In This Issue:
Greetings!
These are exciting days, as together we prayerfully prepare
for the 2004 Forum for World Evangelization--which is just weeks away! Thanks
for your continued prayers for the Forum leadership team and participants. The
Praise and Prayer report below provides specific prayer needs for the Forum to
help guide your prayers.
Today's ENewsletter features reports from 2004 Forum Issue Group 19: Media
& Technology and Issue Group 24: Empowering Men & Women in Ministry. We
invite you to visit the Lausanne web site
for more information on the Issue Groups, including updated reports on their
preparation for the Forum.
May the Lord bless you!
Naomi A.
Frizzell - Editor
By Wing Tai LEUNG,
Convenor
Members: Members of this group range from the author of
MovieGuide to a producer of children's programming, from the pastor of a church
in India to the communications director of an international mission conference,
from a director and publisher of mass media to an Internet "webmaster." Many
members are media professionals with years of experience while others are
innovative start-ups. They have one goal in common: to redeem the media for
Christ and reach as many people as possible for the Kingdom of God.
Concerns: The concerns of this group are diverse. Some are
interested in the use of new media - such as the Internet - for evangelization
and training. Others are using entertainment mass media for promoting Christian
values. Some are interested in media education or literacy. Many are concerned
with using media in a culturally sensitive way that will be meaningful to target
users. Effective communication models of using media and technology form the
common concern.
Discussion Subgroups, Expected Outcomes:
- Media Specific Concerns: Explore common challenges faced by media
practitioners in Internet, Radio, Television, Magazine, Book, Film etc. The
media forms can dictate the message narrative, the audience reach and the
process of communication. There are communication issues such as content
treatment, editorial, narrative form, aesthetics, power structure, financial
backing and others. There are also theological questions such as the portraits
of Christ in media, use of parables, decision-making process and the ethics of
communication. Other issues may concern cultural and sociological realms, such
as cultural imperialism, unbalanced flow of information, gender-bias and
articulation of the native people in dialogue.
- Mission Specific Concerns: Explore the processes of evangelism,
discipleship, cross-cultural mission, church planting, Christian education etc.,
involving the media. We can explore issues of media- audience matching, cultural
reading of texts, media and interpersonal ministries coupling, cross-cultural
sensitivity, communication of the Word and confronting values and worldviews. We
can also explore the primitive versus sophisticated media forms, the resources
and effectiveness and the measure of impacts and outcomes.
- Communication Model Concerns: Explore the strength and weakness of various
models of communication for evangelization.
- Functional View: Follows a transmission of message and diffusion of
innovation process, aiming at conversion of individuals.
- Cultural View: Media for counter-culture. Media as cultural redemption.
- Technology View: Technology can be a dehumanizing system. Christian media is
an emancipation process for restoration of human dignity.
- Covenantal View: Media is a symbol for a covenant between God and human. The
Church is a covenant community and media follow the archetype of Christ the
Mediator.
- Linguistic View: Evangelization is a communication process. The emphasis is
on narrative form, media semiotics and faith stories.
- Developmental View: Evangelization is a liberation process for the
oppressed. Media is to give voice for the voiceless.
- Communicative View: Evangelization is a fellowship process. It is not a
sender-receiver relationship, rather an "I-Thou" dialogue. People are not
objects to be preached at but subjects to be engaged in dialogue.
- Other Views: Mass media as agenda- setting vehicle. Christian media need to
engage in the public opinion sphere. Information technology serves as a
participatory process with multiform story-telling capability. Folk media for
folk tales need a respect for integrity of material and heritage.
There will also be a separate stream on Discipling Visual Learners
and the expected outcome of the work done on this issue is:
- A challenge to the global church to seriously consider the importance of
reaching those who need to hear the gospel in a non-written form.
- Provide guidelines for churches and mission agencies as to ways in which
they can communicate and how stories can provide an excellent basis for
communicating.
- Draw attention of the global church to agencies that are already involved in
creative ways of reaching visual learners as well as suggesting ways in which
local churches with limited resources can reach these people.
