rapport
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c nnect!
What I Value About Radstock - by Mike McKinley
…for global mission with Radstock
There are a lot of awesome missions groups out there, but here are five reasons I particularly enjoy being involved in the Radstock network:
Complete each section, tear off the form and return it in the enclosed envelope.
1. Money. Radstock does a lot of good work with a ridiculously small amount of money. There are no full-time administrative employees. There are no offices. The goal is not to build an impressive organization, but to see resources put into mission.
Yes! I’m sending…
2. Church based. This is a big Radstock distinctive. Mission is the privilege and responsibility of local churches. The motto around here is “Mission at the heart of local churches, local churches at the heart of missions.”
■ A cheque/check (payable to Radstock Ministries)
■ A CAF/Stewardship voucher (UK only) for…
3. Work in edgy places. There is exciting work going on in places that I can’t talk about in this context. But it gets my blood pumping to see how people are strategizing to get the gospel into dark places.
£ / $ / €....................................................................................... (select currency & fill in amount)
4. Relational. Radstock is a network, not a missions agency. So you don’t just send money, but you build relationships. Over the past few years I have built relationships with brothers and sisters from far-flung places like Uttar Pradesh and Cambodia. I can’t tell you what it’s like to pray for these brothers and sisters and have them pray for our church in as well. 5. Mission doesn’t flow from the West. If mission is at the heart of the local church, then we should expect that local churches all over the world will be missionary congregations. Our church in Virginia is trying to work with some non-Western churches to send us Spanishspeaking missionaries. Churches in the network are sending missionaries from all over the world to all sorts of different places.
The Newsletter of Radstock Ministries • Spring 2010 • Suggested donation 50p / $1
It’s Time... In this issue... In this issue, we focus on significant opportunities emerging across the Radstock network to help you and your church take your next steps in mission
Mike McKinley serves as Pastor of Guilford Baptist Church in Sterling, Virginia, USA and is a member of the Board of Radstock.
to support… ■ A jeep for Seedtime Mongolia ■ A micro-finance fund for Mongolian businesses
■ Sending Rapport to churches worldwide
More Opportunity Knocks!
■ Building the network – please use as needed
A growing network such as Radstock’s needs more ‘people’ resources to support it as it develops. Here, we line up a number of ‘internal’ opportunities that might suit you or someone you know.
■ Other (please specify): ....................................................................................................... .........................................................................................................
■ I am a UK taxpayer and I want Radstock to treat this gift as a Gift Aid donation. I confirm I have completed my personal details overleaf. Please turn over
Voluntary Administrative Internship, Washington DC
Communications
Opportunity: Learn about coaching churches in their mission strategy, assist with communications, write blog entries, profile opportunities from network churches.
• Rapport Mailings • Publishing (including Radstock website, Radstock blog, multimedia and print) • Graphic Design • Emailing Prayer News
Contact: Kara Callaghan
[email protected]
Contact: Kara Callaghan
[email protected]
RADSTOCK MINISTRIES SPRING 2010 RAPPORT
Radstock is a global network of churches connected for mission. Our vision is to see mission-driven churches equipped and planted. To to this end, churches in the Radstock network work together to: Develop Partnerships Forging project based church connections Create Opportunities Opening new doors for ministry through
multi-church partnerships Coach Churches Equipping churches to take their next steps in mission Provide Expertise Tapping into specialists’ experience of particular countries, cultures and ministries For more information and to get connected for global mission, contact:
We’re 25! Are you coming to our 25th Anniversary Celebration in Leicester, UK, on Saturday 8th May? We’ll be giving thanks for what God has been doing among us over the last 25 years, and looking forward in prayerful anticipation to all that he has in store for the Radstock network in the coming 25 years. Among our speakers (visas permitting!) will be Sergey and Tatiana Subbotin, church planters from central Russia. Sergey and Tatiana will be speaking on current and upcoming challenges and opportunities facing churches in Russia. Contact Ruth on +44 (0)1302 811319 or ruth@ radstock.org if you’re coming, so we have an idea of numbers. We look forward to seeing you!
