HOT, HOT, HOT issue #4

DO THE "CHALLENGE" THING IN YOUR OWN BACKYARD...

Many people the world over have written in to us, having been inspired and personally challenged to carry out the Lord's last command of going into all the nations proclaiming the Good News and making disciples there.

The most common reasons why so many of them can't participate in a global witnessing initiative like the Global Challenge are lack of finances or time.  This is totally understandable too.

Lest you be discouraged by this sombre reality, just remember Jesus' words in Acts 1:8:

But the Holy Spirit will come upon you and give you power. Then you will tell everyone about me in Jerusalem, in all Judea, in Samaria, and everywhere in the world.

That's right - witnessing can and should also be happening at the same time, right on our own doorsteps!  In our own street, our neighbourhood, our town - and if you want to, throughout your own country.  How?  By the power of the Holy Spirit, no less, in case you should feel over-awed.

There is always a God-given opportunity to witness and share the love of God with your own nationals (or foreign cultures if you prefer) within your own country.  Without the need to travel far afield to international destinations and distant continents, without having to engage foreign cultures and languages on their own terms.

There is a huge harvest sitting right before you, without having to clock up huge mileages, sapping you of finances and time you wouldn't otherwise have in abundance.

A positive spin-off of this more localised approach is that you can get to try out (and fine-tune) your witnessing methods, where you feel most comfortable and secure.  By the way, there are many different ways of witnessing - the Users Forum contains many such good ideas you may never have thought about before (remember, you've got to register first).

If you've never door-knocked before, why not try this out in your local area first, and watch as God blesses your faithfulness and diligence.  He will almost certainly stretch your tent pegs further than they were before, so that you can experience firsthand the goodness and fulness of God in the work of your hands  (Isaiah 54:2)

You may well ask: what does this approach have in common with the Global Witnessing Challenge?  Isn't this a completely watered-down version of what we were originally trying to achieve?  In a nutshell, anything proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ is Good News!  How, where or when this is done is in the details.  Rather than present you with an "either, or", take-it or leave-it opportunity through The Global Challenge, we would love nothing more than to see God's will done through His people as He carries out His redemptive work here on earth.

We would far rather see you actively engaged in this redemptive work, for in and through you God uses people to be His eyes, ears, hands and feet.  We make no absolute or exclusive claim to being the only way to do this - never!  We trust that you would be blessed as you go about any work that builds the Kingdom of God (rather busily building the Kingdom of Man).

Should this Challenge inspire you to go and do this (be localised in your thinking and witnessing activity) we would greatly appreciate your feedback and testimonies/reports of your successes, so that we can likewise report them here on this web site.  To the glory of God:

So at the name of Jesus everyone will bow down, those in heaven, on earth, and under the earth. And to the glory of God the Father everyone will openly agree, "Jesus Christ is Lord!

Phi 2:10-11

 

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HOT, HOT, HOT issue #3

Can you just feel the time drawing nearer for when the inaugural Global Witnessing Challenge kicks off!

It's just about palpable to be honest.  We can't wait for the participants to start making their own way on a pilgrimmage throughout all the earth, seeking and finding the lost - and leaving the Gospel of Jesus Christ with them.

Are you ready and willing to become involved?  There are plenty of ways you can, you just have to look.

We've said it before and we say it again - The Challenge is not a numbers event.  It's going to be a total life changing experience for participants, local supporters (the church, our family) and those God has chosen in His grace to receive Him.  Whatever these numbers turn out to be, they are beyond our control and we trust everything in the hands of the Lord.

We'll never brag numbers, only the Lord Jesus Christ and saved, transformed lives.  Anything else would not be worth it.

Maybe it's time you decided where you fit in.  Did God sow something in you that He has been waiting for you to put your finger on and use - ultimately to save eternal souls from going to hell and bring glory to our Father.  Can't really put it less bluntly than that.

The worst thing about hell is not the heat, the unquenchable thirst nor the worms that never die.  It's not even the darkness or the unbearable pain and suffering.  It's separation from God, and that one word that should haunt every Christian on this planet: Eternity.  All these things FOR EVER!  If you can imagine this you may begin to understand why we are passionate about reaching the lost for Christ.

May God bless you in your faith and walk.

 

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HOT, HOT, HOT issue #2

This is the second issue of our Hot News releases.  Please visit this page fairly regularly to catch-up with any latest urgent news that affect Participants, Supporters and Sponsors.

This issue is dedicated to Press Releases.  If you are an online news site, a magazine, radio or television organization, please feel free (in fact we encourage you) to use the following press release, as well as include any graphic which you can download from this resource:

PRESS RELEASE:

Did you love following the "Amazing Race" on television? Want to see something even better, which "ups the bar" for global evangelization?

A new cutting edge opportunity to evangelize to the nations has been birthed in the form of the Global Witnessing Challenge (or "The Challenge" for short).  It was launched only this month, the main purpose being to fire up "ordinary" Christians to become extraordinary ambassadors for Christ, as they travel the globe and put to good use the talents and the faith they have been blessed with. And by providing them with an outlet through which to do this.

