Kay returned from teaching how to use mobile phones in Ghana and Kenya (click here to read the story). But is mobile a viable platform for discipleship and training?

Here is some good reading on mobile devices. I’ve put some of my favorite quotes beneath each article link.

1. Tablets are starting to impact African education

Africa is the second-largest mobile-phone market in the world behind Asia … Over the past 10 years, the number of mobile connections in Africa grew an average of 30 percent a year, and the report predicted it would reach 735 million people by the end of this year on a continent with about a billion people. [Note: this would be about 70% of the population.]

USAID recently started an education mobile-phone initiative and last year hosted, in Bethesda, Md., the first International Symposium on Mobiles for Education for Development. The initiative aims to improve access to low-cost mobile technologies for education globally.

It’s important not to oversell the use of mobile technology in Africa. While many people in Africa have mobile phones, many aren’t smartphones that can access the Internet, she said. Mobile learning, she said, is not going to take the place of traditional teaching methods. … education with mobile phones in Africa typically involves a student or teacher using his or her own technology and bearing the burden of associated costs, even if those costs are low.

She expects a very low cost tablet to be introduced in the marketplace soon and to explode in Africa. “I know mobile phones are all over Africa, but I’m not sure that’s the right form for education,” she said. “The tablets are great.”

2. Mobiles starting to edge out internet cafes in Africa

Smart mobile phones are slowly edging out internet cafés in Malawi, says a new report.

He said most youths are buying high-tech mobile phones because they want to appear to be ahead of the game in terms of living up to modern trends and fashion.

3. Wikipedia will be available on free mobile access in Africa via Orange

Orange has struck a deal with Wikipedia to make its digital encyclopaedia available free of data charges to millions of mobile phone users across the Middle East and Africa. The mobile phone operator has 70 million customers across Africa and the Middle East.

The ability to access the internet, and websites such as Wikipedia, is currently limited to about 10 million Orange customers who have mobile devices with 2G or 3G capability.

4. Next billion mobile users will come from developing rural areas

Operators can expect to see the next billion mobile connections to come from rural areas in emerging markets, according to analyst Ovum.

5. In 2012, there will be 200 million more mobile users in India

The mobile phone will drive internet use in India in 2012. Computing begins with the mobile and its growth is fast in India.

He believes that the increase in smartphone and internet capable phones, selling below $94 and built by Indian manufacturers, is making it easier and more affordable to own such devices.

The other big change when it comes to India and the internet is how people are using the web. With better connections, mobile phones and computers, Indians are increasingly using the internet for more than just checking their email.

In both rural and urban areas, social networking is a key driver of use. The most popular site in India is now Facebook, which in the past six months saw its user base grow by more than a third.

When I lived in Nigeria in the ’80s and ’90s, few people had a landline telephone. The introduction of  cellphones allowed Africa countries to skip the installation of telephone line infrastructure. I think the growth in smartphones will similarly allow Africans to skip the computer + internet that most of us associate with internet connectivity.

Yes, I think mobile phones, and especially tablets, will allow us to increasingly disciple and train people better than ever before. What about you? In what ways can mobile assist discipleship? In what ways should we be cautious?

Africa, here I come!

Keith drove me to the airport. Then he drove home. I, on the other hand, flew to Accra, Ghana as part of a training team. A few days later, we will fly to Nairobi, Kenya for a second round of training.

We are embarking on the next step in a massive, faith-stretching opportunity. Our Global Technology Team is partnering with the Go North project to train thousands of pastors and church planters to plant thousands of churches across the Sahara Belt of Africa by 2020.

Karin & Kay preparing training materials

The Go North strategy leaders expressed a need. How do we train thousands of pastors and church planters in thousands of towns and villages in a dozen countries? International Leadership University-Kenya had experience in life-transforming training, so they produced Pastors Training in Leadership. The Global Technology Office had an idea: use the most common communications device in Africa today — a mobile phone. Together we developed the solution to the need.

These next weeks will represent the culmination of 2 years of development, testing, planning, and praying. Mobile phone training using ILU-Kenya curriculum has been tested in several locations for 18 months. Pastors tell amazing stories of how their lives and their leadership have been transformed.

