During this year’s World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) General Assembly, Gospel workers from around 125 nations set a daring goal to mark a historic milestone.

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Joe Handley of A3 says the assembly centered on a bold aim: “The Gospel for everyone by 2033.” That year marks two millennia since Christ’s resurrection and ascension — a milestone Handley calls “a chance to rally and mobilize the Church and really celebrate the victory of the resurrection.”

Importantly, the 2033 target isn’t that everyone will accept Christ by that date, but that everyone will have a chance to hear.

“To make sure that everyone at least hears of the Gospel. So whether that’s through satellite technology, radio, digital communications, face to face through churches — at least, make sure that everyone has had a chance to hear the good news of Jesus Christ,” explains Handley.

Reaching the world also requires discipleship. Handley adds: “If we’re going to reach everyone with the Gospel, we need an ecosystem of disciple-making to do that.”

This kind of integral discipleship helps bring the Gospel into every sector of life — not only within the church through prayer, study, and fellowship, but far beyond. Integral discipleship transforms fcommunities through Christ’s example.

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“It involves the local church, the family, the businesses — every sector of society — working together in unity,” says Handley.

Bringing the Gospel into every part of life means believers must live out their faith in every sphere, from spiritual fellowship to business and community engagement.

“To get the Gospel to everyone, you have to have healthy, vibrant churches and families,” Handley adds.

True discipleship looks like Jesus — in vision, faith, action, and love for the world. Learn more at A3!

Pray for churches to strengthen in the Gospel, to build vibrant disciple-making communities, and to carry the Good News to every corner of the earth.

Header photo: Man Walking Next to the Graffiti, John 3:16 (photo courtesy of Paco Alonso via Pexels).

South Sudan (WEA) — Being a “father” partner to many of Mission Network News partners, we felt it appropriate to pass along this article of importance from the World Evangelical Alliance as it deals with hefty issues happening in South Sudan.

The World Evangelical Alliance (WEA), a global association of 7 regional and 129 national alliances of evangelical churches representing some 600 million evangelical Christians, issued a special plea to leaders in South Sudan to seek peace and reconciliation for the sake of their people and young nation.

“At a time when the world prepares to celebrate the birth of the Prince of Peace, we call on the leaders and soldiers in South Sudan to honor Christ through an immediate ceasefire and opening of dialogue,” said Dr. Geoff Tunnicliffe, Secretary General of the WEA. “Our hope and prayer is that the youngest nation in the world will become an example to others by heeding the call in Psalms to turn from evil and do good, to seek peace and pursue it.”

Along with South Sudanese churches that are a part of the WEA, numerous other churches affiliated with the WEA have a mission presence in South Sudan. The WEA has joined other Christian organizations and world leaders in asking for an immediate ceasefire, guarantee of free movement to UN, NGO, and mission teams seeking to provide humanitarian assistance, and the opening of dialogue between the different sides in this conflict.

Pray for peace to rise up in South Sudan. Pray for safety for believers as they do the Lord’s work, sharing the Gospel. Pray that the actions of this nation will turn good to be a leading example to others.

"This year, things are getting worse, and the fear is that the persecution could get even more intense," says Greg Musselman with Voice of the Martyrs Canada.

In the report, WEA states "the ruling Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) appears to be consolidating its Hindu vote-bank in the wake of a new crisis." Some key BJP leaders face corruption charges, as well as an inter-party divide.

Since corruption is currently India's biggest issue, the BJP wants to divert voter attention away from the corruption of its leaders. In the run-up to elections, WEA says BJP nationals in the Karnatka state are rallying their voter base by attacking Christians.

"It's not surprising that these are the tactics," said Musselman. "Christians throughout India, especially in the Karnataka state where they are the minority, are an easy scapegoat."

Musselman explained that trying to exert pressure on India's government can be difficult, since leaders are mostly concerned with power and not the welfare of minority groups.

So what can we do about it?

"It's not an easy situation, but prayer of course is always the first and foremost thing that we need to do," Musselman stated.

Pray for believers facing persecution, and pray for the church in Karnataka.

Pray that Christians would persevere, and "that they would not be intimidated from extending love and mercy to those that don't know Jesus Christ, including those that are perpetrating these attacks," Musselman added.

Christians are getting involved in the Olympics, too, but not in protest. In a historic move, key organizations that work with the persecuted church around the world launched a global campaign calling for prayer for China. In what is called "The Zurich Statement," the Religious Liberty Partnership (RLP)–with member organizations that include Open Doors International, Christian Solidarity Worldwide, the Voice of the Martyrs (Canada), and the Religious Liberty Commission of World Evangelical Alliance–has called the worldwide Christian community to pray for China during this Summer Olympics year.

