Evangelism

Correction Appended

The idea of more than 200,000 former Muslims coming to faith in Sub-Saharan Africa within a few short years is mind-boggling. But entire mosques in Sub-Saharan Africa coming to faith? That news is even harder to wrap one's mind around, but it is in fact what is happening according to reports from a former church planter among Muslims in West Africa.

In the new book Miraculous Movements, Jerry Trousdale, now director of International Ministries for CityTeam International, records amazing and inspiring stories of faith among Muslim communities in Africa. The author opens up a new world to Western readers, taking them into the heart of the "miraculous movement" of God in Africa that is transforming the hearts of Muslims. more >>

There are currently more than 45,000 Southern Baptist churches across the United States. Most of those churches, however, are concentrated in the South, with fewer churches located in states like New York and New Jersey.

In an effort to remind people of the importance of church planting, especially in under-reached and under-served areas like the Northeast and West, the Southern Baptist Convention Home Mission Board – currently the North American Mission Board – created Start-a-Church Sunday.

Placed on the SBC calendar in 1991 as part of the Convention's Bold Mission Thrust initiative, a multi-pronged emphasis on evangelism, missions and church planting, Start-a-Church Sunday continues to remain on the calendar today as an annual reminder to churches of the importance of starting new churches. more >>

Despite the Iranian government's ongoing crackdown of Christians living in the primarily Islamic country, the number of Muslims converting to become Christians is growing at an explosive rate, according to the persecution watchdog group Open Doors USA.

There is even talk of witnessing a Christian revival, especially among young people living in the country, say Open Doors ministry workers in the Middle East.

A house church movement within Iran is part of that revival and has triggered "many secret meetings." The growth in the number of Christians is happening in all regions, but mostly in larger cities, say Open Doors workers in the region. more >>

Over 6,000 new churches were planted among Muslims in 18 different countries in Africa over the last seven years. And hundreds of former sheikhs and imams have become followers of Jesus Christ over that period. In just a few years, 45 different "unreached" Muslim-majority people groups in Africa now have access to God's word, with more than 3,000 news churches planted among them.

These awe-inspiring statistics, mix with heart-warming narratives about former Muslims, flow out naturally as one talks to Jerry Trousdale, a former church planter among Muslims in West Africa and now head of a disciple-making movement among Muslim people groups.

Trousdale, author of the new book Miraculous Movements (Thomas Nelson, 2012) and director of International Ministries for CityTeam International, spoke with The Christian Post last week about the group's successful but counterintuitive disciple-making strategy, why disappointment made him leave missions for a period, and how he thinks being a pastor is even harder than being a missionary. more >>

Jim Elliot, one of five men who in 1956 were speared to death by Waorani Indians, is the most famous American missionary of the twentieth century. He and his colleagues longed to bring the gospel to this fierce and isolated Amazonian people.

His wife Elisabeth was taking care of their ten-month old daughter back at their mission station at the time. Jim and Elisabeth had met as students at Wheaton College. They were both Classical Greek majors and would study together in the east wing of Blanchard Hall. Their relationship deepened as Jim came more and more to rely on her to help him translate Thucydides.

Wheaton College was itself a kind of curious wonder in the mid-twentieth century. The other historic liberal arts colleges by then had mostly diluted or shed altogether their Christian identities. Wheaton, however, was fervently evangelical. Its students were on fire to make their lives count "for Christ and His Kingdom." There were many other Christian colleges with no less spiritual fervor, but they were almost all Bible schools. At Wheaton, one would study not only the Bible but also chemistry and anthropology, ancient history and the new physics. And one would learn to write well. more >>

Evangelist Greg Laurie met with more than 200 Southern California pastors and ministry leaders Tuesday to outline plans for one of his Harvest Ministry's outreach events this year to be simulcast live at host churches and other venues throughout the nation for the first time in its 22-year history.

The meeting held at Angels Stadium in Anaheim was about taking the Harvest Crusades to the next level and explaining how "Harvest America" will do just that.

Founded by Laurie, the Harvest events are large-scale evangelistic outreaches primarily held at stadiums and arenas in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. more >>