Convener: Wing Tai Leung, Breakthrough Ministries in Hong Kong; Facilitator:
Mike O'Rear, Global Mapping and Lausanne Senior Associate for Technology; Visual
Learners Stream: Musili Roger Ndonga , North American Mission Board, Southern
Baptist Convention
IG24: Empowering Men & Women in Ministry
By Mimi
Haddad, Convener
More than at any other time in history, Christians around the globe are
rigorously examining what the Bible says about gender. As the body of Christ
discerns whether spiritual gifts come in pink and blue, we observe a burgeoning
of literature and great discussion at a global level. Therefore, the 2004 Forum
for World Evangelization has given nearly 50 Christian leaders, working in 35
countries, an opportunity to exchange ideas and determine ways men and women may
advance the Gospel together in church, home and society.
The gender forum, aptly entitled: "Empowering Men and Women in Ministry" has
engaged in a lively online dialogue that has explored the glory and challenge of
humanity created in God's image as male and female. We are asking hard questions
as to whether ministry is gift-based, rather than gender-based. We are also
assessing ministry from a biblical, theological, historical, socio/psychological
and missiological perspective. Since February, we have addressed the following
questions:
- What is a biblical perspective on the dignity and value of women?
- Is evangelism and missions furthered or hindered when organizations and
churches advance the spiritual gifts of all Christians?
- What holds women back from using their spiritual gifts?
- What impedes the mutuality of men and women in ministry and what strategies
might we engage to enlarge the Church's ability to empower the gifts of
Christians?
- How do we define abuse and how can we educate, intervene and prevent the
abuse of women and children?
Gender forum participants speak boldly on behalf of their biblical
convictions and ministry experiences. Common ground continues to emerge perhaps
because, unlike many others, missionaries have unique opportunities to observe
the biblical truth that, as Oluwakemi Alabi from Nigeria suggests "the gifts of
God are not gender bound."
Despite the enormous challenges and cultural complexities gender presents,
Uma David from India says she believes that from Genesis to Revelation, the
Scriptures impart equal value, dignity and ministry opportunities to both women
and men. Suppressing women as Gospel bearers is not a biblical value, insists
Uma. She writes, "The greatest barriers to the advancement of the Gospel are
often found inside the church! These can be barriers in our relationship with
God and with each other, including gender barriers. Satan uses them to make the
church weak and a poor witness for the Lord."
As missionaries (such as those participating in the gender forum) live out
the truth that God gifts all people for service regardless of gender, race or
class, they also provide fresh vision for mutual cooperation between men and
women. They serve as reformers by calling the Church to live a more credible and
biblical witness, thus gaining new opportunities and vitality for the Gospel
message. God's Spirit is indeed at work in our gender forum, as participants
from many cultures engage the biblical material with great rigor, finding the
message of mutuality flashing from the pages of scripture thus infusing new
inspiration for the equal dignity, service and worth of all who serve Jesus.
Record Number of Missionary Workers from Poland
Poland is experiencing an unprecedented missionary movement and preparing for
what may be its largest Christian revival in decades, says a key evangelical
leader who almost died for his faith in Christ.
Full Story: Assist
News
Latin Church Leaders & Internet Training
It's widely known that the church in Latin America is bursting its borders.
That means trained church leaders are in demand. Evangelical Free Church
Association's Keith Anderson says the challenge faced is how to get Bible
training to the leaders. In 2002 they launched an Internet school of theology,
but there's more. "There are a number of pastors who wanted more education, but
were not able to continue their studies for a number of reasons. The Latin
America Training Network (LATN) has responded to the needs of those leaders in
Latin America to allow them to overcome those obstacles and to train at the
masters' level," Anderson says. He adds they are well on their way to having the
advanced curriculum ready for launch in 2005 because "This is a tremendous need
that we're seeing. The number we use is about eight thousand new believers every
day in Latin America. This creates a huge leadership vacuum that LATN is
addressing."
Full Story: Mission Network
News
By Glenda Weldon--Chair,
Intercession Working Group
"I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned
I saw seven golden lampstands, and among the lampstands was someone 'like a son
of man,' dressed in a robe reaching down to His feet and with a golden sash
around His chest. His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and
His eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace,
and His voice was like the sound of rushing waters. In His right hand He held
seven stars, and out of His mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His face was
like the sun shining in all its brilliance. When I saw Him, I fell at His feet
as though dead. Then He placed His right hand on me and said 'Do not be afraid.
