| Lausanne Connecting Point - December 2005 |
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NO TRANSLATION AVAILABLE In This Issue:
Lausanne World Pulse
The December issue of Lausanne World Pulse (LWP) is now online. LWP is a monthly online publication committed to serving those involved in global evangelism and missions by providing relevant news, information, and analysis from around the world. This month, www.LausanneWorldPulse.com features the following articles:
Also available are:
To submit articles or ideas for consideration for use in LausanneWorldPulse.com, please email Cet e-mail est protégé contre les robots collecteurs de mails, votre navigateur doit accepter le Javascript pour le voir . Questions about LausanneWorldPulse.com may be directed to Cet e-mail est protégé contre les robots collecteurs de mails, votre navigateur doit accepter le Javascript pour le voir . LWP is a partnership of the Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization (LCWE) and Wheaton College's (Chicago, IL., USA) Institute of Strategic Evangelism, Evangelism and Mission Information Service (EMIS) and Intercultural Studies Department.
A Christmas Greeting from Doug Birdsall
Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ! What a joy to share with you as we observe Advent and anticipate the coming celebration of our Savior's birth. I am reminded of how Christ first came to earth. In the midst of Imperial domination and oppression, he came to us in utter humility, frailty, and poverty. In the midst of an Imperial census, he was known only to his parents and to a few unnamed shepherds. In the midst of death, he lived. I am amazed as I meditate on the immensity of God's plan of salvation and the fulfillment of his centuries old promises packaged in the smallest, most helpless, and unassuming package--the smallest ray of light in the midst of much darkness. As we celebrate Christmas this year, we remember this fulfillment of Gods promises. We remember his identification with us in our poor and helpless state. We remember his presence with us, Immanuel. We remember all of this, even as we remember the horror of the South Asian Tsunami just one year ago. In the midst of much death and destruction, the tsunami challenged the Church's head, heart, and hands. As we reached out to help aid and comfort, and grappled with and affirmed God's sovereignty in the midst of this tragedy, Ajith Fernando (Sri Lanka) encourages us in his work "After the Tsunami" to not only express sorrow for the slain, but to believe God can bring good even out of tragedy (Romans 8.28). Fernando reminds us to allow God to comfort us and to remember the glorious end that is surely coming, even as we groan with creation and as God groans with us (John 11.33-35). As I traveled in Asia these past few weeks, I am reminded of the hope and life that is in Christ. I am reminded that he is the one who is growing the church, his word is going forth, and he is faithful to finish the good work that he has started in all of us. I was encouraged visiting Phnom Penh, Cambodia where I taught pastors and their wives. Although the church in Cambodia was nearly exterminated during the years of the Pol Pot killing fields, now it is one of the fastest growing churches in the world. I was heartened by the vibrancy of the Church during my recent visits with leaders from Cambodia, Japan, Malaysia and Korea as they daily live out the hope of the gospel. As we celebrate the coming of our King, let's remember his promises to return again, to wipe away every tear, that there will be no more death, no more crying or pain or shame for the old order of things shall pass away (Revelations 21.4; Isaiah 25.8). Everything will be made new. It is in that hope we not only celebrate what the Lord has already done in fulfilling his promise of sending us a Savior, but we also celebrate all of the promises he will fulfill when he comes again. Come Lord Jesus come, and may all the earth rejoice! May you, your family, and your ministry experience all the blessings and joy of Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year! Yours in Christ, German Lausanne Committee Leadership Change
Birgit Winterhoff follows Ulrich Parzany
Rev. Birgit Winterhoff lives in Halle and is a full-time pastor of the Evangelical Church of Westphalia. She follows Rev. Ulrich Parzany who was unable to be a candidate for the Chair because of age. Apart from her ministry as a pastor in Halle/Westphalia, the 52-year-old Winterhoff is also Deputy Chair of Evangeliumsrundfunk in Wetzlar (ERF - Good News Evangelical Broadcasting). She was Chair of the Arbeitsgemeinschaft Jugendevangelisation (an association that joins evangelistic youth ministries) for seven years and contributed to the planning and carrying out of the Christival (the biggest German Christian Youth Congress) in 1996 in Dresden and in 2002 in Kassel.
