| Lausanne Connecting Point - February 2007 |
|
|
|
|
NO TRANSLATION AVAILABLE In This Issue:
Reaching people today with the gospel of Jesus Christ requires the use of both traditional and non-traditional forms of outreach. As the Church, we must use all means possible to deliberately reach out to a lost and hurting world. The February issue of Lausanne World Pulse focuses on Evangelism and Postmodernism. Authors discuss postmodern thinking and culture—and help equip readers in using non-traditional, yet effective, means to emphasize the distinctiveness of the Christian faith. Here is a sample of the articles you will find this month:
You will also find the following articles:
The March issue of Lausanne World Pulse will focus on Environmentalism and the Gospel—an evangelical and biblical response and reaction. Questions or comments about Lausanne World Pulse may be sent to Denne e-postadressen er beskyttet mot programmer som samler e-postadresser, du m sl p Javascript for kunne se den. . For more information on how to submit an article, please visit www.lausanneworldpulse.com/submit.php. By Andy Goodacre ( Denne e-postadressen er beskyttet mot programmer som samler e-postadresser, du m sl p Javascript for kunne se den. )
Twelve younger leaders from across Europe gathered recently in Poland, together with two older mentors, with the following three aims:
At the beginning of our time together, we reflected on the positive effects which the Malaysia gathering had upon each of us – the strength of small groups, learning and connecting with peers from around the world, having a sense of entering into a movement with a rich heritage, and yet at the same time being very aware of the huge need for new and creative ways to live and share our faith in the world of which we are now part. We recognised in particular, that the Europe we are living in offers unique opportunities which were not available to any previous generations. The increase of cheaper, better transport, the rise of English as a common European language, the rapid spread of new technology and the high level of political openness means we are living in a time of immense opportunity in Europe. And within some of the nations represented, there are encouraging signs of growth in some churches, and of new, innovative and indigenous models of church planting and developing community. Yet at the same time, the needs in our generation, in particular among young evangelical leaders, are significant. Those from post-communist countries spoke of a lack of trust and co-operation among Christians and different churches, of individualism and a lack of outward focus. We recognised an ongoing need for resources in these countries, both material resources and training and teaching resources. Younger leaders in the west have a need for greater clarity, to be able to focus on the core activities to which they are called, despite the temptation to be busy and involved in a high number of different projects and tasks. Younger leaders throughout Europe have a need for older leaders to walk with them, to invest in them, to mentor them. Where this exists, the difference is significant. There is a high level of loneliness among young leaders seeking to make a difference and often being misunderstood, both by older leaders and by their peers outside of the church. And the challenge to incarnate the gospel, and to speak of Jesus in ways which truly connect with contemporary culture – characterised by post-modernity, a growing searching for spirituality, and by high levels of migration and the rising influence of Islam – means younger leaders need as much appropriate help and support from peers and mentors throughout Europe as possible. As the weekend progressed, our discussions moved on to possible steps which we as younger leaders in Europe might begin to take, or help to make happen, in partnership with other younger and older leaders. We expressed a desire to offer more younger leaders the opportunity to learn trans-culturally and to build relationships across Europe, so as to grow together, pray together and support one another. We want to honour the past, particularly the culture and essence of the Lausanne Movement, and continue to operate with a spirit of humility, unity in diversity, reflection and practice, and a commitment to mission. At the same time, we want to support, affirm and challenge each other in finding new ways of living out our faith, and growing in our leadership, in light of the challenges and opportunities of the new Europe. Practically, this means we want to work towards a number of goals. We hope to identify and equip as many mentors as we can find within Europe. While we are still younger leaders, we recognise that we too have a responsibility to train and equip the next generation, as well as receive input and mentoring ourselves. We want to offer ways of connecting younger leaders with older mentors, through facilitating smaller national and trans-cultural mentoring groups, and by working towards a larger Europe-wide younger leaders gathering, with an emphasis on mentoring and relationships, between now and the end of 2009. We are intending to have another meeting of this working group of younger leaders before the end of 2007. In the meantime, a core group of five will work at communicating with as many older leaders and Lausanne groups/associates in Europe as possible, taking their input and advice, as well as beginning to map out more concrete steps towards reaching these goals. By David Parker A conference centre at Limuru, near Nairobi, Kenya, was venue for a first consultation