Missionary Blog Watch

MISSIONARY BLOG WATCH HAS MOVED

Mon, 2 Feb 2009 20:17:56 -0600

Sorry to shout, but just wanted to get your attention. Yes, Missionary Blog Watch has moved, and it's new and improved! Check out the details here, and be sure to update your links, bookmarks, favorites, window decals and billboards.

No point in visiting this page again - its posting days are over. Visit the new blog at BlogWatch.Missionary-Blogs.com!

Thoughts on "Evangelism" in Quebec, Canada

Fri, 30 Jan 2009 11:33:35 -0600

The Karch family recently moved their blog - check out Movemment Quebec for the brand new format.

I'm actually mentioning it because I enjoyed their recent post, Don't Reduce It To Polemics!. It's a great summary of thoughts on sharing, evangelism, "felt needs", etc, particularly in the context of Quebec, Canada. Here's how it starts:

Last week I had a fascinating discussion concerning "evangelism" with a group of pastors.

A few undigested thoughts:

First of all, (and this may be the most controversial) it seems that we need to take care in using the term "evangelism". I prefer something else; like maybe "being a witness".

Why? "Evangelism," at least in my experience with many, many churches, automatically connotes some sort of argument…

What do you think? Stop by the post and share your thoughts.

St-Jérôme Quebec
Photo courtesy of Yvan Leduc

Cultural glimpses of Spain

Thu, 22 Jan 2009 08:05:56 -0600

Lists of interesting cultural tidbits tend to be very popular. So I really enjoyed this post out of Spain - a fresh look at food, conversation, entertainment - you name it. For example:

In Spain, did you realize that clapping is an art form?
Do you know what (or who) "El Koko" is?
Do you know what a Royal Turkey is?
Have you ever had dirty clothes soup?

Head on over to the post Wouldn't you like to know... to find out more! There's also an earlier entry with the same name here...

While hanging out in cyber-Spain I also came across some... very unusual Christmas trivia - check it out in The Season is on…. You just might not believe this one.

Appliances and Moving to Togo

Mon, 12 Jan 2009 16:07:08 -0600

Jesse and Tiffany Shanks have had their frustrations trying to get appliances that they can use in Togo. After all, you've got to find them, get them where they're going, and of course pay for them all!

After ordering their appliances, they got an unexpected surprise which they just called Training for Togo. Then, God gave them a little reminder that He still had things under control - read about it in Providing, again.

The Shanks would appreciate your prayers as they plan to board the plane for Togo on February 3rd. Those appliances still need to arrive! You can read more of their latest prayer requests right here.

Two students in Togo
Photo courtesy of Paul-W

Last Call for Volunteers

Tue, 6 Jan 2009 15:11:24 -0600

This from the latest issue of the Missionary Blogger Update:

I've long wanted to move Missionary Blog Watch to Wordpress software. The desire wasn't lacking - just the funds! Wordpress, of course, is free. But there is a small cost to the hosting option I wanted.

Well, the good news is that the money is now available for the move! So Lord willing before too long you'll hear the announcement that Missionary Blog Watch has a brand new look.

...

But I could still use some help! I'm looking for a volunteer who has a little technical knowledge (doesn't have to be fancy, but you do need to know what html is and be basically computer literate!) to help me with the transfer.

Most important is just the transfer of the posts and comments (unfortunately it will need to be done manually), but also some basic setup, installing of plugins, etc would also be a help.

If you're willing to give a bit of your time over the next 3-4 weeks, please contact me here. I can tell you exactly what needs to be done. If you do a good job, I would be happy to make a small donation to your ministry as a thank you.

Christmas with the McLane Family - in Georgia and Ukraine

Thu, 1 Jan 2009 13:01:22 -0600

The McLane family lives in Ukraine, but were off to Georgia to visit some friends! Sounds like it was a pretty exciting time...

We had a great time in Tiblisi, Georgia with our friends. They have been serving there for 3 years and we could see a wonderful ministry growing. They invited us to attend an all night prayer service on Christmas Eve. It was quite... [quite what?! Read the rest of the post here!]

Before their trip they enjoyed a Ukrainian Christmas tradition. Did you know St. Nicholas (or maybe Grandfather Frost) also brings presents on the 19th of December? Find out more and see pictures of the family at It's Christmas!

Buttons and Banners

Mon, 29 Dec 2008 07:31:17 -0600

Some people have been asking me about using buttons and banners to promote Missionary-Blogs.com. Rebecca from The Coult Family blog was asking about using something to promote the Missionary Blog Carnival. But she didn't wait around - she created her own banner, and you would be welcome to use it. You'll find it on her blog's main page on the right hand side a little way down.

Tara from The Livesay [Haiti] Weblog was asking me about a Missionary-Blogs.com button. To promote this website as a whole, of course you're welcome to link to the main page, or individual posts, or other pages. But you can also use the button that's found on the main page. Just copy the image to your site, then create a link, using code like this:

That will give you a simple button that's a link (after you change the URL, of course, to the location of the graphic on your server):

This is a great way you can help connect people with other people who share their passions in service to the Lord, or to open people's eyes about the work going on around the world. Thanks to all of you who have been a part of getting the word out!

What they're doing for Christmas

Mon, 22 Dec 2008 07:16:19 -0600

So what are the missionary bloggers doing for Christmas? Here are some posts that will answer that question:

TO THE NEW YEAR (Romania)
Merry Christmas from the Bracketts (Croatia)
Christmas Season... (Moldova)
Home for the Holidays (Bolivia)
Counting the Days 'til Christmas! (Portugal)
Holiday plans . . . (Austria)

And if I don't talk to you before then - I hope you all have a great Christmas season, remembering the One who did the greatest cross-cultural mission trip of all - the Lord Jesus, who left His home and came to earth as a baby. And that's something incredible to celebrate!

First I saw the Photo

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 11:47:06 -0600

I haven't done a feature based on photos since April, so here's a new edition. Photos are a great way to catch people's attention, and to explain something that words alone can't explain...

Baptisms in Miton - church under the tree, baptisms in a trough...
Sharing "a few pictures of some of my recent babies...."
In the Balkans, we're glad the pepto tree is no longer in style!
Some great pictures of Peru in this post with the long title: "It is finished" from a 6-year old's perspective, Getting-away, and a Blind boy reading
No, the kids aren't just along for the ride. Check out these Junior Missionaries
A bus in Nairobi
You thought your Thanksgiving was special? Check out Our Yabus Thanksgiving
Who in the world is that behind Santa? Read Mikulás bacsi!

Blogs in Uganda

Fri, 5 Dec 2008 14:27:01 -0600

Today we're going to see what's happening with some of our friends in Uganda. We're just going to stop at two blogs, but there's lots to read.

First, let's visit Strong Confidence. There's the unbelievable story with the title All in a day's work. Next, get your taste of a major Ugandan cultural event with The Introduction.

Next, we'll visit our old friend paradoxuganda. Taking time for a retreat by going To the Mountaintop, and another cultural event mixed with some familiar carols in Christmas Carols to Olukus.