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March 2016
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Newsletter #16
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Dear Co-Laborer in Christ:
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What does it mean to be part of or to participate in the Global Great Commission Network? We simply extend an invitation to pledge together to promote the values to cooperate all others of like faith, with the singular goal of "Making disciples of every people in our generation."
The primary article in this newsletter, The Church in Ghana and the Global Great Commission Network, applies the vision of GGCN to Ghana, West Africa. One of the ways we are seeing this happen in Africa and elsewhere is the emergence of local GGCN Steering teams representing a broad spectrum of the church and mission communities.
While we continue to work to improve some of our global tools, such as GCnetwork and a Discipleship Survey and more, these grassroots expressions are the focus of GGCN. It is our prayer that diverse, local situations can also learn from and help each other develop healthy Great Commission initiatives. Perhaps the following article from Ghana can spur others to think about what can be done in their own areas.
If you are interested in facilitating or being a part of a local expression of GGCN, please let us know. These are volunteer roles and any funding needs must be met locally. We feel that these grassroots expressions of GGCN, with an allegiance to some of our core principles, are the future of GGCN and the vision of a global network.
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The Church in Ghana and the Global Great Commission Network - by H. Palgrave Boakye-Danquah
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 H. Palgrave Boakye-Danquah is a member of the GGCN Ghana Steering Team and Country Director of Jesus Life Ghana
The church has evolved over the years from when it first started in the book of Acts. Acts 2:43-47 and Acts 4:32-35 give us a clear picture of who the church was and what they stood for. They were one in heart and mind and preached daily the resurrection power of our Lord Jesus Christ all across the nations: Philip moving out to Asia, Paul to the gentiles, Peter to the Jews and many others all going out to preach and make disciples, proclaiming the gospel. The church took different faces as the generations moved by and yet the assignment of the church remains unchanged - that the kingdoms of this world will become the kingdom of our God and of his Christ, that we all may come to the full stature of Christ.
The Church in Ghana contributes greatly to the Great Commission mandate, especially in playing major roles in health, education, politics and more. But a critical analysis of the church in Ghana shows that it is lacking in intentional discipleship -- making disciples, which is a key component of the Great Commission. Perhaps a majority of them pay little or no attention to mission work or discipling. This gradually has a catastrophic effect on the body of Christ by shaking the foundation and leading us away from the very path and command that Christ gave us. It was meant to be everything on discipleship and not discipleship on everything. This is something that needs much attention because this is the foundation and mandate of the church as Christ had instructed before he left the disciples. Matthew 28:18-20
The church in Ghana needs an awakening to pick up fully the mandate of making disciples. We need to be equipped and be made much more conscientious on discipleship and mission work. We need to have a missions vision that includes a focus on reaching the unreached by channeling our resources time and expertise to GO to the unreached people groups and preach the gospel.
What role can the Global Great Commission Network (GGCN) play in Ghana (and elsewhere) to help meet this need? The GGCN exists to see every people group reached and in the process of being discipled in our generation and for the purpose of enhancing the effectiveness of Great Commission endeavors around the globe by:
- Serving associations, agencies, churches, individuals, networks and other ministries globally who share in our vision. The vision is for a local steering team and advisors dedicated to doing whatever it takes in collaborative and cooperative efforts to facilitate an increased focus on discipleship and a commitment to reaching the unreached.
- Providing a place for like-minded Great Commission endeavors to connect, communicate and collaborate. This includes an online platform for networking, motivation, cooperation and mutual encouragement
- Developing and freely providing tools and training, including online collaborative platforms that facilitate cooperative efforts. What might this look like in Ghana?
- Compilation and translation of discipleship materials culturally appropriate for Ghana.
- Discipleship Survey program and initiative.
- Other local initiatives including 12 Village Initiative and Church in Missions.
- Encouraging resources, ideas, tools and strategies to be shared widely, especially those resources that are digital, versatile, free and broadly available. This may include a local newsletter, mailing list, and a spirit of sharing with each other.
- Stimulating worldwide mission efforts by encouraging broad collaboration, not to compete with, but to serve and support Great Commission endeavors. There is a need to really focus on tearing down fences that separate us and to build bridges of cooperative outreaches and projects.
In these ways and more, GGCN can help churches and individual groups to be equipped in knowledge and resources to carry out this great mandate of making disciples
Summary
And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age". This was the final instruction and mandate Christ left his disciples, which was to be carried out until his second coming. This was the whole assignment of the Church. Everything Christ did and suffered for was that in the end there will be people all over the world living as his disciples, spreading the gospel of salvation unto all men.
Our vision as Christians therefore is to reach out to the lost in every unreached place; preaching, teaching, baptizing and providing needs as and when the Lord makes provision. The vision is to GO to wherever the gospel hasn't reached and MAKE DISCIPLES.
As disciples we seek to respond to Jesus's great commission which teaches us to go into the world to make disciples of all nations. The Global Great Commission Network also seeks to meet the need of the Ghanaian church by serving all individuals, mission agencies, associations, churches, networks or other ministries who share common values such as going to all nations to make disciples, helping the church to be ready and fully equipped to carry out the mandate of Christ. In doing so we pledge together to promote the values to cooperate with one another, and all others of like faith, with the singular goal of "Making disciples of every people in our generation.
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GGnetwork - Facilitating Working Team Discussions and Initiatives
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Do you lead or participate in a working team, whether it be a ministry topic, people group, or any other initiative? Would a secure online, user-friendly platform to enhance connecting, communicating, and collaborating be helpful? The GCnetwork group function does exactly that, and we'd be delighted to introduce you and your group to this free tool. Let us know your need at [email protected], and we can show you how.
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| GGCN at the Asia Mission Association Manila Convention - April 21 Lunch Meeting |
Do you have plans to attend the Asia Mission Association 12th Triennial Convention in Manila, Philippines April 18-22, 2016? There will be an opportunity during the convention at lunch time on Thursday, April 21 to meet with some of the GGCN Global Steering Team. This is a chance for you to learn more about the vision of the Global Great Commission Network, opportunities to facilitate the vision in your part of the world, and how you can connect through GGCN with others around the world with similar needs and goals. Look for an announcement during the AMA Manila convention about the meeting place for this event hosted by Dr. Marvin Newell of the GGCN Global Steering Team.
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David Hupp
Global Great Commission Network - Global Steering Team
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