In This Issue:
Lausanne World Pulse (LWP) emphasizes prayer evangelism this month and is available online at www.LausanneWorldPulse.com. This issue includes the following:
- “We are living in a generation that has all the material resources needed to evangelize the world. So why have we not completed the task? Why has twenty-seven percent of the world never heard the gospel? Because we do not pray.” John Abraham Godson, a native of Nigeria and a missionary to Poland, shares eight reasons why prayer is so important in evangelism.
- “God is opening the doors for world evangelism as we engage in prayer evangelism on our knees with fasting and prayer.” Helene NSIN OUM, who does prayer ministry among young girls and women in Cameroon, offers biblical insight into the importance of fasting in prayer evangelism.
- “We have consumed seas of ink and tons of paper writing about unity. We have not wasted time, neither strength nor resources. But we have come up to here. Would it not be the time for a new Pentecost? Only a Church filled with the Spirit will see racial, sexual, economic and ecclesiastical barriers fall down.” J. Norberto Saracco, from a speech given to the World Council of Churches.
- “MANI 2006 consultation convinced African church leaders that the Church in Africa is emerging as a viable, strong alternative leader of the continent. Already some Christians in the West have begun to look to Africa for leadership and one Anglican Bishop assured me that they 'are ready to give it.’” Chacko Thomas on MANI 2006 and the growth in missions in the African Church.
- “With everything God created, the Bible says, 'And God saw that it was good' (Genesis 1:10). I am sure he said the same after he gave every spiritual gift. However, the situation with enlisting, equipping, empowering and employing those with the spiritual gift of the evangelist today is not good.” Kumar Abraham, president of GoodNews Evangelistic Association, writes on the upcoming Second Asian Advanced Institute for Evangelists.
- “Conference organizers and delegates stood together to say to God, to those we work among, to government and to each other that we were rededicating our efforts to ensure that the status quo regarding homelessness in Canada can no longer continue.” Timothy Huff and Julia Goodhew on StreetLevel 2006, a conference about finding solutions to homelessness and poverty.
Plus, you will find:
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.
LAUSANNE MOVEMENT: A NEW VISION FOR THE 21ST CENTURY
A VIDEO
The 11 minute Lausanne Movement video is now available online. The video clips are provided in Windows Media format (.wmv).
For the optimal viewing experience (and to save the video to your computer) right-click on the desired video link on the video page and select "Save As."
23RD ANNUAL LCJE NORTH AMERICA CONFERENCE – FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS
By Dr. Theresa Newell, LCJE-NA Coordinator
 Seventy-five leaders in Jewish evangelism met 24-26 April 2006 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA for the 23rd annual conference of the Lausanne Consultation on Jewish Evangelism (LCJE) – North America. Under the theme “For Such a Time as This: The Urgency of Jewish Evangelism,” topics varied from a discussion of “New Methods for a New Day in Reaching our Jewish People for Yeshua” to national reports from Israel, Latin America and Canada by those working in Jewish outreach in those areas of the world.
Opened by the blowing of the shofar and the singing of the Sh’ma, the three-day conference also heard reports on a new graduate Jewish studies program of the Pasche Institute at Criswell College, Dallas, Texas, USA and the “Developments of Ministries, Congregations and Evangelism to Russian Jews Worldwide.”
Dr. Tuvya Zaretsky, president of the international LCJE council and editor of the Lausanne Occasional Paper No. 60 booklet titled “Jewish Evangelism: A Call to the Church,” memorialized the life and memory of Zola Levitt, well-known Jewish believer, author, and television teacher who died in early April.
Biblical studies on the meaning of “To the Jew First” from Romans 1:16, the connections between Bible Societies and mission work in Israel in the early 19th century, and Bible teaching from Luke 24:25-27 focused the participants on the Scriptures throughout the conference.
The next LCJE –NA Conference will be held in San Antonio, Texas, USA 16-18 April 2007. The next every-four-years International LCJE conference will be held in Budapest, Hungry 9-14 August 2007, Dr. Kai Kjær-Hansen of Denmark, LCJE International Coordinator, announced.
