This took place in Huddersfield in a magnificent purpose built building complete with a book shop and cafeteria. The new leader of the Executive Committee of the A of G and others gave new guidelines for the advancement of the Kingdom of God in these days.While not for a moment giving way to complacence the news worldwide shows that the Church of Jesus Christ is growing everywhere; with one exception - Western Europe!
What was once, in New Testament times, the ‘nursery slopes’ of Christianity has become shriveled and dead, and where it stills seems culturally powerful, it is an ugly caricature of what it should be - a cracked and broken façade for national pride. There are green shoots here and there but in some countries they are few and far between.
When we speak of growth right across the world we can point to Latin America: a few thousand 50 years ago, millions today. In China, even government estimates speak of several millions, and the reality is far greater. We could go one speaking of South Korea, South India and, of course, Africa. Even in Muslim countries, where churches are few and far between, they are growing not declining.
The phenomenon that, I feel, brings hope for Western Europe is immigration. Our local churches are becoming multinational and multiracial and showing the world where true unity is to be found.
Meditate on these Scriptures -
"So in Christ we who are many form one body and each member belongs to all the others." - Romans 12: 5
"There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for you are all one in Christ Jesus." - Galatians 3: 28
"For he himself (Jesus) is our peace who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility" - Ephesians 3: 14.
Every Blessing!!!
The Pastor,
Gordon Guillermo Burgess.
The Pastor,
Gordon Guillermo Burgess.
