International (MNN)–Christians throughout Asia and parts of the Middle East are being warned to brace themselves for terrorist activities to step up.
Hostilities against believers are expected to rise in the run up to the Christmas holiday. However, due to the critical issues around the world, some believers are taking the next step to prepare for continued persecution.
The situation is forcing mission groups to re-think strategy for this next year. Global Advance’s David Shibley says their focus moves toward the indigenous church. “We’re very excited about the potential of equipping national pastors and church leaders. I see them as, perhaps, the most pivotal of all groups for the fulfilling of the Great Commission.”
Shibley outlines what he believes are four areas that will lead to the fulfilling of the Great Commission. “National pastors, themselves, particularly in the developing nations of the world; secondly, is the emergence of the great non-western missionary movement; third, are marketplace ministries… people seeing where they are placed as being their base of operations for advancing the Gospel; and then finally, the emerging youth missions movement.”
