At Cafe 1040, a major goal in our mentorship is to equip this generation with the confidence to go wherever God leads them to go and make disciples among every people group.

“The sun is always shining, it’s just above the clouds sometimes.” This thought struck home after five days of backpacking through miserable, stormy, overcast weather. The life lessons abounded – no matter how stormy or dark things look, the Son of God is still there, even when we can’t see or feel Him.   

At Cafe 1040, we identify five major barriers that keep people from transplanting their lives to international locations for the sake of the gospel. Some people see all five barriers at play in their lives, while others identify with one or two. A guest contributor at Desiring God wrote a fantastic article that identifies one of these barriers and how it can be overcome. She even qualifies it as "the biggest barrier to students going to the mission field."

Remember the really famous 'Hilltop' Coca-Cola ad from the '70s about buying the world a Coke? It was a little before my time, but it's one of the most famous ads of all time. It was also the closing scene of the series Mad Men, if that's more your style. The song in the ad also talks about wanting to teach the world to sing in perfect harmony. Definitely from the '70s!

We often get questions from people who are interested in missions and are looking for some next steps. It’s not likely that a person who lives in southwest Missouri just wakes up one morning as a missionary in the villages of Nepal. There are usually a few steps involved. We’ve put together a list of six resources that are a great starting point for anyone interested in learning more about missions.

I’m not sure when it hit. It was sometime between this article or maybe this video when I realized that it’s up to us to change the pulse of our generation. For too long, we have been labeled as the generation that is weak and lazy. We get discouraged easily and quit when we don’t win. We care about everything superficial and nothing important. We’d rather have a participation trophy than first place. The list goes on.

Have you ever tried to explain something to someone and you simply could not connect the dots?  When I was first married to my wife, we oftentimes had this problem.  We came from different families and had different assumptions.  She thought that cleaning the table meant putting the dishes in the sink.  I thought it meant washing them or putting them in the dishwasher.

There’s no denying that when Thanksgiving hits, it’s only a mad dash to Christmas. Anticipation builds, parties are planned, cookies are exchanged and stores are flooded with hurried shoppers.  It’s all wrapped up in the season of Christmas.

Despite the busyness that this holiday can bring, Christmas is a time for our hearts and minds to pause and reflect on how significant the meaning of Christmas is for followers of Christ. Here are four books that can help you cultivate a heart of worship this Christmas season.

One man and one woman in complete harmony with God. Perfection. That is where it all began. But it didn’t last. Sin invaded the perfection of harmony, leaving everything broken and unclean. Man was now forever separated from God.

I recently received the following question in an email from a coworker, “What would you say are the top 3 Biblical principles that are important for people considering a life in missions?”

Listen to one of our grads share a story about how she was able to meet a friend during her time in North Africa and share the story of Jesus with her for the first time. 

Around halfway through the semester, we hold a discussion with our students on the biblical perspective of suffering based on a sermon by Francis Chan.  Personally, that discussion has had new meaning for us depending on what life circumstances are happening during that season.  But no matter the season, we come to the same realization: suffering is allowed and ordained by God for the sake of the character of His children.

I’ve moved my life overseas a few times now, and the more I do it, the easier it gets. I’ve observed many other people move overseas as well and often times I’ve thought, “Oh wow, I wish someone would’ve told you not to bring all of that medicine with you! You could have filled that space with almond butter instead and bought the pharmaceuticals here—and for so much cheaper!”

Renee spent over a year bonding with her team and building a love for this country. She worked hard to raise support and get all of her paperwork together.  She prayed and prayed and then prayed some more.  She sold possessions including her car.  She struggled through the emotions of having to say goodbye to family and friends.  She mentally prepared herself to live in a different culture vastly different than her own.  She was set and ready to leave.

Living overseas in a culture that is not your own is both exhilarating and exhausting, sometimes all at the same time. There are highs and lows, pros and cons, victories and defeats.  Have you ever lived in a different culture? Read about the joys and hardships of cross-cultural living from the perspective of one our overseas workers. 

In this line of work, you usually have more questions than answers. How does culture affect Christianity? How does where you were born impact your faith? Is it even possible for every people group to know Christ?

There are thousands of Muslim people groups who have never heard what Jesus Christ has done on their behalf.  This sobering thought fuels missions all over the world. Our friends at Frontiers are empowering people and churches to alter that reality by 2025. We love Frontiers’ heart for loving Muslims until all have heard. 

Missions should be left to the professionals, right? I can’t be a missionary unless I have been to seminary or have significant training, right?  You have to be more holy, like an apostle, to go out and preach the gospel to the nations, right?

Whether you are an avid reader with a lengthy booklist or someone who considers seeing the movie the same as reading the book, we all can agree these books are worth your time.  If you are considering missions, working in ministry or just want to grow in your faith, these books will guide you into a deeper understanding of God’s heart.