Hartmut Bärend, General Secretary of the AMD, and Hartmut Steeb, General Secretary of the German Evangelical Alliance were also elected as Deputy Chairs. The German Lausanne Committee will be led by an Executive Committee that "apart from the Chairpersons" consists of:
In connection with the changes in leadership and leadership structure, and to use synergetic effects, the GLC office will move to the German Evangelical Alliance headquarters in Bad Blankenburg (Thuringia). The Coalition for Evangelization operates as a network of ministry leaders of evangelistic and mission-orientated movements in Germany. The goal is to further Evangelization in Germany, to initiate and carry out mission projects and to search for new ways to reach people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. At the last Board meeting, the Lausanne Covenant was summarized by Hartmut Bärend, General Secretary of AMD, in the following way:
Lausanne Movement in Germany Book Now Available
Eine neue Vision (a new vision), Die Lausanner Bewegung in Deutschland. (the Lausanne Movement in Germany) is now available. This German-language book gives background information on the Lausanne Movement and its impact on Germany including:
The book was edited by Arndt Schnepper and Roland Werner. It may be ordered under the ISBN: 3-7751-4448-X from the publishing house of Hänssler-Verlag, D- 71087 Holzgerlingen. Email: Cet e-mail est protégé contre les robots collecteurs de mails, votre navigateur doit accepter le Javascript pour le voir
TENTMAKING CONFERENCE IN LISBON, 2006
Lausanne 2004 Forum Issue Group 10B will hold a conference for their Issue Group in Lisbon, Portugal 2-5 February 06. Go to the blog www.tentinlisbon.blogspot.com for more information or email Cet e-mail est protégé contre les robots collecteurs de mails, votre navigateur doit accepter le Javascript pour le voir . Organizers plan to make the blog interactive and will post updates on the subjects of interest to the Conference.
LAUSANNE WOMEN's NETWORK NEWSLETTER, December 2005 By Robyn Claydon
The Forum on World Evangelization hosted by Lausanne in Thailand at the end of 2004 seems a long way away now, but the memory of 1500 people from 130 countries all working on particular issues related to obstacles and opportunities for the gospel still lingers. All the reports from the Issue Groups are now on the web: www.lausanne.org and are a great resource for individual Christians and churches. Do look them up and feel free to download those that are of particular interest to you and encourage church leaders to look closely at the suggested outcomes from each group. Some countries are organizing one-day consultations in their city on one or more of the papers and encouraging Christian leaders to attend so that the impact of the Forum and the work which came from it will spread far beyond the Forum itself. LAUSANNE YOUNGER WOMEN's NETWORK Some of you will remember that a few years ago I was able to take 18 gifted young Christian women leaders from fourteen different countries to Berlin for a week with five older women who were experienced in a variety of ministries. This was a “Mentoring� conference where ideas and ministries were shared, gifting examined, the Scriptures studied, prayer experienced and the city of Berlin explored! Twelve of those who were with us in Berlin were at the Forum and each was involved in one of the Issue Groups. It was wonderful to meet up again and to see what the Lord has been doing in each of our lives since we had all been together. Let me share with you the ministry of two of these young women. EVANGELINE SITA IN INDIA Some years ago Evangeline started teaching a small group of children from a slum in Hyderabad to read. She sat with them under a tree and from this humble beginning has grown a school of 560 children with Evangeline as the Principal. I had the great privilege of visiting her school and speaking to the children and teachers at the end of a week's Vacation Bible School. Hundreds of children, not only from her school, but from other schools nearby had come every day for a week in the holidays to learn about Jesus. The singing of these children and their smiling faces is something I will always remember. I had an opportunity to speak to the children on the importance of the Bible as God's wonderful letter to each of us and at the end of the session each child was given a New Testament in his or her own language. Evangeline Sita is a young Christian woman who has put the needs of her country ahead of her own personal ambitions, choosing to sit under a tree in the slums at the end of her university training instead of seeking paid employment as a teacher. As a result, God has used her in a mighty way. Many of the children who attend her school, St Andrew's School, Hyderabad, can’t afford the small fees that need to be charged and Evangeline herself does not take a salary so that any money received goes straight to the school. If you would like to support the work of Evangeline and help some of the children continue at the school, do let me know and I will put you in touch with her.