Agreement with the Lausanne Covenant is required for membership in LCJE. Information on forthcoming LCJE events and the LCJE quarterly Bulletin may be found at www.lcje.net. Papers from LCJE conferences are available here http://www.lcje.net/papers/2006.html.
SIXTH ASIA LAUSANNE CONFERENCE ON EVANGELISM (ALCOE VI)
The Sixth Asia Lausanne Conference on Evangelism (ALCOE VI) will be held from 22-26 May 2006 near Manila, Philippines. The theme will be "A New Heart for the Evangelization of Asia." Organizers say the gathering will focus on three objectives:
1. Reawakening passion for the evangelization of Asia
2. Identifying effective strategies
3. Recommitting hearts to the task.
Please be praying for this important congress and its leaders who are looking forward to an historic breakthrough this event may offer for the evangelization of Asia.
Members of ALCOWE Executive Committee include:
Dr. Jong Yun Lee (chair), Dr. Hwa Yung (vice chair), Rev. Makito Masaki (secretary), Lim K. Tham (treasurer), Dr. John Chong Nahm Cho, Dr. Ken Gnanakan and Rev.
Stephen Mirpuri.
Dr. David S. Lim is Chair of the ALCOE VI Preparation Committee and is National Coordinator, Lausanne Philippines.
MAKING DISCIPLES OF ORAL LEARNERS
The International Orality Network has announced that the Making Disciples of Oral Learners book is now available for purchase. Paperback copies of the book are US$2.00 each plus shipping and handling. Hardcover copies of the book are US$9.95 each plus shipping and handling. Ministry quantity discounts start at five copies.
To preview the book online, or download it free, please go to: http://www.oralbible.com/obc/Booklet_Contents.php
For more information or to order the book, please email
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
. Or write to ION, PO Box 248, Waxhaw, NC, 28173 USA.
The 2006 Conference on Making Disciples of Primary Oral Learners will be held 14-16 November 2006 in Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA. More information will be available soon online at www.oralbible.com.
EVANGELICAL TRAINING DATABASE
A multi-lingual online database of training courses is now available at www.trainforChrist.org. The site also includes information on how to search the site and post information.
The database has been developed in partnership with Trainers of Pastors International Coalition (TOPIC) and coordinating with the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA), member bodies of the International Commission for Evangelical Theological Education (ICETE) and the Missionary Training Service (MTS).
The new book Contemporary Creed: a mini-course in Christianity for Today, from Dr. John Morris, is an apologetic of Christianity useful to anyone concerned about evangelization. The book is being endorsed by a number of leaders including the following:
“This unusual book is a tour de force. It turns profundities of Christian doctrine into crisp, epigrammatic and sometimes jocular verse, full of imaginative parable and simile; but it is more. Here is the expression of a hard-won, ruthlessly honest personal faith. The terse, well-documented commentary that goes with the verse is exactly right, guiding the reader lucidly to the heart of each problem, and suggesting ways of understanding without skirting the difficulties.”
Revd Professor C. F. D. Moule, Professor Emeritus, University of Cambridge
“This book will be very helpful for seekers who find conventional pedagogy a stumbling block and for established Christians who wish to refresh their faith by getting at it from a different angle. Contemporary Creed by John Morris maps a challenging stretch of terrain between apologetics and catechesis, and does so in an innovative and helpful way.” The Right Revd A. Theodore Eastman, D.D., Bishop of Maryland (retired), USA
Dr. John Morris: Contemporary Creed: a mini-course in Christianity for Today
(O Books ISBN 1905047371) $14.95
By Glenda Weldon, Chair, Intercession Working Group, LCWE
Excerpt from the “A Prayer for the World” - published by Global Day of Prayer
“Almighty God, Father Son and Holy Spirit,
As a united worldwide body of believers, we are gathered today
to honour and glorify Your Name.
We bow before Your throne of grace
and acknowledge that You are the Creator of heaven and earth.
