It was the early 1960s and our country was in the midst of the cold war with the Soviet Union. President Eisenhower had, earlier, decided to initiate development of a spy satellite system to obtain strategic intelligence data on the Soviets. A massive program was instituted to accomplish this goal and, as part of the overall program, the concept of an all-military facility to provide R&D support and duplicate imagery processing from these satellites, was ordered. This began the establishment of the AFSPPF, which operated for 15 years in that capacity. This story describes the mission of the AFSPPF and what it was like to work in an Ultra Top Secret operation, whose mission was not disclosed until now. No-one involved with our operation could talk about it to anyone, including family, friends or anyone else in the military, unless they were properly cleared and were amongst those who needed to know. All content herein was derived from the personal recollections of our remaining members and from what little official declassified documentation we could find. It is hoped the reader will enjoy learning what it was like to work in such a unique Top Secret unit of the U.S. Air Force. AFSPPF was an Air Force Headquarters unit created in 1961 to conduct the research and development (R&D) necessary to provide the best possible production equipment and techniques in support of special projects specified by the Secretary of the Air Force. There is no declassified documented record of the activity within the facility. The facility operated in a Top Secret, Black Opps mode throughout its entire 15-year lifetime. Aspects of the units mission evolved over time, however the mainstay was production, evaluation and distribution of classified imagery, from spy satellites and aircraft, to our nations intelligence community, in a timely manner. The production and evaluation directorates, within the facility, also assisted with the many R&D projects in support of the overall national reconnaissance program. It was an exciting time for all of us. We not only provided the best photographic intelligence possible to our nations leaders, but also had a lot of fun doing it. It was hard work and long hours, all with no individual recognition given. There was, however a degree of self-satisfaction involved. We knew and understood the objectives and often saw details of our advisories military capabilities that were never exposed to the public eye. The satellites and aircraft involved have now all been declassified and our mission can now be revealed, so all can see what really went on in such a Top Secret operation. This true story is not only about our mission, but about the unique, exciting and sometimes humorous experiences of the people who did the work.

A fresh understanding of United Methodism organization.

Too many believers have been told that knowing Jesus demands action, but still have no idea where to begin. Jesus commanded us to live differently in the world. He sent us on a mission to those around us. So where do we start? How do normal people live as missionaries every single day, abroad or in their own neighborhoods?In Our Mission In Christ, Andy Ziesemer (Zeez-mur) helps Christians prepare for a life on mission. This book will help you understand, prepare for, and then live out the mission you've been assigned. Living on mission wherever you are will result in changed families, communities, and cultures. Believers need to be equipped for the work so they can find the lost.This book is a practical guide for living out Our Mission In Christ, Becoming People who will change the World.

A Christianity Today 2015 Book Award Winner Is your organization in danger of Mission Drift? Without careful attention, faith-based organizations drift from their founding mission. It's that simple. It will happen. Slowly, silently, and with little fanfare, organizations routinely drift from their purpose, and many never return to their original intent. Harvard and the YMCA are among those that no longer embrace the Christian principles on which they were founded. But they didn't drift off course overnight. Drift often happens in small and subtle ways. Left unchecked, it eventually becomes significant. Yet Mission Drift is not inevitable. Organizations such as Compassion International and InterVarsity have exhibited intentional, long-term commitment to Christ. Why do so many organizations--including churches--wander from their mission, while others remain Mission True? Can drift be prevented? In Mission Drift, HOPE International executives Peter Greer and Chris Horst tackle these questions. They show how to determine whether your organization is in danger of drift, and they share the results of their research into Mission True and Mission Untrue organizations. Even if your organization is Mission True now, it's wise to look for ways to inoculate yourself against drift. You'll discover what you can do to prevent drift or get back on track and how to protect what matters most. "No organization is exempt from the danger of drifting away from its original mission. In Mission Drift, Peter and Chris provide solid guidance for remaining laser-focused on core values--from the board level to daily organizational culture. This book is a timely message for any organization working hard to remain Mission True." --Wess Stafford, president-emeritus, Compassion International "Peter Greer and Chris Horst have identified one of the deepest challenges any leader faces: how to ensure that an organization stays true to its mission, especially when that mission becomes countercultural." --Andy Crouch, executive editor, Christianity Today "Essential reading for twenty-first-century believers if we are to gain new vision, unity, and strength. Mission Drift is spine straightening, mind clearing, and courage inspiring. This book is true-north wisdom for leaders--and a gift of hope for the world God loves." --Kelly Monroe Kullberg, founder, The Veritas Forum and author, Finding God Beyond Harvard "Many of us in leadership have learned--often painfully--that our mission needs to be built into every aspect of our organization, from leadership to receptionist, from hiring to implementation. We can't afford not to follow the lessons in this valuable book." --Richard Stearns, president, World Vision U.S. and author, The Hole in Our Gospel "Keeping an eternal perspective is essential in our work. Mission Drift gives a clear message inspiring and challenging us to intentionally keep Christ at the center of all efforts." --David Green, founder and CEO, Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc. "Written with clarity, boldness, and urgency, the authors provide insight into and examples of the causes and solutions to drift using the stories of real organizations...A must-read! Recommend this book to every business and church leader."--CBA Retailers+Resources "This book is a must-read for leaders, easy to read, practical, engaging and inspirational. The principals outlined not only apply to major corporations, but also to any organization, church and even to one's own personal life. Mission Drift . . . will be well worth the effort and time, and you will find yourself wanting to begin implementing what you've learned to safeguard your organization from drifting away from its mission."--Foursquare.org