of the recently reconstituted Lausanne Theology Working Group (LTWG), with the participation of the World Evangelical Alliance Theological Commission (WEATC). About 25 theologians from 15 countries met 12-17 February 2007 to study the theme, “Following Christ in a Broken World.” Dr Chris Wright, convenor of LTWG, who is also International Director of Langham Partnership International, led the conference, while Dr Rolf Hille, Rektor of Bengel Haus, Tubingen, Executive Chair of the WEA TC, who was unable to attend, was represented by Dr David Parker, WEATC’s Director of Publications and Administration. Rev Doug Birdsall, Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization (LCWE) Executive Chair, was also an active participant. Professor Esther Mombo of St Paul’s University, adjacent to conference venue, Jumuia Conference Centre, was the local organizer assisted by Mercy Ireri. Six major papers were given over the course of the five day conference, supported by more than twice as many case studies drawn from the practical experience and ministry contexts of participants. Papers considered issues involved in discipleship in contexts such as areas of Power and Violence, Suffering and Disaster, Ethnicity, the Globalised Marketplace, and questions related to the Uniqueness of Christ and Jesus as the Truth in the Postmodern world. Case studies varied from those dealing with children, the aged, migrant workers, through “the challenge of ‘reaching’ the ‘reached’ world” of Europe, mission in post-genocide Cambodia and in post-communist Romania, to ethnic reconciliation in Kenya, relativism in Senegal, pluralism and post-modernism in Japan and paganism in Africa. Participants’ experiences and insights from countries like Kenya, Senegal, Ghana, Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines, and various parts of East and Northern Europe as well as the United States, Britain and Australia provided considerable extra material and understanding. Numerous issues were raised that could not be covered in the time or within the framework of the consultation. A detailed summary of the various presentations and resultant discussion was developed and became a working document for the conference. It is planned to publish the major papers in their revised form in a journal such as the WEA TC’s “Evangelical Review of Theology” or in a special compendium. It is also hoped that the case studies will circulate in regional and specialist journals. Material will also be posted on the LCWE web site. The consultation, the first to be held since the TWG was reformed under the leadership of Dr Chris Wright, aimed to identify key theological issues relevant to the task of world evangelization in the lead up to the Lausanne III conference to be held late in 2010. The theme of the conference was therefore broad and the discussion comprehensive. Several common and important themes emerged during the proceedings which will become the subjects of further consultations to be held in succeeding years—focusing on the Whole Church (2008), the Whole Gospel (2009), the Whole World (2010). At the conclusion of the intense and wide-ranging theological discussion, the final session was spent considering the strategic and practical implications of the ideas and convictions which had been raised.
Highlights of the 2006 Scripture Language Report include:
“The end of a productive year for Bible translation in the UBS offers the opportunity to reflect on the status of the mission — what has been accomplished, how that mission has changed, and what remains to be done,” says Dr Philip Towner, Director of Translation Services. “The same UBS declaration which confirmed the central place of Bible translation within our mission also gave rise to our current Translation Strategy and Priorities initiative, designed to give shape and guidance for the translation mission in the next 10-15 years. With this research in hand, we now have a clearer understanding of the needs for Scripture and Scripture products of national Bible Societies and churches around the world, and we are fully committed to the task of meeting these needs.” More (Adobe PDF Document)
More:
According to a study released recently by the World Health Organization (WHO), efforts are needed to encourage greater collaboration between public health agencies and faith-based organizations (FBOs), if progress is to be made towards the goal of universal access towards HIV prevention, treatment, care and support by 2010. The report, Appreciating Assets: Mapping, Understanding, Translating and Engaging Religious Health Assets in Zambia and Lesotho, estimates that between 30% and 70% of the health infrastructure in Africa is currently owned by faith-based organizations, yet there is often little cooperation between these religious organizations and mainstream public health programs. The study focused on Lesotho and Zambia, countries with HIV prevalence rates of 23.2% and 17%, respectively in 2005. It found that Christian hospitals and health centers are providing about 40% of HIV care and treatment services in Lesotho and almost a third of the HIV/AIDS treatment facilities in Zambia are run by FBOs. The report concludes that greater coordination and better communications is urgently needed between organizations of different faiths and the private and public health sectors. “Faith-based organizations are a vital part of civil society,” said Dr. Kevin De Cock, director, Department of HIV/AIDS, WHO. “Since they provide a substantial proportion of care in developing countries, often reaching vulnerable populations living under adverse conditions, FBOs must be recognized as essential contributors towards universal access efforts.” More (Adobe PDF Document) From a report by Mickey Noah, Baptist Press
