Even with the phenomenal opportunities we have to spread the gospel today, much of the world still waits for the good news of Jesus. The numbers reveal the need:
* Of more than 11,000 people groups, some 6,400 remain unreached (that is, less than 2 percent of the population is evangelical Christian).
* More than 2,000 of these groups have a population of 100,000 people or more.
* Of these 2,000 large groups, slightly more than 600 are still unengaged.
* Some 4,100 groups with a total of 450 million people have no portion of the Scripture available in their language.
* Each day the world population grows by about 500,000, and the number of people not having an adequate opportunity to respond to the gospel increases by almost 91,000.
Read the rest of the article, including the seven steps, from Church Central and Building Church Leaders here.
KIBATI, Congo, Nov 5 (Reuters) - Clutching a small pack of high-energy biscuits, Clementine Riziki slowly chews her first meal in more than a week. Nine days ago, she fled her village in Democratic Republic of Congo’s eastern North Kivu province when attacking Tutsi rebels burned down her house and stole her belongings. To compound her worries, her family has since doubled in size. Amid the chaos, debris and noise of a makeshift camp for tens of thousands of civilians displaced by the violence, Riziki gave birth this week to twins, just a few kilometres (miles) down the hill from the rebel front line.
Plans for the Covenant World Mission Conference 2009 (Jan 31st – Feb 2nd) in Chicago, IL are taking shape. Covenant World Mission is gathering mission-minded pastors, church leaders and missionaries together for a weekend of dialogue, education, networking, and worship. In the context of the conference, participants will be challenged to think through key issues and opportunities related to leadership of and participation in mission and ministry that address the needs of the whole person. The intent is to draw all into conversation about healthy global relationships, as well as understanding how to be a catalyst for change in local communities.
More information, including presenters, details and registration form are available here.
Flood Devastation in India Worse Than Most Realize
BIHAR, INDIA (October 13, 2008) – A team of about 10 men from the Hindustani Covenant Church (HCC) recently traveled nearly 1,700 miles to help the victims of flooding that has devastated much of Bihar, the poorest state in India. The men will serve there for three months.
CHICAGO, IL (September 23, 2008) – Members of the Evangelical Covenant Church have long supported the Covenant Church of Congo (CEUM), but knowing exactly where the main ministry work is located can be difficult.
Keith Gustafson, Congo country coordinator for the Department of World Mission, has put together a Google map that shows the locations of all major CEUM ministry sites as well as key geographic markers. Click here to view the sites.
Each of the locations includes a listing of the work done in the area. For example, by clicking on the Karawa location, the reader will find the CEUM hospital and Zulu Dam,
as well as the Mbudi and Ndoabili water projects, technical services center, and the Center for CEUM-Karawa Region.
The Covenant Church in Congo has 190,608 members in 1,453 congregations.
CHICAGO, IL (August 22, 2008) – CHIC 2009 organizers have announced that the offering taken at next year’s event will benefit Covenant World Relief projects and Evangelical Covenant Church missionaries in Thailand.
The specific projects in Thailand will be announced at a later date.
In 2006, CHIC attendees gave $100,000 to a school in Sudan. The money funded the construction and operation of a new school, health clinic, and food program.
Read the rest of the story from Covenant News Service here.
Critics scornfully call such trips “religious tourism” undertaken by “vacationaries.” Some blunders include a wall built on the children’s soccer field at an orphanage in Brazil that had to be torn down after the visitors left. In Mexico, a church was painted six times during one summer by six different groups. In Ecuador, a church was built but never used because the community said it was not needed.
To make missionary work more meaningful, some churches are taking a different approach. In response to the criticism, a growing number of churches and agencies that put together short-term trips are revamping their programs and establishing new standards.
Available from Building Church Leaders for $9.95 here.
Senior adults can yearn for meaningful ways to spend the last third of their life. Missions work is a way to utilize their experience and wisdom, while making a difference for Christ. Use this download to recruit and prepare senior adults for missions work. You’ll find articles and sample forms to help you through the process.
This Training Pack contains all of the following:
Short-term Missions
Understand the different types of mission trips to make an informed decision.
God’s Calling Plan
So what exactly is a call to ministry?
The Way of Wisdom
Wisdom and experience are a few ways senior adults offer a unique advantage to mission trips.
Prayer Is the Foundation
Cover your trip in prayer.
Raising Support
Practical ways to raise support for your mission trip.
Sample Support-Raising Letters
Suggested Packing List
Final Words Before You “GO”
Tips for making a mission trip fruitful.
Are you about to make an International long distance phone call? Are you planning a trip to a foreign destination? Are you preparing for a web cast or online meeting? Are you looking for a free clock for your own web site or blog? With the Internet bringing everyone closer together, we still have to deal with our different locations having different times. World Time Server is here to help!
Each day a different unreached people group photo and basic statistics can be displayed on your website. With a few simple steps, this daily changing feed can be displayed on most websites. By the Joshua Project.