You have existed through all eternity and in You all things hold together.
There is no one like You, holy and righteous in all Your ways.
We submit to Your authority and sovereignty as the King of the universe
and pray with one voice to enthrone You in our hearts
and to honour You before the world…..
Come fill the earth with Your glory as the waters cover the sea.
The Spirit and the Bride say: Amen! Come Lord Jesus”
That day is coming. Halleluiah! May we, as Paul exhorted the believers in Corinth
“…stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain.”
Global Day of Prayer - June 4
Praise God:
• Prayer events are being planned in 174 countries so far! For more information go to www.globaldayofprayer.com.
“For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.” Habakkuk 2:14
Younger Leaders Gathering
“Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray.” Psalm 5:2
• Currently 600 people have submitted their applications. Please pray that God will help the regional selection representatives and their teams identify the right younger leaders to attend the Gathering.
• Pray for God's help as the Program Committee continues their work on finalizing the overall program for the Gathering.
“Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being, and in the hidden part You will make me know wisdom." Psalm 51:6
• Pray for wisdom in finding the right delegates from certain areas where caution is needed for security reasons.
• The desire is that the Younger Leaders Gathering will have a ripple effect, including the follow-up Global Connection events in 33 cities worldwide. Pray for wisdom and guidance as the Lausanne leadership develops and plans these gatherings.
• Pray for the people presenting the workshops, especially those collaborating with someone else in a different nation, for wisdom, for sensitivity to God's voice and an ability to communicate the workshop material in an accessible and interactive way.
“Ask of me and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession.” Psalm 2:8
• Pray that God will raise up special prayer intercessors. Ideally, leaders would like five or six people to attend the Gathering and give themselves wholly to interceding for God's purposes during and through the Gathering.
• Many younger leader application forms are expressing a real desire to be better informed about the big picture of global evangelisation. Pray that the Lord will give Lausanne wisdom to bring out the most relevant and important information on the spread of the Gospel and present it in a way that engages all participants.
“And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19
• Pray for those raising funds to provide scholarships for those in need. About 40% of the projected needed funds have been raised.
“He told them, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field’.” Luke 10:2
• The 2004 Forum for World Evangelization identified intentionality in the developing of future leaders as one of the most critical issues for global mission today. Pray that the worldwide Body of Christ will have a growing awareness of this need, a commitment to see it happen and develop creative ways to release emerging leaders to serve effectively.
Western Europe
Special request from Germany
Please pray for healing for Wolfgang Polzer, a Christian journalist Germany. He is suffering from a partial paralysis of his facial nerves. The exact cause remains unknown. He is unable to work and the doctors have said that recovery may be slow.
Eastern Europe
• The evangelical church in Easter Europe is seen as being fairly divided. In many countries the denominations find it difficult to cooperate closely with others. Pray for the unity among brothers and sisters in Christ from different Christian traditions.
• Pray for spiritual revivals in countries in Eastern Europe that have a very small evangelical presence (such as Poland, Slovakia, Croatia, Slovenia and others).
• Pray for the situation in Belarus. After the recent presidential elections there is fear that the government would make it difficult for the foreign missionaries to live in Belarus. The plans of summer outreaches in cooperation with foreigners are being cancelled because of the fear on the part of local churches.
Oceania
• Pray for the 15 Australians and 12 from Oceania as they prepare to attend the 2006 Younger Leaders Gathering. Pray that God would bless them richly and renew their passion for the evangelisation of their nations.
• Pray also for the financial support for those attending, for the travel arrangements and opportunity to travel as a group, for the mentors as they prepare themselves for this significant involvement and for engagement with the 2004 Forum Compendium which is now being distributed.
• Please continue to pray for further connections with people to bring into the network.
• Pray for Global Day of Prayer in New Zealand, Australia, Fiji, Somoa and Tonga, Pray that God will heal their lands and that during the 90 Days of Outreach and blessing that God would bring many into the Kingdom for His Glory.
