DAWN Fridayfax 1997 #45

DAWN News from Canada, England and Latin America

Canada's First DAWN Congress adopts goal of 10,000 new congregations by AD2015

279 leadership representatives from 39 denominations, 13 mission agencies and 4 theological seminaries gathered October 27-30, 1997 in Bramalea, Ontario to pray and develop strategy for a cooperative 'whole nation' evangelistic church planting strategy. The 'Canadian Church Planting Congress '97' was organised by 'Church Planting Canada', a track of 'Vision Canada' and the 'AD2000 and Beyond' movement, which aims to take the gospel to every person through systematic church planting.
Speakers included Lynn Green, director of England's 'Challenge 2000' DAWN project and missions strategist Dr. Jim Montgomery, Dr. Gary Walsh, executive director of the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada and Dr. Arnell Motz, chair of EFC's 'Vision Canada'.
During a closing communion service, delegates affirmed a Congress declaration in which they committed themselves to incarnating Christ through a geographically accessible and culturally relevant evangelical church for every Canadian. A numerical goal of planting new 10,000 new congregations by 2015 was also affirmed, which is "a concrete result and an aim which can be reached with a moderate growth rate of 4%." (The decadal growth rate of Canada's evangelical churches has up to now been 1.2%).
Leaders met in denominational groups for prayer and planning, and in 6 inter-denominational regional groupsto plan how they can cooperatively develop practical strategies and networks to maximize effectiveness. A steering committee, in which all Canadian denominations and mission agencies are invited to participate, will give further guidance.
An initial goal of 1078 new congregations by Dec. 31, 2000 has been set. Before the end of the congress, 20 denominations indicated their intention to plant 479 new congregations towards this total. Others will indicate their commitment upon consultation with colleagues.
Source and further information: Murray Moerman at Outreach Canada #16 - 12240 Horseshoe Way, Richmond, BC V7A 4X9, Phone: (604) 272-0732, Fax: 272-2744, or Email: mmoerman@outreach.ca

England: Anglican archbishop presses for innovation

In a speech at the end of October 1997, Archbishop of Canterbury George Carey called on the Anglican Church to "continue to adapt and innovate in order to meet the spiritual needs of the millions who have no contact with organised religion." If Europeans turn from the church, that does not mean that they are turning from God, he says. "I am not suggesting that we throw out traditions, but I am strongly convinced that we need diversity in order to make our faith accessible to others where they stand, and not where we, the church, think that they are." Carey pointed out the encouraging sign that the number of new ordinations grew 15% this year. "The reforms will continue, particularly in the areas of empowering laypeople, evangelisation and church planting."
Source: Canon Jim Rosenthal, Director of Communications, Anglican Communion Office, London, England, via Audrey Whitefield, Email: a.whitefield@quest.org.uk

COMIBAM 97: Latin America's new missions movement

In a press release of 1 November 97, Luis Bush of the AD2000 movement reports of the COMIBAM conference held in Acapulco, Puerto Rico, from 27-31 October 1997, which was attended by over 2,000 missions leaders, pastors and missionaries. "Only 10 years ago, it was said that South America was developing from a mission field to a mission power. COMIBAM 97 was a milestone at which Latin America could show whether it had brought forth an own missions movement, and how effective it is." Hurricane Pauline, which devastated the region 2 weeks before the conference, made sure that the atmosphere was full of passion for mission, says Bush. The attendees took a collection for those in need, distributed fresh water and spoke of their belief in the affected areas.
10 years ago, there were only a handful of South American mission agencies. That has changed, as demonstrated by the well-documented "Handbook of Iberian-American mission agencies" which lists around 400 organisations. Bush says that there are around 4,000 Latin American missionaries throughout the world. 40% of them are in Latin America, but not in their own culture. National missions structures are also being formed in every country, above all in Brazil, lovingly known as 'the elder brother': half of Latin America's missionaries are Brazilians. The previously mainly short-term missions-based mentality is also changing: 51% of Latin American missionaries now stay in the field for over 3 years.
Source: Luis Bush, AD2000, e-mail: info@ad2000.org

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