The Challenge involves passionate witnesses for Christ physically setting off in teams of 2 around the world, with whatever means and resources are available to them, to proclaim the Good News to a lost and fallen world. They will specifically talk and share with people who do not know the Lord as their Saviour the message of reconciliation and Salvation, using any innovative means or tools at their disposal.

Teams - comprised of ordinary Christians from ordinary churches all over the the world - will choose one from several "divisions" or groupings of countries around the world, through which they will travel and actively share their faith.  Regardless of division chosen, all teams will visit a minimum of 10 countries, including each continent on the globe.  Teams are responsible for raising their own sponsorship to pay for their travel and upkeep.

The first ever Challenge will commence in April 2010 and be completed over 5 months. The Lord willing, the organizers hope it will become a sought-after annual event and grow in popularity, as evidenced by growing numbers of participating teams and passionate followers.

The daily news and results of teams will be broadcast (by blogs, video clips on the official web site) to an eager and expectant Christian world. As such the Challenge will make inspirational Christian news, followed on an ongoing basis by an ever increasing audience who will have been stung into action and inspired by this bold vision and selfless acts of others.

A colorful bonus points system has been devised to further motivate participants and to acknowledge the difficulties of witnessing in more difficult locations and situations (eg. remote locations, different languages, etc).  Awards will be made at the end of the Challenge to winners of different witnessing categories.

The Challenge will undoubtedly present the greatest physical, spiritual, mental and emotional tests most participants will ever have experienced. Individuals' faith will be tested and stretched throughout their epic journeys as never before. Miracles will be witnessed and performed. Spiritual fruit will be reaped among people and in places most would never have dreamed they were capable of reaching in their lifetimes. Blessings of all manner - spiritual and material - will be experienced by participants through the faithfulness and commitment of their efforts.

As a life-changing event, very few things on earth will come close to rivalling the impact and inspiration the Challenge will have on the lives of participants. Not to mention on the many people "back home" who have chosen to support and closely monitor participants' journeys.

There are roles for both introverts and extroverts alike.  The Challenge is based very solidly on the principle of the Body of Christ comprising different people who each fulfil different functions.  Being such an inclusive affair that involves the worldwide church is what makes this event so unique and creative.

They are currently taking registrations for this event.  You can read up about the Global Witnessing Challenge, and register your interest, at their web site at:  www.gwchallenge.com

"As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of those who bring Good News." (Rom 10:15)

Keep watching this space for further developments and updates!

ENDS

 

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HOT, HOT, HOT issue # 1

We would like to introduce our first ever "Hot, Hot, Hot" news article with a series of urgent requests.

Being the inaugural event in 2010, The Challenge still has a long way to go before it is in a position to sound the starter's pistol.

Basically, we need help, and lots of it!

As the Body of Christ we are all tasked with proclaiming the Kingdom of God, using our various (and different) God-given skills and resources.  The task of reaching and touching the lost for Christ is a major function of the church today (or so it should be).

Our request in this article is to challenge YOU specifically to seek out HOW you can make a difference with your life, beginning right here with this event - the Gobal Witnessing Challenge.

Requests

We challenge you to read through the following list of requests, and to act prayerfully and deliberately on any of them which you sense the Spirit of God is prompting you to:

prayer - the covering of the Lord over all the people directly involved in this work, and especially His strength, wisdom and guidance over our steps.  Pray also for victories and breakthroughs to be made.  We need your ongoing prayer support daily, dear friends

promotion - this is something everyone can do as well.  Spreading the news to all your Christian family and friends about The Challenge and, in particular, about our web site.  Let the internet be good for this: to snowball at a dramatic rate the knowledge and awareness of The Challenge among the worldwide Christian community

Global Promoter - if you know of anyone/any ministry (it may even be yourself) who you feel may be drawn to take a leading role in running The Challenge under their banner, please contact them for us.  People can be so busy with new business start-ups, yet fail to invest in the Kingdom of God which is eternal.  This is a truly start-up global ministry opportunity for someone the Lord has destined them to be part of.  Click here for more info

volunteers - there is such a HUGE scope for followers of Christ to get involved in this work - without having to set foot outside their house or office.  A team is much more than the sum of the individual efforts; it's about bringing unity into this work, and where there is unity God will command a blessing.  Voluntary opportunities here

financial support - as ever, this is an unfortunate necessity!  Let's be visionary people and turn necessity into blessing.    Specifically, let God show you how you can be a blessing to the many people who have not yet heard the Gospel, by enabling us to complete the work behind the scenes to be ready by April 2010.  Contact us now

And finally...

Don't forget that this site is actually about enrolling supporters, volunteers and participants.  Which role do YOU see yourself fulfilling here?  Take the time to register here (click on the "Register" link to the left of the screen) and start getting involved.

Let your encouragement come from the following scripture, which makes the whole purpose and mandate of The Challenge abundantly clear:

For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.  For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”  For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him.  For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear vwithout someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

(Romans 10:10-17)