Tim Keesee and the priority of prayer
Tim Keesee (from Frontline Ministries, and the man behind the Dispatches from the Front book and film series) recently spoke in Melbourne about the progress of the gospel around the world — and about the central place of prayer.
A most encouraging 48 minutes with a clear reminder that the Lord is sovereign.
Grace Abounding — Tim Keesee on John Bunyan
“Bunyan’s book has blessed the world, but in Bedford, little remains from his life and long imprisonment…”
– Tim Keesee of Frontline Missions reflects briefly on the occasion of John Bunyan’s birthday.
Have your heart warmed for global mission
We’ve previously mentioned the work of Dr Tim Keesee, founder of Frontline Missions, and his Dispatches from the Front documentaries.
“Dispatches from the Front is a series of documentary films that highlight the marvellous extent, diversity, and unity of Christ’s Kingdom in our world. The journal format of each episode underscores the daily unfolding of God’s activity on the ‘frontlines,’ bringing viewers up-close with sights and sounds from distant corners of the Kingdom.”
While the films are still available on DVD format (remember that?), in the video linked above, Tim Keesee explains that the videos are now available to stream at no charge.
These would be ideal to show in a home group.
Go to frontlinemissions.info/dispatches and scroll down to click on each title.
Under “Add DVD to cart”, there’s now the option to “Stream for Free”.
John Piper writes:
“Beware of watching these Dispatches films if you don’t like being moved and inspired and shaken out of the ruts of your life. My wife and I were riveted in watching the frontline reports of God’s work as recorded in the Dispatches from the Front series. This is the sort of information that builds faith in the present providence of God over His mission and stirs up action for the sake of lost and hurting people near and far.”
There’s also a companion book by Tim Keesee – “Dispatches from the Front: Stories of Gospel Advance in the World’s Difficult Places” available from Reformers Books.
Remember our Chains
“Across a wide swath of the world — from North Africa to North Korea, from Central Asia to Central Africa — ‘the persecuted church’ is simply ‘the church.’
These believers — like first-century Christians in a twenty-first-century world — live, serve, and witness in the face of hostility, and remind us of our roots.
And if the opening decades are any indication of things to come, this century promises to exceed the persecution of Christians of the last bloody century.…”
– Tim Keesee, founder of Frontline Missions International, describes the state of the persecuted church today. At Desiring God.
See also:
Healthy churches around the world
The latest 9Marks Journal is out. Editor Jonathan Leeman writes,
“The Journal topic of healthy churches around the world was Dever’s idea. I was doubtful at first. But – goodness – was I wrong!
This might be one of my favourite Journals to date. It’s sort of like Tim Keesee’s wonderful book, Dispatches from the Front: Stories of Gospel Advance in the World’s Diffcult Places. The difference is, the authors provide frontline reports on the state of churches. How are churches doing in Brazil, Iran, Cameroon, Albania, China, Singapore?
Are they preaching the Bible? Proclaiming a biblical gospel or watered-down substitute? Pursuing corporate and individual holiness? Pursuing evangelism? Practicing church membership?
The planting and growing of healthy churches is how we will best fulfil the Great Commission”
– Download the current issue from 9Marks.
Headscarves and Hashtags — Other voices in the Same-God Debate
“Many voices have weighed in on the debate as to whether Christians and Muslims worship the same God. Wheaton’s Professor Hawkins was only reflecting the sentiment of half the country — and perhaps a third of self-described evangelicals — when she declared that Christians and Muslims worship the same God.
The ‘same God’ controversy is the kind of ‘debate’ that plays out mostly on social media and largely among Christians and secularists. So it’s really more of a political statement than a debate. But there are other voices that ought to be heard on the subject — stories of men and women who don’t have access to blogs or Facebook because they are being hunted like animals at this very moment…”
– At Desiring God, Tim Keesee adds some realism to the debate.
The Blood of the Martyrs is Seed
At the Bethlehem 2016 Conference for Pastors last month, Dr Tim Keesee spoke on “The Blood of the Martyrs is Seed”, with profound reflections from 2 Corinthians 4.
Tim is, of course, the man behind the Dispatches from the Front videos and book.
“You can’t save your own life. You can only spend it. Spend it well.”
Sobering, mightily encouraging, and very much worth watching.
Liberation Letter
“Nowhere is the chameleon-like character of Mormonism on display more than at Christmastime.
After a richly-orchestrated, pitch-perfect ‘O Holy Night,’ one of the Mormon ‘apostles’ is now preaching. He started out by awarding Luke a brief honorable mention for providing us an account of the Christmas story, but after dispensing with this lip service, he went on to ‘another record’ in The Book of Mormon. It was some of Joseph Smith’s make-believe about Samuel the Lamanite and the Nephites in America at the time of Jesus’ birth, etc., etc.
The blind leading the blind, and the ditch here that they’ve fallen into is lined with Christmas lights, yet it is horribly dark.”
– Tim Keesee of Frontline Missions shares his experiences of his trip to Salt Lake City, and also a letter of liberation from a former Mormon, now his sister in Christ.
See Tim’s photos here.
Related: Unveiling Grace: Wonderful news for Mormons.
Reckless Abandon by the Sea
“This week marks the 150th anniversary of Hudson Taylor’s Brighton Beach experience – one of the seminal events of the Gospel’s advance in China and in the history of missions…”
– Tim Keesee marks a significant anniversary – with the hope of stirring hearts today.
Update: Tim Keesee has a guest post at Challies.com –
“One of my favorite quotes from Hudson Taylor, the very quotable pioneer missionary to China is ‘There are three stages in every great work of God: first, it is impossible, then it is difficult, then it is done.’ Taylor knew about impossible…” – read it all here.
No Regrets, No Retreat
“I don’t use the television much anymore. There was a time when I watched a lot of movies and a lot of programs, but these days there isn’t a lot that catches my attention enough to actually dedicate the time to it. There isn’t much that promises more value than I would get from the same time spent with a good book. But I always make an exception for Dispatches from the Front…”
– Tim Challies highlights the latest video from Tim Keesee.
Advancing the Gospel on the Front Line
As many gather for CMS Summer Schools around the country, this interview with Dr Tim Keesee, the man behind the Dispatches From the Front video series and book, is appropriate.
This interview is an extract from Ligonier Ministries’ Tabletalk magazine. The January 2015 issue is available as a free download, and is packed with encouraging and worthwhile articles, as well as a Bible reading guide on the theme of Wisdom.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…