I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am
alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades. Write,
therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later. The
mystery of the seven stars that you saw in My right hand and of the seven golden
lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and
the seven lampstands are the seven churches." Revelation 1:12- 20
What a glorious truth to take time to pause and consider as we move into
"count down" time for the 2004 Forum! The Lord Himself is with us as we embrace
His agenda for our world and work together to see "His kingdom come on earth as
it is in heaven."
May we be flooded with the joy of His Presence today and be
refreshed and encouraged in Him while we do all that is needed in preparation
for the Forum.
PRAISE GOD FOR:
- The special edition Bibles being donated to 2004 Forum participants by the
International Bible Society.
- His continued blessing upon the preparations for the 2004 Forum.
PLEASE PRAY FOR:
- Leadership teams and all participants of the 2004 Forum Issue Groups.
- David Claydon (LCWE International Director) as he finalizes the list of
about 300 people who are to receive a Forum scholarship.
- Those who are finalizing details for onsite registration.
- Robyn Claydon (Forum Program Chair) as she pulls together all the details
for the Forum program.
- That those who are preparing the Bible Studies and those planning and
leading the evening plenary sessions will prayerfully seek God's guidance in all
aspects of their leadership role.
- Gary Barnes who is working with Thai Immigration officials to get visas
approved for all participants from countries where a visa is required.
- The process of having approved passport visa stamps for those travelling
from African countries. There are few Thai embassies in Africa.
IG12: Leadership
Thanksgiving to God for what He is doing
and is going to do at the Forum in developing Future Leaders for His use toward
fulfilling the Great Commission. "He who sacrifices thank offerings honors Me,
and he prepares the way so that I may show him the salvation of God." Ps. 50:23
PLEASE PRAY:
- For God's leading and anointing for the Taskforce as they prepare and make
decisions on Facilitators and other matters.
- That by the power of the Holy Spirit, Taskforce members, Facilitators and
Participants will cooperate with God toward the fulfillment of the Great
Commission. Ask God to catalyze in our midst a global movement of developing
Christ-like leaders.
- For protection from the enemy and for provision for finances, visas, time
and all else that is needed to attend the Forum.
IG13: Prayer in Evangelism
PRAISE GOD FOR:
- The progress being made in addressing the various topics that are part of
IG13.
- The provision of the funds needed for participant scholarships.
- Please pray for discernment and wisdom from God as summary documents are
being prepared for consideration of the whole group.
IG18: Evangelising Children
The convenors (Simon and
Wendy) and the facilitator (Leanne) met recently to begin consolidating the
final paper. They were very conscious of God's help as they met and read the
contributions of the working groups. Now they have more content than they can
possibly manage. Please pray that God will help them bring the very best out of
the "good."
IG19: Media & Technology
PLEASE PRAY for
this very diverse, experienced and creative group as they seek to:
- Find ways to use the new media such as the Internet for evangelization and
training. - Look at how to use the mass media of entertainment for promoting
Christian values, for education or literacy for the users and audience. Many are
concerned with cultural sensitivity of using the media that will be meaningful
to the target users. - Have keen insight and wisdom from God as they explore
effective communication models of using media and technology for the common
concern.
IG19: Media & Technology
Discipling Visual
Learners
PLEASE PRAY FOR:
- This group as they seek to prepare material that will alert the global
church to the importance of reaching those who need to hear the gospel in a non-
written form.
- Financial support of some of the participants, especially those from the
Two-Thirds World.
- The preparation of participants as many are heavily involved in the ministry
and in tight schedules.
- The Convenor and Facilitator. . .for wisdom and strength.
IG25: Making Disciples of Oral Learners
PLEASE PRAY
FOR:
- The 1.5 billion people who do not have access to the gospel and among them
the 70% who are functionally illiterate. Pray for means to communicate the
gospel to them in a way they can receive it and understand Who Christ is.
IG29: Bioethics
PLEASE PRAY:
- Their draft is being revised but they need more input from around the world
to turn principles into culturally relevant practical tools. They believe
bioethics is not just a high technology Western issue: it impacts all countries
whether they realise it or not.
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