Radstock UK
Radstock USA
2a Argyle Street, Mexborough, South Yorkshire S64 9BW, UK tel: 01302 811319 mail:
[email protected] web: www.radstock.org Registered Charity 326 879
PO Box 5188 Wheaton IL, 60189-5188 tel: (202) 468 4571 mail:
[email protected] web: www.radstock.org
That’s the strapline of Seedtime, an emerging network of churches connected for Mongolia and beyond. And as you read this, we will have just had our official launch celebration here in Ulaanbaatar, writes Paul Williams, Radstock’s Eurasia Director and founder of Seedtime.
S
andwiched between Russia to the north and China to the south, churches in Mongolia are starting to step up to their responsibility for mission beyond Mongolia’s borders. Regions like Buryatia, Tuva and Kalmykia are unknown to most, but are already part of the Mongolian lexicon of world mission. As such, they are in the sights of this sapling movement. It’s a trickle at the moment, but already Mongolian churches have sent people to work in areas that, for security reasons, we can’t name here: these are the forerunners.’
‘Biblically-based small business development helps sow seeds of hope where there is often little hope’
Micro-Enterprise Specialist in Mongolia • If this sounds like someone you know, please tell them • If it sounds like you, please tell us! Contact Paul for more info:
[email protected] [email protected] Visit our website: www.seedtime.mn
Churches in Mongolia face multiple opportunities and challenges at home too. Questions such as, ‘How do you sustain mission at home and abroad in one of the poorest countries in the world?’ are exercising the minds of increasing numbers here, argues Paul. One answer to these questions lies in microenterprise development, helping church members step out in business without abandoning their communities. Biblically-based small business development - a central plank of Seedtime’s work - helps sow seeds of hope in areas where there is often little hope. Following
Ayush celebrates
business training conducted by St Mary’s Old Harlow, a number of businesses were started by church members in the scattered communities of the Gobi Desert. It’s been a hard start, as the worldwide credit crunch and a severe drought, followed by an equally severe winter, have borne down on the businesses represented at the training. But there are some ‘success stories.’ ‘Ayush’ saw her business transformed, going on to win a prize for ‘local dairy champion.’ ‘Batu’ learned how to attract and keep customers at his car repair workshop. ‘Altaanchimeg’ began a business making new household items from old clothing. Others began bakery, cafe and craft businesses. But to sustain and develop this work requires people on the ground to support, mentor, and train the business owners, many of whom are in business for the first time. The churches therefore are seeking a micro-enterprise specialist to work here for upwards of one year, to help them take their next steps - in business and mission! The business resources were provided by Reconxile, a Christian micro-enterprise development charity. Their resources are all freely downloadable from www.reconxile.org
S ON OPPORTUNITIES • FOCUS ON OPPORTUNITIES • FOCUS ON OPPORTUNITI
Opportunity Knocks! It really does! Short or long-term, from Siberia to Cambodia, and India to France, churches in the Radstock network have many opportunities to help you and your church step up and out for God in 2010 and beyond. Here we list just some of those opportunities. Follow the contacts to find out what’s involved...
c nnect! Children’s clothing business
Christians; discipleship training for small groups of believers More info: Paul Williams
[email protected]
India Russia: Northern Siberia
Albania: Morava
Opportunity: summer camps, children’s clubs, church planting among indigenous people groups
Russia: Vologda Region
Opportunity: two or more years giving a momentum boost to a small church in a rural Albanian community, children and youth work, Bible teaching, agricultural and micro-enterprise development, community health.
Opportunity: short term English teaching teams
More info: Paul Williams
[email protected]
More info: Paul Williams
[email protected]
Russia: Udmurtia Opportunity: summer camps More info: Paul Williams
[email protected]
Cambodia Opportunity: micro-enterprise and agricultural development, Bible training and on-the-hoof discipleship More info: Brian Jose
[email protected]
Ukraine (Kyiv 1) Opportunity: drug rehabilitation, children’s clubs, schools work, training church leaders More info: Anthony Adams
[email protected]
Ukraine (Kyiv 2) Opportunity: student work, micro-enterprise development, marriage/family care, children’s work, drug rehabilitation, hosting Ukrainian interns at UK churches for 3-4 weeks. More info: Anthony Adams
[email protected]
Kosova Opportunity: work with at-risk children and their families, micro-enterprise training and microfinance fund management, facilitate church-based youth ministry.