Latin American Theology Journal Premiers Spring 2006
By Dr. Lindy Scott, General Editor It is with great excitement that we announce the publication of Latin American Theology, a new journal in English from the Fraternidad Teológica Latinoamericana. The journal will make its debut in the spring of 2006 and will consist of two issues per year. Most writings of Latin American Protestants have not been available to the English-speaking world. This journal will begin to remedy that situation as it opens a greater dialogue between Christians in Latin America and people from around the world who read English. Each issue of the journal will include several solid articles around a common theme and include unique reviews of important books. Books originating in Africa, Asia, and the "North" will be reviewed by Latin American Christians and books by Latino authors will be reviewed by colleagues from around the world. The first issues will contain articles by a younger generation of Latin American Christian leaders and articles from others including:
Book reviews will include:
We welcome articles, book reviews, and potential members for the editorial board. The cost of the Journal is $50 annually for academic institutions (two issues per year) and $35 for individuals. The BoletÃÂn Teológico (in Spanish) of the Fraternidad Teológico Latinoamericano (three volumes annually) is also available at the same price. For more information on subscribing, please contact: Dr. Lindy Scott, Editor, Cet e-mail est protégé contre les robots collecteurs de mails, votre navigateur doit accepter le Javascript pour le voir The Mission begins with Prayer
It's easy to be overwhelmed by the many things for which we all need to pray. Sarah Plummer has taken the initiative to help many refocus their prayer life. In 2003, Sarah Plummer was in hospital undergoing tests for a serious health condition when she suffered massive heart failure. Her coronary arteries dissected, and normally death would have followed within minutes. Yet, Sarah's life was spared by God's amazing intervention as she was rushed into an operating room already prepared for open heart surgery. Sarah now lives under the shadow of a rare genetic condition that could end her life without warning. God has used this experience to deepen and focus her compassion and prayer for the lost. In 2004, Sarah initiated and released the first prayer journal "40 Days with the Risen Lord." This prayer tool is to be used from Easter Sunday to Ascension Day each year. The journal is ready for 2006 and has been designed to be used year after year. "40 Days with the Risen Lord" is a simple tool with rich, Bible-based theology. It is not an in-depth treatise on prayer, but rather an engaging and accessible resource for everyone. "40Days With the Risen Lord" encourages personal prayer, and joins those prayers with countless others who are using the Journal around the world - all engaged in praying at the same time for an outpouring of God's Spirit on the nations. For information on resources, go to www.40dayswiththerisenlord.org. Resources include
Orders close March 1, 2006 Go to http://www.40dayswiththerisenlord.org for more information.
Praise & Prayer
By Glenda Weldon, Chair, Intercession Working Group, LCWE He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." Luke 2: 5-14 As we celebrate again the wonder of "the Word [Who] became flesh and made his dwelling among us", may our heart be stirred with a renewed zeal to see the whole world have an opportunity to hear and respond to this glorious Good News! Lausanne Consultation on Jewish Evangelism (LCJE)
Theology Working Group The Theology Working Group is holding its first Consultation early in 2006. Please pray for Dr Chris Wright as he plans this meeting and seeks the Lord for the most significant issues to be addressed by this group. Younger Leaders Gathering Please pray for:
Intercession Working Group
Christian Research
HIV/AIDS Consultation
Ethne 06 - Ministry among the Least Reached People Groups
Tentmaking Please pray for:
Bioethics 2004 Forum Issue Group There has been huge development in the global scene with embryonic stem cell research, and major international controversies. Please pray for:
Wales Lausanne Committee 10 years ago Wales Lausanne was involved with others in a professionally conducted and recorded survey of the churches in Wales. Ten years further on and Wales Lausanne has now begun to coordinate the work of a repeat survey. This will need the cooperation and goodwill of each of the many denominations and networks in Wales - but they believe this can be done. Please pray for the working groups they have set up as they prepare proposals and feasibility studies for a National Consultation Day in the New Year. Welsh follow up to 2004 Lausanne Forum They are more than half way through the task of writing to every local church leader in Wales. They are passing on a copy of the recently published colour news sheet for the Lausanne Movement, together with a national poll sheet asking the leaders to list the five biggest issues they face in their work, and a cover letter from their chairman Ron Spillards. This is a mammoth task – but they thank God for the willing help given by the denominational offices. Their next task will be to analyse the replies and prepare a programme of seminars and workshops to address the needs identified in the poll. |
In addition, she has preached on the radio (morning devotions on Radio WDR) for 13 years and contributed to different projects of the Arbeitsgemeinschaft Missionarischer Dienste (AMD - an organization that initiates evangelistic projects within the Evangelical Church in Germany).
