November 2006

AGORA WEA MISSION COMMISSION WORLD FORUM

Agora is the Greek word for market place, forum, where people gathered for dialogue, discussions, sharing information or just for being together (Acts 17.17). The Mission Commission staff is launching a monthly newsletter, called Agora , directed primarily to the MC Associates but also sent to other mission leaders and available on the MC web page. Agora is an open forum for the MC Associates, MC Task Forces and Networks as a complement to the magazine Connections . Brief texts and news for publication in Agora can be sent to our office in Brazil:bekstrom@worldevangelical.org

INTERNET AND THE MUSLIM WORLD

The Internet has become a powerful tool to reach the Muslim world. A group of Evangelicals are coming together each year to work together in this area. They are sharing resources and encouraging one another with stories of many Muslims that are coming to know the Lord through Internet-related ministries. It is a privilege to be a part of what God is doing to reach these people who are in desperate need of the Word of God. The group is collaborating in seven strategic areas.

1. Networking and Collaboration - developing strategies to collaborate together in secure areas and share resources, information, and news.
2. Security - developing security strategies for using the Internet.
3. Internet Media - sharing ways of using Internet TV, radio, and audio/video
4. Chat Rooms - encouraging the development of using chat rooms
5. Websites - discussing ways to improve the use of websites
6. eLearning - collaborating on ways to use the Internet to disciple
7. Distribution - working together on making Internet-related technology available

If you desire to learn more about this initiative, contact Dr. Sas Conradie of the WEA MC Joint Information Management Initiative Taskforce at sas.conradie@cms-uk.org. For security reasons we cannot relate any further details about the initiative. Be encouraged that there are many people collaborating in this area." 

 

STAFF MEETINGS IN BRAZIL

The senior MC Staff met for five days in Brazil, following up decisions made by the Global Leadership Council meetings in South Africa. On the agenda were items such as evaluation of the SA06 Global Issues Summit, revision of MC bylaws, improvements of the docking document and the proposal of a MC Covenant for Best Personal and Ministry Practice. These documents will now be studied by the ExCo and the GLC for approval and implementation.

A plan for coming events will also be presented to the ExCo, proposing international consultations in 2008 and 2010, with emphasis on missiological reflection and based on the work done by the Global Missiological Task Force. In 2010, the MC will also have full participation in the Lausanne III Conference and MC representatives are members of the various working committees formed to prepare the global gathering.

CELEBRATION SERVICE IN SÃO PAULO

The Brazilian Association of Cross-Cultural Missions (AMTB) and the Associations of Mission Teacher in Brazil (APMB) organised a special day of seminars and celebration service in São Paulo, on October 21st. Bill Taylor and Kees van der Wilden hold seminars in the afternoon, speaking about Current Trends in World Mission and the European Challenge for Latin American Missions, respectively. In the evening, Durvalina Bezerra, principle of the Betel Brasileiro Seminary, led the celebration service and Silas Tostes, president of AMTB, spoke on behalf of the Brazilian missions. Three pioneers of the Brazilian mission movement were interviewed by Oswaldo Prado: Jonathan dos Santos, Barbara Burns and Waldemar de Carvalho. Bill Taylor was honoured for his 20 years of leadership of the MC by Antonia van der Meer and Ivone Botelho, president of APMB. The service ended with a special time of intercession for Alzira and Bertil Ekström and their family. 


YOUNGER LEADERS TRACK

The MC staff have for some years discussed the need for a Younger Leaders Track within the MC. Some initiatives have been taken since the Iguassu Consultation in 1999, such as the Holy Island Roundtable, at which some 16 younger mission leaders from the English speaking North met in 2001. One outcome of the Holy Island Roundtable was the book, "Postmission: Mission by a Post Modern Generation".  An informal group of younger mission leaders also met a few times during Canada 2003. The panel discussion during SA06 was another opportunity to listen to younger voices, and out of that event, Bill Taylor spoke with a number of younger leaders from both Global South and Global North.