Some of the mLearning team

We will train 32 coordinators from 11 countries. In the next few months, 100 to 300 pastors and church planters in each country will be trained. In the following months, we prayerfully expect this training to spread to 20,000 pastors and church planters who will plant 50,000 churches across the Sahara Belt of Africa.

Right where Islam is spreading southward. Right where sectarian violence is growing. Right where people desperately want to know about God’s love and his release from shame and guilt.

So, how does a seasoned missionary and global traveler feel about this next adventure on her own? I am honored to be able to help these leaders learn a new method of training the pastors of their countries. I am excited to be back on the continent of Africa, a place that God has given me a special love for. I feel strange to be leaving Keith behind, but confident in traveling with good friends and co-laborers.

Read co-trainer Karin Tome’s thoughts here.

Renner travelled 56 hours. Selegna was refused a visa to enter Thailand. International travel can be uncertain and frustrating. But Renner and Selegna and 170 others from 32 countries felt God had called them to join us. So they persevered.

Renner wrote: I’m now at the São Paulo International Airport. I spent 5 hours on a flight to be here. I’ll wait 11 hours before flying to Amsterdam. Another 14 hours later, I land in Amsterdam. I wait 9 hours for my next flight. Then 17 hours later, I arrive in Bangkok. Yep, I really need to be with you, guys!

See Selegna’s story.

As I watched the next step in a dream that began in 2005 with the first MinistryNet, my mind filled with David’s question from Psalm 8: 4 “What is man that you are mindful of him?” Overwhelmed by God who is allowing me to see a dream coming true — engaging the power and reach of the internet to help people know him and to grow to be like him.

Our theme “Decisions to Disciples,” focused on new ways to move people forward in their journey to follow Jesus.

One of the unique additions to this MinistryNet was spending two hours each morning in small innovative workgroups. We were seeking to solve a problem or develop an innovative approach to moving people from making a decision, to being a disciple of Jesus. Each group developed a short video to present their proposed solution. The best solutions will receive seed funding to develop a prototype. With MinistryNet less than a week old, three groups are already developing their prototypes.

Imagine the power of 170 people returning home to 32 countries with new strategies, new passions, new relationships with like-minded digital ministry entrepreneurs! This is our dream becoming reality.

You can watch many of the MinistryNet 2011 sessions here. [Note: You will need to create a sign-in using TheKey. It's free.]

Would you like to know more about the diverse projects in internet ministry happening in Campus Crusade for Christ? Visit the MinistryNet Conference Virtual Ministry Fair.

What is your plan to use the opportunities of the internet to deliver the timeless, unchanging message of Christ in fresh, changing ways?

I had a small part in flood relief in Thailand. You can have a small part also. Many small parts can make a huge difference.

Several of our Thai staff have flooded homes and submerged cars. I heard yesterday of 5 flooded homes and 7 submerged cars. Yet these staff are engaging every day in helping others. They deliver drinking water. They distribute food. They help carry evacuees’ belongings to safety.

Kay and I ask you to help the helpers.

Help replace household goods. Help replace cars. Help the helpers as they help the suffering.

Pray.

Give.

Share this link. Go to the bottom of the page and share on Facebook. Click the Like button. Tweet it to your friends.

Let’s Help the helpers.

I’m sitting in Tokyo’s Narita airport as I write this. The last time I was here was March 11th and Kay was with me. And together, we experienced the massive earthquake. (Click here to read the story again.). Thousands died. Over 4,000 are still missing. Extensive damage to buildings and infrastructure. Significant accidents at nuclear power stations.

But there is more to the story. So, on this revisit to Tokyo, I’ll share some of the amazing things that God and His people have seen happen.

In the days following the tsunami, a team of 8 Japanese Campus Crusade for Christ staff and students went to Tohoku to help. Tohoku is a region in Japan where the gospel is slow in spreading. It is an area where they do not want to accept Christian volunteers. They shun off the volunteer efforts from churches too. A member of the team wrote:

Despite these obstacles, and through the prayers of many, we are thankful we were able to have this opportunity to be close to them, cry and laugh together with them and encourage them. And, of course, all these are possible because dedicated leaders and the Kesennuma Bible Baptist Church members have been sowing seeds in this neighborhood, which resulted in good relationships built up.

