration deadline for the last of InterVarsity’s On Purpose Greek Conferences in Charlotte, NC is rapidly approaching! InterVarsity’s Greek conferences are an aspect of their fraternity and sorority ministry, and are the biggest IVP events outside the massive Urbana student missions convention.

If you’re a student with an interest in shaping your campus culture for Christ, consider attending the On Purpose conference, which runs from February 16-18. Read more about the Greek conferences at the IVP website.

A recent church-planting conference in Mexico City drew over 600 attendees, according to an article at the Bible League. The conference brought together people involved in the Bible League’s massive church-planting campaign in Mexico; since 1995, over 3000 churches have been established throughout the country. Read the full article for more about the conference and its role in ongoing evangelism and discipleship efforts in Mexico.

The Unity Festival is coming! Unity is a multi-day Christian music festival in west Michigan from August 10-12, and there’s just a few weeks left in which to get tickets. The band lineup was recently finalized, so be sure to check out the latest schedule.