“The North American Mission Board has a long history of evangelism and church planting among the variety of language and ethnic groups in North America,” said interim NAMB President Roy Fish. “Out of the 1,725 churches Southern Baptists started in 2005, 59 percent were either African American or ethnic congregations. We are a denomination committed to reaching across racial, ethnic and cultural lines with the Gospel. ... And today, we are proving that by the way we invest our mission dollars,” Fish added. “NAMB recently adopted a strategic direction,” he continued. “One critical element of this strategy includes the identification of segments of lostness among all people groups in North America. Today’s unveiling of the People Groups website begins this process of identification. For how can we evangelize those who we do not know exist?” Fish asked. “More and more, we are finding that the people groups of the world, which are the focus of our international mission efforts, are also represented among our own population in the United States,” said IMB President Jerry Rankin. The website helps pastors, church staff and church members better understand and minister in their changing communities by knowing what ethnic groups live nearby and how many people they encompass. Users can scroll through census data to determine the nationalities and language groups present in their state or province, city and even down to neighborhoods. Because the People Groups website is an interactive, two-way avenue of information, website users also can request missions expertise from North American and overseas missions personnel for a particular people group, and participate in online discussion forums with other people group workers registered with the website. In addition, a resource database permits the user to search for available ministry resources on the Internet for thousands of languages. The People Groups website also enables registered users to report back on people groups in their areas -– including cultural characteristics, the people groups’ degree of evangelization and ministry opportunities. Once reported in by Web users in the field, this information will be accessible on the website for all users.
Joel News focuses on reports about the global prayer movement, major advances on the mission field, global trends, strategic cooperation among Christians, revivals, community transformation, church planting and remarkable miracles. "The reports have to be substantial," says Van der Woude. "They need to be about God's acts in our time. A large section of what we receive as 'Christian news' is about church-political issues, opinions, and a whole range of activities and initiatives. In the midst of this I always ask the question: where is God moving in such a way that people outside the Church take notice and are being impacted at an existential level? That's news that matters and still rarely makes it into Christian papers and magazines. The book of Acts didn't stop at Chapter 28. God's Kingdom is still progressing in many places in the world, also in Europe. Joel News will continue to serve active Christians with this kind of news." |
Following the Lausanne Younger Leaders Gathering in Malaysia in September 2006, a number of younger leaders in Europe have been thinking and praying about their response to this significant gathering and this significant movement in world Christianity.
The number of languages into which at least one complete book of the Bible has been translated reached 2,426 at the end of 2006, according to the United Bible Societies’ (UBS) 2006 Scripture Language Report. The report records each Scripture translation carried out by UBS or another translation agency which is received at the library of either the American Bible Society (ABS) or the British and Foreign Bible Society (BFBS).
The World Evangelical Alliance’s Religious Liberty Trends report notes three major trends in 2006 “which threaten to deeply and painfully impact Christians through 2007.” These trends include:
The Southern Baptist Convention’s North American Mission Board (NAMB) and International Mission Board (IMB) have launched a new North American People Groups website (
2007 marks the 10th anniversary of Joel News which started as an inspirational newsletter, a “window to the world” for local Christians in Utrecht, The Netherlands. Interest in the e-zine spread quickly and applications came in from across the nation, not stopping at the borders. Over the past ten years Joel News has developed into a global news service on the advance of God's Kingdom. "Our mission has not changed," says founder and publisher Marc van der Woude. "We publish encouraging news and trends on what God is doing worldwide, to help Christians stay in the flow of His reality and mission."
"Ten years seems a short period, but on the Internet we're one of the oldies," says Van der Woude. "When we started, only 5 percent of the Dutch population had Internet access. You had to dial in to your provider with a slow 64k phone connection. Today over 80 percent of the Dutch have Internet access, and 50 percent enjoy a fast broadband connection. With the Internet our scope of reporting and the ability to stay in the loop of developments on the frontline has increased dramatically. We've built up an extensive network of sources and contacts, which keep us abreast of what's happening. Our weekly e-zine is being read in over a hundred nations."