Johan Candalin, WEA's Executive Director of the Religious Liberty Commission, says, "These organizations see it as a historical occasion to pray for China, to pray for the church in China, for human rights and democracy in China, but in a proactive way. It's not a political project. It's purely a spiritual project."

The Zurich Statement acknowledges some important progress made in China over the past few decades and raises the hope that this will translate into the removal of remaining obstacles to the full expression of faith and an end to serious violations of religious freedom. In addition, the Statement recognizes potential of the Chinese nation as a significant political and economic force for the furtherance of regional and global peace.

"The call for prayer is rooted in the fact that the RLP felt it was time to acknowledge some progress in China's attitude toward religious liberty and also the part Christians play at all levels of Chinese society," stated Mervyn Thomas, CEO of Christian Solidarity Worldwide, UK, and Chairman of the RLP leadership team. "There is still a very long way to go, and religious freedom is something very alien to many Christians in China. However, Christians all over the world have been praying for their Chinese family for many years, and I believe we are beginning to see the impact of those prayers today."

"What a change we have seen in the nearly 30 years since my first visit to China," said Johan Compajen of Open Doors International in Holland and a member of the RLP leadership team. "In spite of many obstacles, the Church in China has multiplied. What seemed impossible in the past has happened because around the world we joined the Chinese Christians in prayer, and our Chinese brothers and sisters have been willing to pay the price for following Jesus. If we continue to pray, we may be surprised by what God will do in the coming 30 years."

Candalin says things are better in the cities, but he says there is a saying in China: "Whatever you have heard about China is true somewhere in China. In some cities you have house churches with up to 2,000 people without any problems with the authorities. But in the countryside, you can have a small house church with 10 or 20 people, and the pastor is arrested and put into prison."

Candalin says there are approximately 70-million Christians in China, and house church pastors say they need "very good leadership training. And they even want to send out many young pastors to the U.S. or to Europe to get that academic theological training to be able to lead the growing church."

The Religious Liberty Partnership (RLP) is a collaborative effort of Christian organizations focused on religious liberty. The RLP seeks to more intentionally work together in addressing advocacy and in raising the awareness of religious persecution globally. The current membership of the RLP is listed on the Zurich Statement.

The World Evangelical Alliance is just one such
organization. WEA's Geoff Tunicliffe tells us about the film. "It tells
really the story of William Wilberforce who was a British parliamentarian 200
years ago. He was a very committed evangelical Christian who was very much
involved in bringing and end to the slave trade in the British Empire."

Tunicliffe is hoping the film does more than that. "I
think it's a profound film of how Christians can engage in the issues of the
day and make a profound difference. It show evangelical Christians were at the
forefront of the social reformation of their society."

While the film is showing the life of a man who had an
impact on society, Tunnicliffe thinks there's an underlying message. "What
the film is showing that as a Christian you can be actively involved with the
issues of the day and making a profound difference in the lives of suffering
people."

There's a reason the WEA is getting behind the film.
"We're today that Christians really do need to be actively involved in making
a difference in the world. We're dealing with the issues of slavery today,
whether through the sex trade industry or children being forced into labor,
poverty — those are the things that as evangelical Christians we're called to
engage in and make a difference in."

WEA is not only encouraging people to see the film, but also
is encouraging churches to take advantage of their resources. "(We're
providing) Sermons from Christian leaders from around the world and other
resources to help guide them through. (We have) some Bible study guides and
providing ways people can become actively involved."

You can get these resources at their website, at http://amazinggraceresource.com/churchresourcekit.htm

The film premieres February 23 in the U-S.

This is having a direct impact on Palestinian Christians there, says Chief Executive Officer of the World Evangelical Alliance, Geoff Tunnicliffe. “Bethlehem is in the West Bank area and has a wall around it. And, so it’s very difficult for tourists to get in. In fact, a year ago there would have be 200 busses going in a day. Today, there may be five busses going in as tourists. And, many of the Christians are dependant upon the tourist trade.”

The problems have forced many Christians to take drastic measures. “Because of the economics, because of the stress they’re under. Many Christians have had to leave the area. So, they’re really under pressure and our concern is that The Light stays brightly shining in Bethlehem,” says Tunnicliffe.

The World Evangelical Alliance has done something to help that. “We officially accepted them in as our 128 member of the World Evangelical Alliance. You know, we have a National Evangelical Alliance in Israel and they were very supportive of it. So, we felt is was absolutely the right thing to do to bring a voice to those who are voiceless and connect them in to the body of Christ.”

According to Tunnicliffe, believes in the region aren’t asking for much. “When I met with the leaders, I said, ‘what’s the best thing that we can do for you?’ They said, ‘Would you ask Christians around the world to just pray for us. Pray that we’ll stay strong in our faith and not be impacted negatively by the circumstances around us.”

Tennicliffe says this gives Christians in the Palestinian held areas hope and encouragement. Pray that they’ll use it to point many to Christ.