Catalyst Services

08/07/2026

Here is a week of prayers for children with a special focus on immigrant/refugee children here and around the world. Many are returning to school; so many others wish they could. Will you join in praying for precious boys and girls?

07/24/2026

Our July issue of Postings offers 10 suggestions for improving local-church missions impact. None requires a large church, a big budget, or a huge amount of time. But sometimes a relatively small change can have surprising benefits. Why not ask your missions team to choose one or two to implement before the new ministry year begins?

July 2026 | Volume 21 | Issue 6 A potpourri of ideas with surprising potential

07/17/2026

A news report on the tightening conditions in Afghanistan, particularly for women serving other women and girls. Please pray for those who continue to serve the huge needs of women across this nation.

According to the survey, 46 percent reported that women could no longer report to offices in some provinces.

07/13/2026

If you are intrigued by maps, here is a series from the New York Times (free access, I think) on the history of immigration populations across the US.

Melting pot, tapestry, mosaic, kaleidoscope, salad bowl. Every cliché is true.

07/01/2026

The Lausanne Movement is launching a new course for local churches called "Global Disciples." As part of the launch, they are hosting a five-week online cohort experience designed to help leaders like you go deeper into the themes from the series and consider how this resource can serve their own communities.

We haven't had a chance to preview this material yet so cannot comment on how it compares to other resources. But check it out for yourself and consider becoming part of the leader cohort.

https://lausanne.org/globaldisciple

06/16/2026

I don't know about you, but when someone offers a "tool," I'm hooked. I've got to check it out to see if it is useful in my context. Here's a tool for missionary parents to use to help their children process the transitions in their lives. The author has a book on nourishing TCKs. Are these resources your missionary parents need? Why not gift them or at least send them the link.

Some seasons are harder than others. Now there’s a tool to help you see why. – You look back on a particular year and think, “I don’t get why that was hard.” Nothing terrible happened, no fam…

06/11/2026

If you aren't following Ryan Burge, you probably should be. He publishes an amazing variety of data analyses. The one about trust that he released today is particularly revealing and concerning.

Among other ways he breaks this down is by church attendance--one of the graphs on his substack on this topic today.

06/01/2026

Here's an interesting website that will give you pause if you spin the world a few times. This could be a good learning tool with your own children/grandchildren or Sunday school class.

If you were reborn today, where would you land? And how would that change your life?

05/29/2026

Our Great Commission task is not finished until the scope of Jesus’ teachings are being “observed,”—understood and increasingly put into practice by those who come to believe the good news (Mt. 28:19-20). This process requires pastors and teachers qualified to teach and disciple. Yet a very small percentage of church leaders around the globe are adequately trained for this essential task.

Our May/June Postings highlights the story of two Western churches using different means to further the global training of pastors. We then offer five principles to help churches invest well in theological preparation and introduce four organizations providing different pathways for churches to engage.

May 2026 | Volume 21 | Issue 5 Will your church prioritize quality training for Indigenous disciple-makers?

05/20/2026

Did you realize that indigenous writers and publishers are producing Christian books around the world written specifically for the people in their country by people in their country?
Would you like a glimpse into what's "hot" in the Christian book market in Africa...Asia, etc.?
Find out more about Media Associates Int'l that networks and supports these dedicated writers and publishers around the world.

We asked Christian publishers across the world what Christians are buying and reading—and why. From non-fiction books that speak to the head to fiction that speaks to the heart,* our generous community shared the following insights into what is resonating with readers.