Bill, who has been released to pursue this vision, will soon be in contact with some of the key players, asking them for their recommendations on how to step into the future.  The MC's desire is to invite the younger leaders to set the parameters, list those whom they would invite as "elders", and to establish venue, program and content for a first consultation in 2007.

REGIONAL EVENTS

COMIBAM, the Ibero American Co-operation in Mission, meet in Granada, Spain, from 13 to 17 of November for the Third COMIBAM conference. The emphasis of the conference will be on listening to the Ibero American missionaries and their field experience. During the event, Carlos Scott from Argentina will assume the presidency of the movement replacing David Ruiz. The MC staff and part of the MC ExCo will be present in Granada, taking active part in the program. 

The African Evangelical Alliance (AEA) holds its General Assembly in Entebbe, Uganda, from 19 to 23 of November. Bertil will attend the AEA meetings and follow with special interest the future plans for the Mission Commission of AEA.

Please, pray for these important regional events !

 

THE MISSION COMMISSION LAUNCHES NEW BOOK ON MISSIONARY TRAINING:

Integral Ministry Training-Design and Evaluation
Robert Brynjolfson and Jonathan Lewis, Editors

Release date: November 2006
Size: 8.5 X 11 in., 238 pages, soft cover, perfect bound.
Retail price: US$19.95
Publishers: WEA Mission Commission & Wm. Carey Library


The Mission Commission is proud to announce the release of its newest book in the Globalization of Mission series: Integral Ministry Training Design and Evaluation. This is the product of years of work by the Mission Commission's International Missionary Training Network and its global cadre of associates. Building on the MC's 1995 publication Establishing Ministry Training, it includes re-editions of some of these original chapters as well as important new additions related to the philosophical and theoretical foundations of biblical ministry training.

The work is divided into three sections. The first provides a biblical rationale and theoretical framework for integral ministry training. The second describes the practical process elements that empower readers to develop and evaluate training using self-generated training standards. A third section is dedicated to illustrative program descriptions from around the world and practical evaluation tools. This edition forms the backbone of a course on integral training design that has already been successfully tested in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the U.S.

The concepts promoted in the book challenge some widely held values and assumptions related to the broad field of ministry training. Those who teach with this book witness a valuable paradigm shift towards training design that promotes greater effectiveness based on Kingdom values. The practical processes described are helpful to anyone attempting to design or evaluate training.

Here is what those who have used this material are saying:

These writers have given us a wonderful gift, one that helps to put preparation of the missionary in its proper holistic context. There is something in this book that is capable of dramatically impacting how the next generation of missionaries will emerge.
(Pastor Timothy O Olonade, Executive Secretary/CEO, Nigeria Evangelical Missions Association—NEMA)

At this crucial moment for equipping and sending cross-cultural missionaries, this book comes as a strategic tool for the development of a high level of excellence in holistic missionary training.  The writers of each chapter provide their perspective based on the authority and support of vast experience in their field.
(Dr. Omar Gava, Coordinator for Missionary Training, COMIBAM International)

This book must be read by all missionary trainers and used as course material to equip those who are involved in training. It prepares trainers to develop contextualized curriculum and equips them to use teaching methods that effectively prepare the students for the ministry to which they are called.
(Dr. C. Barnabas, Executive Director, Indian Institute of Missiology)

This book emerges out of a context of nearly twenty years of WEA Mission Commission focus on this strategic dimension of world mission. The book will become both a text and handbook to shape missionary training for years to come.
(William David Taylor, Ph.D., Global Ambassador, World Evangelical Alliance and its Mission Commission)

For further questions about the International Missionary Training Network and the Integral Ministry Training course, please contact IMTN Director, Dr. Rob Brynjolfson: RobB@WorldEvangelical.org.

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Now to him who is able to establish you by my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all nations might believe and obey him – to the only wise God be glory for ever through Jesus Christ! Amen. (Romans 16: 25-27)