|
NO TRANSLATION AVAILABLE
In This Issue:
The March issue of Lausanne World Pulse (LWP) is now available at www.LausanneWorldPulse.com.
Articles include:
Plus . . .
World News Briefs
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
.
LWP is a partnership of the Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization (LCWE) and Wheaton Collegeâs (Chicago, IL., USA) Institute of Strategic Evangelism, Evangelism and Mission Information Service (EMIS) and Intercultural Studies Department.
Movement for African National Initiatives â MANI 2006 Prayer Report
Submitted by Dr. Dean Carlson, MANI Southern Africa Regional Coordinator and OC Africa Area Director (AMR)
Thank you for praying for the MANI 2006 Continental Consultation on African National Initiatives held in Nairobi, Kenya!
An African proverb states, "The man who beats the drum doesn't know how far the sound goes." From the reports weâve received, the drum beat has resounded around the world with many responding in united prayer for the advance of Godâs Kingdom on the African continent.
The Lordâs Hand On MANI 2006
Together we prayed, and the Lord graciously answered! MANI 2006 gathered together 520 leaders of influence from 65 countries. Nearly every African nation was represented by a delegation of high level leaders representing the major sections of the Body of Christ. Our hearts were bound together with the compelling convictions that Africaâs hour has come and that we fully embrace the responsibilities to complete the Great Commission in Africa and make a major contribution to global mission.
We celebrated the vibrant growth of the African Church and voiced profound hope in the Lordâs intentions for the continent. This hope was framed with realism as we engaged critical issues facing the Church in Africa, such as the necessities of discipleship, transformational leadership, united prayer, the empowerment of women for ministry, HIV/AIDS, holistic community transformation, the challenge of Islam, etc.
Convergence With A Purpose
There was a sense of convergence as national delegations each took a major step forward in mobilizing the Body of Christ in their nation toward a concerted effort for the Great Commission. In countries with a pre-existing national initiative process, fresh momentum was exerted toward finishing the task. Countries new to the process are taking the first steps toward a country survey and mobilization process.
At the regional level, countries banded together to plan joint mobilization initiatives. Regional consultations are currently planned for Francophone West Africa (2007) and Southern Africa (2008), with a continental consultation proposed for 2011. A MANI database is being developed as a platform for the collection and dissemination of critical information on the Harvest. Mass prayer mobilization for evangelization and transformation is underway, energized by the Global Day of Prayer to be held annually until 2010.
At the continental level, we came together to affirm Dr. Reuben Ezemadu as the new MANI Continental Coordinator, with Ross Campbell installed as a Continental Advisor and regional coordinators renewed/replaced as per the decision of the delegations at the regional meetings.
Your prayers helped to ensure that there were no major crises, no overriding security problems and suitable travel arrangements. Thank you!
Prayer For The Nations
As delegations return to their respective nations, please pray for: 1) wisdom as they report back to leaders in their nations and share how God is at work across the continent, 2) courage to take the next sacrificial steps necessary to mobilize the whole Church in their nation for the unfinished task, and 3) creativity and perseverance to help churches raise and deploy the transformational leaders necessary to take the whole Gospel to the whole nation. May the Holy Spirit empower His Church to disciple the nations!
Thank you for echoing the drumbeat far and wideâŚfor Godâs glory in Africa and the world!
Tentmaking Conference Report
By Berit Helgøy-Kloster
Lausanne Senior Associate for Tentmaking
Lausanne 2004 Forum for World Evangelization Issue Group 10B, The Local Church and Tentmaking, met in Lisbon, Portugal 2-5 February.
Antonio Rudolph invited us, and arranged the stay at ABLA, a tentmaking pension helping run a work among people on drugs. Seven members of the original Issue Group participated in the Conference and were joined by others sharing the vision. The participants represented all continents except Oceania.
The main subject of the Conference was Tentmaking teaching, based on a document from Derek Christensen. Mats Tunehag, from the Business as Mission Issue Group, introduced us to their vision, which is a part of the tentmaking strategy.