Those whom we have met told us to come again. For people in Tohoku to say, “please come again”, they are not saying it to be polite, they really meant what they say. To be able to earn the trust of people in “closed” Tohoku in just 4 days is only by the grace and the work of GOD. The local pastor was overjoyed and said that he has more families to visit from now onwards.

When I visited and helped the last house during this trip, I asked if I could pray for blessing for this household. The elderly lady said, “Yes. Thank you.” She kept saying thank you repeatedly. With tears, she said, “Just when I felt I was going to go under…” When we were cleaning her house, she acted strong. But I felt that she had been pushing down her feelings of pain and distress. We were able to give her daughter a copy of the Manga Search (manga Knowing God Personally booklet).

A little later, another team worked in a nearby area. They were able to store supplies at the local church. A team member reported:

A house owner whose house had been cleaned by an earlier team heard about the supplies at the local church and went to pick some. One of our team members helped her carry the stuff back home.

The home owner was so thankful for the help from the earlier team and kept talking about it with tears in her eyes. Our team member took the opportunity to say, “God loves you, and has kept you alive and provided help for you. When I face difficult times, God helps, encourages and comforts me. Through a simple prayer, you can invite God into your heart. Would you like to pray a prayer to invite Him in?“ The home owner said, “Yes” and they prayed together!

When the earlier team heard this good news, we all shed tears of joy. The Lord has opened doors in mysterious ways and sent us there in His exquisite timing. As we witness the work of His hands, we can’t keep from praising Him.

Our amazing God uses all things to draw people to himself. Do we view everything as opportunities to tell people of God’s love?

Over 19,000 years of helping those far from God connect to him and find a life of meaning and purpose and forgiveness and restoration.

Kay and I were in a reception to honor those serving with Campus Crusade for Christ for extended years. It was a Hebrews 11 moment. I felt privileged to be in the room with modern giants of the faith.

19,000 years of combined experience pioneering new ways to reach people, pioneering new places to reach people. Some of these pioneers walked onto radical campuses in the 1960s to engage free speech platforms to share Christ. Some worked behind the Iron Curtain in the 70s and 80s, then rushing people and strategies into spiritually impoverished countries when the curtain fell. Some moved into eastern Asia in the 90s speaking in code to avoid detection which could result in expulsion from the country. Some lived in places with no electricity or no running water because they wanted to incarnate Jesus. These pioneers found creative ways to live and minister in dangerous, closed, and hard places.

All for the love of Christ. All for the call of being God’s ambassadors. All for the privilege of helping others know Jesus and experience a purposeful life.

This was a summer to re-evaluate, to renew, to reconnect with God’s call on our lives. We choose to not live out of our past reputation. Rather, we choose to be alive to God’s ongoing call on our lives. We’re looking forward, not backward.

Francis Chan challenged us with Jesus’ warning to the church at Sardis. Jesus warned to not live on past reputation. (Click here then click on the highlighted video.)

Kay and I celebrated 35 years in full-time ministry. I took a theology course to stay sharp. Kay spent time with new staff women doing creative things. We had time outdoors enjoying God’s creation. We had amazing times of worship with 5,000 colleagues.

We are ready to go forward.

What part of your past good reputation are you resting on that might be limiting your ability to look forward?

It’s official. We learned last night that our new U.S. organizational name is Cru.

It’s been an amazing first day for our U.S. Staff Conference. It culminated tonight in hearing our leaders share about the 2 year journey. I was humbled by the milestones along the way where God confirmed, where God united people who disagreed strongly, where God led through the shared wisdom of thousands of volunteers, donors, and staff.

