Mark Turney’s new book, Encountering God’s Missionary Spirit, is now available for free download in PDF e-book format from the Decade of Pentecost website. Mark is Associate Director of the Acts in Africa Initiative.

The book presents the Holy Spirit as “God’s Missionary Spirit,” focusing on His central role in fulfilling God’s mission to call to himself a people out of every tribe, language, and nation on earth. It is designed to equip church leaders to better guide their churches into authentic New Testament experience and practice. It is further designed to help leaders mobilize their churches for Spirit-empowered mission and church planting.

Mark Turney is the Associate Director of the Acts in Africa Initiative. You can download the book for free by clicking on this link: Free e-Book.

Reprinted with permission from the Intercessory Prayer Call Report from Acts in Africa Initiative, a ministry aimed at inspiring authentic Pentecostal revival in the Assemblies of God in Africa.

Matthew Elliot, project director for the Africa Study Bible, speaks with PneumaReview.com about this soon-to-arrive resource that millions of Africans have been praying for.

PneumaReview.com:  Where did the idea for the Africa Study Bible originate?

Matthew Elliot

Matthew Elliot: After ten years working in Africa and observing the needs first hand, by 2005 the leadership of Oasis was convinced that there was a great need for Bibles that fit the African context–bringing the power of Scripture to the continent in a new and culturally relevant way. With nearly every full evangelical study Bible having been written from a western perspective, Africans lack a resource that connects with their culture and experience. In our experience this really hinders discipleship. After exploring a number of options with major Bible publishers over the next five years, our board eventually decided in 2010 to embark on a landmark study Bible project that would eventually be named the Africa Study Bible.

PneumaReview.com: How has the church in Africa responded to this project?

Matthew Elliot: In many ways, it has been overwhelming. Many great leaders have volunteered their time, saying “we really need this, how can I help.” Whole denominations and movements of millions of people are waiting for their pastors and leaders to have access to the ASB. It is not uncommon for us to hear, “when is this going to be ready.” I basically never hear from a leader, “great, send me an email when this is ready.” Instead a typical response of a denominational leader is more like, “We need this as soon as possible. Please, will you come to our pastor conference next November to share the news of this amazing resource. And, here are the names of a couple of our professors who can write for you.”

We have also printed copies the Gospel of John and Genesis which have been received with open arms and and enthusiasm.  Including the free app of John, about 10,000 people have seen John and the response has been strong. A recent Google Store review from an African reads, “This is the best Bible I ever read. I love it please do the whole Bible like that it is awesome.” Pre-launch, thousands of African followers are gathering at our Facebook pages and are reviewing the ASB content on our online review website, anxiously awaiting its release.

PneumaReview.com: What organizations or denominations have supported it?

Anticipated cover for the Africa Study Bible.

Matthew Elliot: Tyndale House Publishers has been a cornerstone development partner, English will launch with the NLT. I don’t want to overstep in declaring all these names are official partners, but they have all helped in at least some way, many by helping with our writer network.  These include Wycliffe, Moody, Trans World Radio, The Association for Pentecostal Theological Education in Africa, SIM, Association of Evangelicals in Africa, Willow Creek Church, CRU, UMI, Center for Early African Christianity, ACTS, IFES–to name a few. There are over 50 denominations represented through the contributors of the ASB including Baptist, Pentecostal, Assemblies of God, Anglicans, Presbyterians, and Redeemed Christian Church of God.

PneumaReview.com: When will the African Study Bible be complete?

Matthew Elliot: We anticipate the English completion and launch in African countries by the end of 2016 and a US launch in February 2017 for Black History Month. Our goal is for it to be in French by 2019 and Portuguese by 2020.

From the University of Nottingham: Professor William Kay, one of the world’s leading Pentecostal theologians, gives his vision of the importance of theology. It is concerned with ‘thinking logically about God’ and facing the great questions of human existence.

Study Bible Series

There has been a growing number of Study Bibles released in the last few years and Dony Donev is reviewing them along with some classic Study Bibles. Dr. Donev will be evaluating each of the Bibles by focusing on subjects such as the gifts and ministry of the Holy Spirit, free will and the security of the believer, as well as prophecy and eschatology.

