CHURCH LEADERS START JOINT CAMPAIGN TO EVANGELIZE

UNITED STATES

Key U.S. Protestant leaders are working together in an unprecedented effort to evangelize the country. At a gathering in Chicago Dec. 7-9, 154 denominational and parachurch leaders agreed to mobilize the church so that every person in the United States will be prayed for and have an opportunity to hear the gospel by the end of the decade.

…The strategy would create many opportunities for Christian denominations, parachurch groups, and individuals to collaborate. The leaders are formulating a strategy that includes training Christians to share their faith door-to-door in every home in America, possibly by distributing the Jesus film; holding simultaneous revival meetings and Crusades in every community in the country; broadcasting a crusade nationally via satellite and 1999; following up and discipling new believers; and planting churches. The broad representation of American evangelism leaders are expected to finalize the plan by February and begin implementation.

…The leaders knelt and prayed, admitting that any strategy they devised inevitably would fail unless it is ordained by God. "Let us speak plainly: no Holy Spirit, evangelizing," said Eddie Fox, world director of the evangelism for the World Methodist Council. "What an incredible moment, what tremendous possibilities and an enormous responsibility."

…They acknowledged that isolation limits ministry, but collaboration could enhance it. Southern Baptists cannot do this job alone said Larry Lewis, who suggested the outline of the campaign. He is president of the Home Mission Board for a 15-million-member Southern Baptist Convention, the largest Protestant denomination in the United States. Daniel Weiss, general secretary of the American Baptist Churches in the U. S. A., said Christians will have to work with people they haven't been used to, rise above historic divisions and competitiveness, and concentrate on "the One we share." Doing that "would blow the minds of many people in this country," Weiss said. John Halland, president of International Church of the Foursquare Gospel, said that although the practical application is staggering, the results could be "a thrilling thing."

… An "authentic, holy desperation" is drawing denominations to work together, said Paul Cedar, president of the Evangelical Free Church of America and head of the networking movement Mission America, which organized the meeting along with Billy Graham Center's Institute of Evangelism. While" the Book of Acts is being repeated in Third World countries, "the U. S. church is limping along, Cedar said. The United States "desperately needs be authentic church of Jesus Christ to rise to the surface." These are not days for protecting turf, "but for humbling ourselves," he said.

… "It is not commission, or omission, but no mission" that is the church's greatest failing", Fox said. But now, "the people are given a new vision." The Chicago group of leaders "is about the same number that gathered in the Upper Room, and about the same kind of people - rather ordinary," he said. "But something happened to them."

…Denominations represented by leaders at the Chicago meeting included the:

African Methodist Zion Church

American Baptist Church

Assemblies of God

Baptist General Conference

Christian & Missionary Alliance

Church of God in Christ

Conservative Baptist Association

Episcopal Church

Evangelical Covenant Church

Evangelical Free Church of America

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Free Methodist Church of North America

International Church of the Foursquare Gospel

Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod

Mount Sinai Holy Church of America

North American Baptist Conference

Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

Pentecostal Holiness Church

Presbyterian Church in Canada

Reformed Church in America

Salvation Army

Southern Baptist Convention

United Church of Christ

United Methodist Church

Wesleyan Church

…Scores of parachurch groups also are involved.

Some of the larger ministries are the:

AD 2000 & Beyond Movement

Aglow International

America Bible Society

Billy Graham Evangelistic Association

Campus Crusade for Christ

Concerts of Prayer International

Every Home For Christ

Fellowship of Christian Athletes

Good News Movement (United Methodist Church)

Intercessors for America

International Bible Society

Luis Palau Evangelistic Association

March For Jesus

Moody Broadcasting Network

Nation Association of Evangelicals

Nation Network of Youth Ministries

Nation Religious Broadcasters

The Navigators

Operation Mobilization

Promise Keepers

Skylight Satellite Network

U.S. Center for World Missions

Youth for Christ (U.S.A.)

Youth With A Mission

>>NIRR 12/25/95<<