from Global Issues: Social, Political, Economic and Environmental Issues That Affect Us All
http://www.globalissues.org/article/26/poverty-facts-and-stats
Poverty Facts and Stats
July 1st, 2009Southern Sudanese, Delivering Aid, Are Killed in Ambush
July 1st, 2009KHARTOUM, Sudan (Reuters) — About 40 southern Sudanese soldiers and civilians were killed when tribal fighters ambushed boats carrying food aid, the latest in a string of ethnic attacks threatening a fragile peace deal, officials said Sunday.
Members of the Jikany Nuer group opened fire Friday on 27 boats loaded with emergency rations destined for an area controlled by the rival Lou Nuer tribe, the United Nations World Food Program said.
Read the rest of the story on nytimes.com
New Prayer Calendar
July 1st, 2009
The newly-designed, full color Missionary Prayer Calendar can be used as a convenient daily prayer guide to pray for Covenant missionaries and the countries they serve in. Each day includes a color picture of a Covenant missionary and their family, where and how they serve, their birthdays, and other information about them. Order here..
One billion souls to save
April 6th, 2009Christianity in China is booming. With 100 million believers, far more than the 74 million-member communist party, Jesus is a force to be reckoned with in the People’s Republic. We talk to the new faithful who love China – but love God more
Read the rest of the article from The Times by Jane Macartney here.
Deep Justice Journey
March 5th, 200950 Activities to Move from Mission Trips to Missional Living
Make your youth ministry mission trips and service projects more than just drive-by-feel-good outings. Instead, allow them to be opportunities for students and adults together to go deep into God’s heart for justice as people and communities are transformed. This curriculum is designed with options you can use with your team in preparation for the BEFORE, DURING, and AFTER portions of your missions and service opportunities. Look for it through YS/Zondervan publishing.
http://fulleryouthinstitute.org/resources/books/deep-justice-journals/
Dan Johnson’s Conference Thoughts
February 27th, 2009I’m back! Chicago was cold and snowy, but I survived. I’d like to share with you what I experienced at the first-ever Mission Conference prior to the Midwinter. This event brought together Covenant World Mission department leaders, Covenant missionaries, overseas partners, pastors, people who serve on local mission committees, seminary students–a very diverse group who all share one common passion: Christ’s mission. And it was fantastic! Challenging, stimulating, inspiring, stretching, refreshing, renewing–I can’t find enough superlatives to express how rich and meaningful this conference was. Let me describe it for you briefly, and who the presenters were. Then I want to list a bunch of the principles, perspectives, comments, and some rather unorthodox thoughts and approaches that these Covenant leaders offered, based on biblical, theological, and very practical experience.
Read the rest of the post at Dan’s blog, Jerusalem Sabbatical: http://jerusalemsabbatical.blogspot.com/2009/02/holistic-mission-of-church-covenant.htmlRound Trip Missions: A Short-term Missions Documentary and Curriculum
December 31st, 2008THE DOCUMENTARY
The story of two short-term mission trips—one from Chapel Hill Bible Church in North Carolina, the other from Mavuno Downtown, part of the Nairobi Chapel network of churches in Kenya. They partner together and are both deeply committed to church planting, evangelism, and caring for the poor. Theirs is a story of individuals and families from America and Africa who open themselves up to what God is doing in the world.
THE CURRICULUM
Five sessions will help your team prepare for your trip, navigate the challenges of cross-cultural relationships and team dynamics, and return with lasting relationships and personal transformation.
See more here from Christianity Today International.
Seven Steps for Following the Great Commission
November 19th, 2008Even 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.
Hunger, fear stalk crowded east Congo refugee camps
November 5th, 2008Source: Reuters
By Hereward Holland
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.
Read the rest of the article.
Covenant World Mission Conference 2009
October 20th, 2008Plans 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.