Our own teaching from the Bible was on Psalms 1, 2 and 3, lead by Felicity Bentley-Taylor, and emphasized the basic calling of tentmaking--to reach the people groups, and to meet our enemies. The Holy Spirit was strongly present, and created a wonderful fellowship both in our studies as well as at our sightseeing trips. It was a great inspiration to meet the optimistic local evangelical churches in Portugal.
Our Issue Group will meet again in India in November 2007.
Second Asian Advanced Institute For Evangelists
By Dr. Kumar Abraham, President, GoodNews Evangelistic Association, Inc.
The Church today is looking for ways to reach out to the growing circle of those who are âharassed and helplessâ (Matthew 9:36), but often does not know how to do it. God has used His evangelists throughout history to mobilize, and motivate His Church to evangelism.
Here is an invitation for you, to send the evangelists in your midst to be trained. I would like to inform you about the SECOND ASIAN ADVANCED INSTITUTE FOR EVANGELISTS to be held from 4-18 June 2006 in Manila, Philippines.
We will study the theology of the evangelist and his life and spend much time talking about how to make those with the spiritual gift of the evangelist more relevant and useful to the Church in their homeland. We will blend both classroom and practical ministry exposure while they are here. Having a good grasp of English is important.
The training is co-sponsored by the GoodNews Evangelistic Association Inc., Proclamation Evangelism Network (USA), Billy Graham Center - Wheaton IL, and the Next Generation Alliance of the Luis Palau Association. You may read more about this at www.heralds.org. The instructors (Dr. Lon Allison, Dr. Tim Robnett and Dr. Kumar Abraham) are qualified and experienced in the field of proclamation evangelism.
We would like to request you to kindly inform any evangelists in South, Southeast and Asia Pacific and or forward this email to any evangelist you know personally to apply as soon as possible. We are accepting only twenty-five from all of South and Southeast Asia as well as the Asia Pacific. Thank you very much for your prayer and help in getting this message out.
To Apply Online: http://www.heralds.org/aaie/apply.php
Or Write: Q Plaza P.O. Box 112, Cainta, Rizal 1900, Philippines.
Lausanne Archives Collection Expands
The Lausanne Committee for World Evangelizationâs archives at the Billy Graham Center Archives and Museum has expanded. Paul Ericksen, Director of Resources for the BGC Archives and Museum, says âThe collection has been updated with Executive Director Carl Johansson's files and the London International Office files (Gottfried Osei-Mensah, Jack Dain, John Howell). These records help fill in more of the story of the organization's development and activity in the first half of the 1980s.â
The files are now open for use by researchers and an updated descriptive online guide is available at: http://www.wheaton.edu/bgc/archives/GUIDES/046.htm <p>
Lausanne thanks Paul Ericksen and his team at the Billy Graham Center Archives for making these materials available!
Religious and Non-Religious Spirituality Conference
The Lausanne Issue Group on Religious and Non-Religious Spirituality in the Western World continues to build on the foundation laid in Thailand in 2004. This strategic group is addressing the often neglected missions challenge of new religious movements, alternative religions, and emerging spiritualities in the Western world. After the 2004 gathering the group completed a substantial document on this topic in the form of Lausanne Occasional Paper No. 45 that was published in book form in addition to the electronic file on the Lausanne website. The issue group has also created a website found at www.lop45.org in preparation for a mini-consultation to be held in Hong Kong from 30 September to 6 October 2006.
The issue group's website will facilitate discussion among issue group members and interested colleagues as they address topics under the headings of theology, methodology and praxis. Specific issues will include a look at critical missions contextualization, popular culture and emerging spiritualities, divinination and syncretism, a Christian presence in neo-spiritual milieus and the creation of neo-monastic communities. Select members of the group will prepare papers that will be prepared for group discussion in Hong Kong, and all of the areas under discussion will then be assessed after the 2006 meeting as the group prepares for the Lausanne centenary gathering in 2010.
For further information or participation in the discussion group visit the website at www.lop45.org or contact Ole Skjerbaek Madsen (
Cet e-mail est protégé contre les robots collecteurs de mails, votre navigateur doit accepter le Javascript pour le voir
) or Lars Mollerup-Degn (
Cet e-mail est protégé contre les robots collecteurs de mails, votre navigateur doit accepter le Javascript pour le voir
).