• Pray for the Australian Nation Wide Alpha Campaigns and Good News Australia Campaign over the next few months, that God would be glorified, that the gospel of Christ will be proclaimed clearly and that lives will be transformed by His Spirit from darkness to light.
Kenya
• The Government - There is a lot of improvement, but so much still needs to be done in the area of security, food security and good governance. A few weeks ago Kenya lost five members of Parliament and seven other leaders (including an Anglican bishop) in a plane crash. Please pray for their families and for the nation mourning there deaths.
• HIV/AIDS – HIV/AIDS is still rampant and the number of AIDS orphans and widows is increasing. Please pray for those ministries struggling to help these widows and orphans. There is a great need for both financial and human resources.
Bioethics
Please pray for:
In the USA, a government body has just announced funding for a study to research the applications of genetic enhancement. This is not therapy or to respond to disease, but a project about enhancing normal characteristics. There has been no discussion about the ethics of this, and few will realise the implications. Many believe this may be a resurgence of the evil of eugenics in a high-tech guise, and given health needs in America, never mind globally, some leaders are calling this “a disgraceful abuse of resources.”
Hidden and Forgotten People
Ethne to Ethne
Please pray for:
• Divine favor at the many upcoming meetings where the vision for the Ethnê movement is being shared, that it might be clearly and accurately communicated and God’s heart expressed for the Least-Reached Peoples.
• Completion of the www.ethne.net website to serve the four strategy groups and other workgroups and for the programmers working on this project.
Harvest-Linked Prayer Strategy Initiative
Please pray for:
• The editing, translation, and video production of the remaining six testimony videos for the HeLPS initiative to be rapid, effective, efficient, and ready for distribution by late summer. (See list of distributors at www.ethne.net/DVD/Distributors)
• Accelerating momentum in mobilizing the global prayer force and sending laborers to reach out among the Least-Reached Peoples region by region, beginning with South Pacific.
Wholistic Gospel Movements
Please pray for:
• A series of Gospel Planting Movement Trainings going on in Asia and Africa over the coming months. Pray that people will have God's wisdom to know if and how they need to change their current approaches and the courage to do so.
• As leaders work on sharing information and training materials.
Crisis Response Network
Please pray for:
• Divine appointments, open doors of opportunity, and God’s favor to locate and connect with key leaders in every region who are both Unreached People Group-passionate and ready to prepare coordinated response strategies and teams for crisis situations.
• The preparation of training materials for these crisis response teams.
Young Leaders Network
Please pray for:
• God’s guidance in timing, location, and strategy as leaders set their initial meeting and for truly global leadership with a clear Unreached People Group-focus.
• The Holy Spirit to build a forum of global relationship among young leaders to carry forward His vision for the One-Fourth World.
Workers in a Changing World
Please pray for:
• Ongoing networking and collaboration between a growing family of workers so that they can maintain and accelerate forward momentum.
• The several task forces and their individual assignments to be successfully undertaken with great unity of heart and spirit.
Member Care
Pray for effective ways of collaborating to strengthen service of field workers and lengthen their time of service through member care, particularly those serving among least-reached peoples.
Kickoff 2006 Outreach Initiative – 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany
The 2006 Fifa World Cup will take place in Germany (9 June to 9 July). With the encouragement of the German Evangelical Coalition, an initiative called kickoff2006, with the theme “kick-start your faith”, was created. Kickoff2006 is a network of Christians, facilitating the involvement of local churches, denominations, national and international ministries and communities in outreach during the event.
There will be Regional, National and International Prayer coverage. International prayer networks, churches and ministries all over the world will be praying for the German nation during the event, when they will be watching the matches on their TV screens. They will pray for the national spiritual transformation of Germany, for the security of the event and the international evangelistic outreach. Kickoff2006 will hopefully connect via Internet with international prayer supporters during the event so that there can be an international connection and input.
A prayer calendar will be published on the kickoff2006 website, which will offer daily prayer points regarding Germany as a nation and with a few event points. Praise and worship will be an important part of all intercession activities.
|