Ed Stetzer and Philip Nation, eds., The Mission of God Study Bible (Holman Bible Publishers, 2012).

The Mission of God Study Bible is edited by Ed Stetzer and Philip Nation and contains essays and commentaries by over 50 contributors including Billy Graham and Jack Hayford. Significant place is given to quotes from Francis Dubose’s 1983 book, God Who Sends. The primary purpose is to introduce a missional manifesto to the church of the 21^st century. Beside book introductions, essays and cross-reference annotations, it promotes ideas from the Bible as QR Codes, text messages and notes from God using the Holman Christian Standard Bible text as a foundation.

The initial commentary introduces God’s mission in creating the world and the divine plan to reconnect with His creation into a promise of an eternal land. The passages of our usual consideration (Numbers 6 and Jeremiah 18) are not particularly commented; however, the introduction to Numbers begins with a beautiful analogy of how serious God takes His mission leading the Israelites for 40 years in the wilderness. The notes on Jeremiah also contain Glenn Barth’s Dwelling and Working for God in the City.

Although not written primarily by Pentecostal authors, the commentary on Acts includes a very charismatic key to revival through making disciples using: (1) empowerment, (2) education and (3) evolving. This process is described as inclusive and hospitable to all in two articles on the gentile conversion in Acts 10. The mission of the Christian ministry is enriched by the gifts of the Spirit, as annotated by Ed Stetzer in 1 Corinthians 14, through the source, search and sovereignty of spirituality. But the mission is also inseparable from the marketplace as described in connection with the Corinthian church Acts 18.

Ed Stetzer

The pneumatological and ministry related commentaries connect well with the urgency of missiological eschatology starting with the phrase “In the Spirit” (Revelation 4:2). The notes conclude with another article with an urban theme on the Heavenly City. The eschatological mission in Revelation is explained as “Refocusing and Renewing the Church.” An article about Hudson Taylor, missionary to China, is placed next to the story of the two witnesses, expressing the eschatological urgency to reach the whole world with the Gospel. This coincides with two commentaries on the Great Commission in Matthew 28, “The Mission of God and the Mission in the Church” and “Go Therefore.”

Overall a great missional tool with over 150 commentary notes and articles begins with the missional manifesto and concluding with the “Letters to the Church” from elder statesmen like Billy Graham, Jack Hayford, R. T. Kendall, Erwin Lutzer, Calvin Miller, and R.C. Sproul.

Reviewed by Dony K. Donev

Publisher’s page: http://www.bhpublishinggroup.com/products/the-mission-of-god-study-bible-hardcover/

God’s Appointed Times: A Practice Guide to Understanding and Celebrating the Biblical Holidays, By Barney Kasdan

© 1993, Lederer Messianic Publications, Baltimore, MD. ISBN# 1-880226-54-5

Written by the leader of one of the largest Messianic Jewish congregations in the world, this is more than a “how to” manual. In a simple, yet meaningful fashion, Kasdan leads the reader through biblical references and ancient observances, tying them nicely into word pictures of the Messiah. For those interested in going a step further, Kasdan outlines how a believer today might celebrate the feasts, including songs, recipes, and crafts for children. 136 pages, paperback.

God’s Appointed Customs: A Messianic Jewish Guide to the Biblical Lifecycle and Lifestyle, By Barney Kasdan

© 1996, Lederer Messianic Publications, Baltimore, MD. ISBN# 1-880226-63-4

Similar to God’s Appointed Times, this book dives into the life of the children of Abraham. Kasdan takes a cursory look at circumcision, the bar mitzvah, the Jewish wedding, as well as customs such as the mezuzah, the prayer shawl, and phylacteries. Readers gain a working knowledge of the biblical root, ancient observance, modern meaning in the life of a Jewish believer, and potential application. 160 pages, paperback.

Both Times and Customs are available at your local Christian bookstore, or by ordering directly from Lederer Messianic Publications at 1-800-410-7367