Encouraging Signs for Baptists in Australia
Source: Baptist Union of Australia
Increasing numbers of newcomers and less people drifting out of congregations are positive signs for future growth in Baptist churches across Australia, says the movementâs national leader Rev Dr Ross Clifford.
Figures released recently by the National Church Life Survey (NCLS) reported a growth of 8% across Australian Baptist churches in the last five-year survey period (1996-2001), a marked increase on a 1% growth figure in the previous five-year period.
Newcomer growth â that is people who have joined the church in the past five years with no previous church background â rose to 9%, while people drifting out of congregations fell from 6% to 4%.
The NCLS reported the Assemblies of God had the largest denominational growth in the 1996-2001 period of 20%, followed by the Baptist Churches and the Churches of Christ (7%). Most other denominations reported declining figures.
The report also highlighted the continuing decline in denomination allegiance, with many church attenders changing denominations in the last survey period.
Another challenge the report highlighted included the aging of congregations, particularly in mainstream denominations such as Anglican, Uniting, Presbyterian and Baptist. This would lead to continuing decline, unless more newcomers were attracted to churches as the switching pool continues to shrink.
More from Australian Christian Television
By Glenda Weldon, Chair, Intercession Working Group, LCWE
"Friends, let me go over the Message with you one final timeâthis Message that I proclaimed and that you made your own; this Message on which you took your stand and by which your life has been saved. (Iâm assuming, now, that your belief was the real thing and not a passing fancy, that youâre in this for good and holding fast.) The first thing I did was place before you what was placed so emphatically before me: that the Messiah died for our sins, exactly as Scripture tells it; that he was buried; that he was raised from death on the third day, again exactly as Scripture says; that he presented himself alive to Peter, then to his closest followers, and later to more than five hundred of his followers all at the same time, most of them still around (although a few have since died); that he then spent time with James and the rest of those he commissioned to represent him; and that he finally presented himself alive to me. It was fitting that I bring up the rear. I donât deserve to be included in that inner circle, as you well know, having spent all those early years trying my best to stamp Godâs church right out of existence." 1 Corinthians 15:1â9 (The Message)
We are ambassadors of the King of Kings, empowered and commissioned by him to go into all the world with this astounding and life changing message. May God flood our heart afresh with his presence and power as we reflect again on all he has done for us and called us to do in order that his Kingdom may come on earth as it is in heaven.
Younger Leaders Gathering
APRIL 2006
Week 1
Prayer Focus: Preparation
"Now David said, âSolomon my son is young and inexperienced, and the house to be built for the Lord must be exceedingly magnificent, famous and glorious throughout all countries. I will now make preparation for it.â So David made abundant preparations..." 1 Chronicles 22:5
-
Pray Godâs blessing of the fund-raising efforts involved in ensuring that the Younger Leaders Gathering is fully funded.
-
A continual announcement of the YLG throughout the world is needed. There are many younger leader recommendations coming in, but more are needed from some parts of the world. Pray for contact people who would recommend younger leaders.
-
Pray for a stirring of the hearts by the Holy Spirit with great anticipation and excitement as to what the Lord will do before, during and after the Gathering in the hearts of the participants and through them.
Week 2
Prayer Focus: Guidance
"This also comes from the Lord of hosts, Who is wonderful in counsel and excellent in guidance." Isaiah 28:29
- The working group on Worship has many ideas on how to usher the participants into Godâs presence during the Gathering. Pray for clear guidance from God regarding what worship team, which songs and what format to be used, how best to blend in different expressions of worship and prayer, so that all will be comfortable in their worship.
- Three international plenary speakers have already confirmed their participation. Pray for Godâs guidance as to how they can best relate to the younger leaders and inspire and encourage them to live and lead like Jesus.
- The seasoned mentors will have to create an active learning environment and facilitate the small groups at the Gathering. Their role is very vital. Pray for Godâs guidance in their selection.
