News from World Convention

We have room for two people who will be based at the Khayelihle Children's Village and be involved in carpentry, plumbing, electrical, painting and hanging out with the kids.

There is also room for another two people who will travel with us to the rural areas and be involved in daily outreach meetings.

We will also squeeze in a trip to Victoria Falls and the Hwange Game Park.

If this sounds like you, contact Chris Baigent at cbaigent@xtra.co.nz

ChristiaNet
September, 2010
Issue 87

Connecting Everywhere...Everyday

Sharing the Love That Unites

Romans 15:5-6

Make plans to attend. Registration details coming soon!

Visit
www.braziltour.com
and
www.southamerica.travel/WorldConvention2012/

for exciting tour ideas and information.

The New Shape of World Christianity

            The title above is a book title from Christian historian Mark Noll. In the book he shows that the numerical center of Christianity has shifted from North America and Europe to Latin America, Asia, and Africa.
            Interesting facts:
·        There are more Christians in Latin America than in North America.
·        There are more Christians in Asia than in North America.
·        There are more Christians in Africa than in North America.
·        Last Sunday, more Christians attended church in China than did in Europe.
·        In 2010, Africa, Asia, and Latin America sent out more missionaries than did North America.
·        In 2010, North America received 40,200 missionaries from other parts of the world.
            It is more difficult to know precise statistics on Stone-Campbell churches worldwide, but it is likely that there are more members of churches with a Stone-Campbell heritage in Africa than there are in the United States.
            I find these statistics to be greatly encouraging and hopeful. God is at work in his world! He is a big God and it is a big world. Millions are praising God in languages other than English, thinking of God in ways different from Western logic, reading their Bibles through fresh eyes, and serving God and neighbor in their cultures in creative ways.
            These changes have significant implications for World Convention and for the global church. We in the West need to learn from and be encouraged by our brothers and sisters in the rest of the world. At the same time, we want to encourage them. This global shift is reflected in our next Global Gatherings of World Convention. In 2012 we meet for the first time in Latin America, experiencing the faith, wisdom, fervor, and hospitality of God's people in Goiania, Brazil. In 2016, we share the Christian experience of those in Asia at Seoul. Our hope is to gather in Africa in 2020, to receive the blessing of African Christians.
            These changes also highlight the need for the ongoing daily ministry of World Convention. One of our 7 "C's" of World Convention is that we are a ministry of connection. Every day God works to connect us to one another and to him, throughout the globe.
            Let us embrace the worldwide work of God.


                                            ~Gary Holloway

'Transformation' in Kenya
Martin Phiri, of Kenya spread the word of the three day Be Transformed Conference (based largely on a book authored by John Murphy) through networks of pastors who would take the message to their churches in order to start a transformation movement within their congregations.
The Chairman and Exec Director of the Kenyan Alliance of Churches (1000 churches that came together after the post-election violence of 2007-08) viewed this message of leading a transformed life after salvation as the missing truth of the Bible that has not been taught in Kenya.

Introducing World Convention Travel

Since many supporters of World Convention love to travel, in addition to our Global Gathering, we are sponsoring other trips. The first will be a ten day Holy Land tour, led by Gary Holloway, beginning June 6, 2011.
This will be an exciting opportunity to visit the lands of the Bible with other Christians committed to Christian unity.
We are working with Harry Welton Travel. For more information, see http://www.harrywelton.com/travel/Tours_files/Jun%206,%202011%2010%20Day%20Israel%20with%20Options.pdf

The Women's Desk

from Global Women Connecting

      When the concept of a Women's Desk as part of the World Convention profile was first suggested, the idea of connecting all women of our movement was the prime concern. Hence the name "Global Women Connecting" was embraced in 2004 and a Liason for GWC at the World Convention office became a reality in 2009.
     The idea was to empower women to have a voice within our Movement at a level that would be heard. Also an opportunity for sharing the experiences and challenges that face us, as women, as we seek to be God's channels in our part of God's world.
     The discussions centered around perspectives of where women are under-represented and under-utilized. It seemed good to have a place where women could have a voice on issues which concerned them and also a place where nurture and care could be expressed across all boundaries and in ways which would empower women to make their contribution to our Movement in significant ways. The 'Women's Desk' is such a place and becomes a listening desk-a place to share ideas, views and concerns.
     Late September you will receive the first of what we hope will be a quarterly email that will pick up stories of women and the significant outcomes of their involvement in God's kingdom.
Please read it as an invitation to tell your story. What experiences have you lived that offer hope, comfort, guidance or laughter? Where have you encountered holy ground? What prayers have you been a part of in one way or another?
     Oh yes, there is not a gender pre-requisite. God has given all of us ears, and a heart.

Find Global Women Connecting on

and

Educating Disciples Women:
Empowerment Through Knowledge & Community

The phrase "knowledge is power" takes on new meaning as we experience 19th century Disciples of Christ women struggle for educational advancement.
In this online class we'll uncover the influences that drove the creation of new educational institutions for women, compare women's curriculum to those of the male academies, explore the relationships and friendships that developed and examine the blossoming empowerment of Disciples women in their churches and the world.
Class Details
Participants will explore these topics through instruction in scrapbooking, geneology, oral history, researching local history and social media.
Log in to the online classroom every week to get new readings and activities. You do these at your own pace and choose whether or not to share with the rest of the class. Every Thursday evening, the entire class will come together online for instruction and discusssion.
There are no grades and no tests - just the pleasure of learning about this fascinating time in the life of Disciples of Christ.
Classes are led by Sara Harwell, Vice President for Information Technology and Chief Archivist for the Historical Society. Go to http://www.discipleshistory.org/online/education/default.htm to register.

Connect to our website...read our blog

www.worldconvention.org

Do You Have News?

Email us : office@worldconvention.org

Write us: PO Box 50998

Nashville, Tennessee 37205-0998

Call us: 615-298-1824