Opportunity: long-term church planting with marginalised people, Kurds, British Asians, Urban Brits. Can be integrated with mission training through Porterbrook Network www. theporterbrooknetwork.org Contact: Tim Chester
[email protected]
Business as Mission
…for global mission with Radstock Complete each section, tear off the form and return it in the enclosed envelope.
Yes!
Opportunity: micro-enterprise and micro-finance training and management in Albania, Cambodia, Kosova, Mongolia, Zambia and eventually, Russia.
Please tell me more about…
More info: Brian Jose
[email protected]
Contact: Alok Srivastava
[email protected] or Keith Mersh (Samaritan’s Well,
[email protected])
Albania: Peshkopi
Zambia
Contact: Kara Callaghan karacallaghan@radstock. org, Paul Williams
[email protected] or Matt Barton
[email protected]
■ Radstock 25th Anniversary
Opportunity: disciple and establish a viable core of church leaders; mentor core believers to sustain themselves economically. More info: Brian Jose
[email protected]
Albania: Shkoder Opportunity: disciple and establish a viable core of church leaders; mentor core believers to sustain themselves economically. More info: Brian Jose
[email protected]
SE Europe, Muslim Cities Opportunity: to evangelise Muslims in a city where there are few committed followers of Christ. More info: Brian Jose
[email protected]
Mongolia: Gobi Desert Opportunity: micro-enterprise development (see front page), funding of traditional tent dwellings for Mongolian desert church planters, teaching and mentoring of young church leaders. More info: Paul Williams
[email protected] or
[email protected]
Mongolia: Erdenet Opportunity: Practical stuff, help build a church meeting centre, children’s ministry, homeless ministry.
More info: Brad Byrd
[email protected]
More info: Paul Williams
[email protected]
Albania: Polichan
China: Inner Mongolia
Opportunity: disciple and establish a viable core of church leaders; mentor core believers to sustain themselves economically.
Opportunity: Short-term English teaching teams, working with Mongolian and Chinese young people. possibilities for small teams to teach microbusiness to small groups of Christians and non-
More info: Brian Jose
[email protected]
Opportunity: church planting, Bible teaching and conferences, children’s ministry, church buildings project, orphanage, micro-finance, Samaritan’s Well project - clean water for villages on behalf of the local church.
UK: Sheffield
Opportunity: leadership and church training and development, micro-enterprise development, child and family health training, child sponsorships.
(tick/check any that apply)
■ A guest speaker or mission consultation for my church
■ Receiving rapport by e-mail
Contact: Nick Lugg
[email protected] or Ruth Bellerby
[email protected]
Albania
■ How I can donate regularly and/or tax efficiently
UK: Derby
(please turn over for options to donate)
Opportunity: Be part of life in the heart of Derby’s multi-cultural inner city, English conversation classes, relationship building with friends of different nationalities, friendship lunches with Asian women.
Here are my details:
Contact: Anthony Adams
[email protected]
Name................................................................................................. Full address...................................................................................
Thanks, Brad!
............................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................... Tel........................................................................................................
After 10 years working for Radstock, U.S. Director Brad Byrd is moving on to combine his work with the Good Book Company, who publish Rapport, with a new role working with Christianity Explored. Brad has been a tremendous asset to building the network and mobilising churches for mission. We are sincerely grateful for his dedication, gifts and heart for mission. In his time living in Kosovo, the UK and US, Brad has been instrumental in introducing churches to a whole church vision for mission. We wish him every blessing in this new
endeavour and we are sure that we have not seen the last of his input to the Radstock network. It goes without saying that we are currently seeking someone to build on Brad’s work connecting US churches for global mission. Read on!
US Network Developer It could be you. Or it could it be someone you know. Contact Kara Callaghan to find out more:
[email protected]
E-mail................................................................................................ Please turn over