Week 3
Prayer Focus: Unity
"Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity!" Psalms 133:1
- Pray for unity in the Spirit and clear communication as the members of the Administrative, Selection and Program Planning Committees continue to work out all details of the Gathering. May the Lord continually grant them His thoughts and desires for the YLG so that His purposes would be established and fulfilled.
Week 4
Prayer Focus: the Lausanne mandate â Peace
"These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." John 16:33
- The reality of the persecuted church â those suffering for their faith and those who live in constant fear of their lives â needs to be increasingly on the agenda of the whole Body of Christ. At this time, pray for the witness of love and good works to those who are the instruments of persecution. Also pray for the multiplication of men and women everywhere who will be Godâs instruments for bringing about change and the right of freedom of conscience for all people.
Hidden and Forgotten People
Ethne to Ethne 06 - "Ethne to Ethne - this generation"
The main theme of the recent Ethne to Ethne 06 Conference was getting the gospel to reach the remaining 6900 Unreached People Groups, which is 27% of the world population.
Please pray:
- For the leadership of Ethne as it transitions from South East Asia to Latin America.
- For upcoming follow-up activities, consultations and exchanges. Pray that Godâs presence will continue to permeate and under gird these activities.
- That awareness about Unreached People Groups (UPGs) and Least Reached People Groups (LPGs) will continue to grow in the church all over the world.
- That God will raise us more passionate intercessors and leaders who will stand in the gap in prayer till the task is accomplished.
- For more laborers; that God will raise up and touch laborers for these fields. Pray especially for a release for churches and missionaries from the 2/3rd as they learn to become part of the missionary force.
- For open doors, open heavens, anointing, open hearts, open hands and provision for laborers already working in these fields.
Lausanne Asia
Please pray for ALCOE 06 will be held in the Philippines from 22-27 May 2006.
Eastern Europe
Eastern Europe and Eurasia are comprised of 20 countries with 188 least-reached peoples remaining among them. Serbia and Montenegro lead with 66.8% of their population, almost 7 million people remaining least-reached or less than 2% evangelical and less than 5% adherents to any form of Christianity. However, in sheer numbers, Russia exceeds them with over 12 million least-reached people in 72 different people groups. The church overall in Eastern Europe and Eurasia is small and struggling but there are rays of hope in places like Ukraine.
Please pray:
- For God to set the captives free from bondages to addictions such as alcohol and drug abuse, sexual addictions, pornography, and gambling in order that they may be as lights in the world, examples of Godâs grace and goodness in Jesus.
- That the Holy Spirit searches for the lost of the remaining 188 Least-Reached Peoples relentlessly and demonstrates to them Godâs goodness that leads them to repentance.
- That the Church in this region will be bold and fearless in preaching the Gospel - Godâs power unto salvation.
- For God to pour out His heavenly provision through those whose hearts are completely His so that He supplies and multiplies all resources needed for reaching those who have not yet heard the good news.
- That the spirit of prayer will sweep through the church and revive it.
Prayer requests from WIN â Window International Network:
Western Sahara
According to the United Nations refugee agency, some 60,000 Saharawi refugees were left homeless after heavy rains and flooding in early February severely damaged three of five Saharawi refugee sites around Tindouf. The unusual torrential rains wiped out houses and schools and damaged hospitals. Moulud Said, the Saharawi Republicâs ambassador to the United States, lost his home, forcing his wife and son to stay with friends.
Please pray for:
- The Saharawis to receive food, health care and shelter as a result of this disaster. Pray for wisdom and leading and direction for relief groups to provide adequate help for them.
- God to use this disaster to bring international awareness to the Saharawisâ plight and decades of suffering.
- God to bring forth a solution for the Saharawis to return to their motherland, Western Sahara. Pray for them to have sovereignty over their nation and democratic rule.
- Saharawis to be rewarded for their vigilance and good faith in trusting the United Nations for a peaceful resolution to this conflict by seeing their dream for a free and fair referendum.
- The many Christians who have been involved in helping the Saharawis would increase their relief effort during this crucial time. Pray that they would continue to be encouraged and strengthened.
- Saharawi Muslims to see their need for salvation through Jesus Christ.
Sources: United Nations News Center, Integrated Regional Information Networks, Moulud Said.
|