Our leaders shared research which showed what most of us have know for a while — very powerful evidence that the name “Campus Crusade” induces negative responses from many diverse populations, while CRU produces positive responses. Our leaders shared how God brought unity

I was humbled as our leaders shared that they asked thousands of people and learned that when Campus Crusade for Christ, now Cru, is at it’s finest, we are about meaningful relationships, changed lives, and significant opportunities. Our leaders confirmed over and over that our mission has not changed. We continue to be a community who is passionate about connected people to Jesu Christ so they can experience Christ’s life-changing presence and have opportunities to share Him with others.

I’m fine with the new name. I’m humbled to be a part of this caring community committed to avoiding unnecessary negative responses so we can get about the Father’s business.

So Kay and I, formerly known as staff of Campus Crusade for Christ, are now happy to be part of the Cru crew!

“I told you that I’m not very interested in religion,” she said.

“Yes, you did. Would you like me to continue?” I asked.

“Sure. This is interesting.”

I smiled, flipped to the next screen, and we continued.

This was my first experience sharing the gospel using a new tool for mobile phones. As we continued, my mind flashed back to the beginning of this current adventure.

I found my seat on the flight from Atlanta to San Francisco. It was a Boeing 767, with a 2-3-2 seating plan. I moved into the aisle seat on a 2-side but didn’t get too comfortable. Kay wasn’t traveling with me this time. My seatmate hadn’t arrived yet. I wondered who God would send.

She showed up at the last minute, a fairly seasoned traveler. She sat down, her book came out, and she was in her bubble.

I was able to engage in some conversation. We talked about family (she has 2 children), about work (she was flying to San Francisco for 2 weeks), and about church involvement (she was raised in the Catholic church but is no longer active).

When I asked about her interest in spiritual things, she replied that she is content with her life and doesn’t find a need for more religion. I would talk about spiritual things and she would talk about religion.

I had just installed the God Tools mobile phone app recently released by Campus Crusade for Christ. This app has several different gospel presentations helpful for different audiences. I was looking for an opportunity to try this hi-tech way to share the old-old story.

I told her I had recently found this interesting app that talked about Jesus without talking about religion. Would she be interested? Yes, she would.

Somewhere over the middle of America at 35,000 feet, she heard about God’s love.

Each time I would try to engage her in some simple questions, I would hear “I’m not interested in religion.” But each time I would ask if she wanted to continue, I would hear “Sure.”

I think it was her interest in the hi-tech tool. But God was reaching out to her. Although she “wasn’t interested in religion”, she heard of God’s love, of our sin, of God’s forgiveness through Jesus, and of her need to receive it.

Although, she did not indicate any response, I was relaxed in knowing that I had a secret weapon. She thought it was a hi-tech presentation. I knew the Holy Spirit would be reminding her of spiritual truths.

It was a successful adventure.

What adventures have you had using new tools to talk about Jesus?

“Kay, I know what Keith does, but what do you do?” asked Chris. Some of you may have wondered this same thing. Actually, my role has several parts, but the one that I really like to tell others about is our team wives.

I have the privilege of working with them to discover their niche in ministry and help them be equipped for it.

How do we do this? We pray for each other, practicing new ministry skills, create individual plans for our personal development and discuss issues we face as wives and mothers in full-time ministry.

Shannon wrote,

“If you get a chance would you pray for a neighborhood women’s outreach we’re having at our house tonight?  It’s called “Sweet Monday” and we hope it will be a venue to help build deeper relationships with women in our neighborhood.

Several of my friends and I have invited a few dozen ladies in our subdivision to come for a time of dessert, fun, and getting to know each other. It is a simple gathering that we hope communicates how deeply Jesus loves us as we love one another.”

Sweet Monday is creative evangelism that reaches out to women one sweet invitation at a time for Christ. Women laugh a lot, learn from each other and leave with a simple introduction to Jesus Christ. Shannon and her friends are seeing some of their neighbors begin a personal relationship with Jesus.

God has given me a passion to help women succeed. I could spend hours talking about all the ways our team wives are using their giftedness–Tammy the organizer, Lei the mentor, Ingrid the evangelist, JoAnne the discipler, Stacey the blogger, Holly the servant, Andi the planner, Kathy the giver….

We are touching lives of other women and families that God has brought into our lives. Together we are making a difference.