E-Connected Archive - May 2009
From the south to the south
Whilst the church in the UK has been in decline in recent years, many other parts of the world have been experiencing significant awakening and revivals. As a result, the global church has become increasingly diverse with its numerical centre shifting from North America and Europe (the global north) to Latin America, Africa and Asia (the global south). |
 |
At the beginning of the twentieth century, 94% of all followers of Jesus lived in the global north. By the year 2000, 71% were living in the global south. This numerical shift is increasing and has dramatic implications for the way in which the gospel is spread to unreached people groups. By the year 2025, it is estimated that 80% of believers living and working amongst Muslims will be from the global south.
As the number of followers of Jesus worldwide continues to grow, so the number of potential workers for the harvest is greater than ever before! For example, Chinese fellowships alone plan to send one hundred thousand workers to other nations in the next few years. Many other worshipping communities in the global south have similar dreams and visions.
Global Initiatives: serving the south
In response to these global changes, one of Frontiers’ current pioneering approaches is to catalyse and serve sending initiatives from Africa and Asia to proximate unreached Muslim people groups. These initiatives may not always require geographic sending. For example, believers in large cities can often cross-culturally engage unreached people groups without having to move. With over 50% of the world’s population now living in cities there is huge potential.
To reach the remaining unreached Muslim people groups, the church in the global north must recognise this change, and keep in step with God’s purposes for it. The global north has resources and years of experience in the cross-cultural communication of the gospel which they can share with the leaders of the global south. Through this they can develop strate
gic relationships which will blossom into sending movements, putting many apostolically-called and well-prepared workers on the field and keeping them there long enough to establish indigenous worshipping communities.
Please be praying for all who are sharing their faith in the Muslim world – those sent from the global north and those from the south. Please also be praying for the ministry of Global Initiatives as the team seeks to support and empower sending movements from Africa and Asia to unreached Muslim people groups.