In this new Urbana Onward minibook, Greg Jao addresses common myths that result in a passive engagement of our intellect with our faith. He provides key disciplines for Christian discipleship of the mind, how we can love God with our minds in community, obedience and humility.

Classical orthodoxy, the Reformational understanding of the gospel, and the Great Awakening beliefs and behaviors, including missions/missiology, reflect what the evangelical movement and its mission should be if it is to have a future. Evangelicals must work and pray together in resubmission of their ways of thinking and working to the Word and the ministry of the Holy Spirit. They must recover the faith of the fathers and the mission of the revivalists. Nothing less will rescue American missions from a marginal role. Nothing less will reinvigorate historic doctrine and get missions back on the track to world evangelization.

Theology shapes who we are and how we organize to transform the world. Especially written for required United Methodist classes, this accessible book uses a Wesleyan theological frame—connection—to help readers understand United Methodism’s polity and organization as the interrelationship of our beliefs, mission, and practice. The book is organized into four parts—United Methodist beliefs, mission, practice, and organization. Polity and organization are primary embodiments of The United Methodist Church. Functional in nature, these aspects of the denomination facilitate our mission to make disciples for the transformation of the world. This book connects denominational governance and organization to our beliefs as well as our mission. A clear understanding of our identity—as Methodists with Wesleyan roots in connection—and our purpose—to make disciples for the transformation of the world—can help students of United Methodism navigate this treacherous landscape as present and future leaders. Warner also addresses the estrangement between theology and institutional structures and practice by framing governance practices and organizational structure within a Wesleyan theology of connection. This approach will assist current and future denominational leaders in understanding their practices of administration and participation in polity as a theological endeavor and key component of their ministries. This textbook has been updated with changes from the 2016 General Conference.

THIS IS NOT A BOOK ON EVANGELISM. As a Christian, we all have a mission. Also, as a Christian, we should implement purposes in our life. Everything that is made is made for a purpose. To use something other than what it is made for can be disastrous. This book talks about what can and will cause us to lose our mission and purpose. It also challenges us to allow others to see Christ in us with specific traits that drive us and lead us to fulfilling our purposes. It offers a contrast to the cries of our secular society that reaches out and talks about what we need to do to discover our mission and purpose in Christ. Upon reading this book, a person will find out that many biblical characters experienced problems, but they continued in accomplishing their purposes and mission. In other words, they did not give up. We should not let anything hinder or cause us to quit.

"We are called to acknowledge how beautiful, true and good it is to start a family, to be a family today... We are called to make known God's magnificent plan for the family...as we accompany them amidst so many difficulties." - Pope Francis, February 20, 2014 For Pope Francis, as for his predecessors Saint John Paul II and Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, this is more than just talk. It is a rallying cry. This is the focus of the 2015 World Meeting of Families: Love is Our Mission: The Family Fully Alive. For Catholics everywhere, it is a time to renew our focus on the family, the "domestic church" - what it means, why it's important, how it fits in with God's plan for us, and how we can become who God created us to be. Here is a new, fresh, and insightful way to do just that. In Love is Our Mission, you can easily explore Catholic teaching on marriage, family, sexuality, children, human dignity, and the sanctity of life. It's a guided tour through scripture and 2000 years of Church teaching in which you are awakened to the relationship God wants to have with you, the family, and ultimately the world. Self-reflection or group discussion questions bring the teachings home in a very real and practical way. As Pope Francis has said, we must, "keep before us the beauty of the family and marriage, the greatness of this human reality which is so simple and yet so rich..."