Mission can succeed in spite of divisions, says theologian

Professor Dana Robert addresses delegates at Edinburgh 2010, 3 June 2010


The church and the world may be more plural than ever before, but that should not hold Christians back from proclaiming the love of God revealed through Jesus Christ, says one university professor.

Professor Dana Robert, of Boston University School of Theology, told some 300 Christian leaders at the Edinburgh 2010 conference that the greater plurality of the world church today made united witness “urgent for the integrity of the gospel message”.

“We must not allow difficult theological, socio-cultural, and political issues, or disagreements over theologies of religion, to discourage us from sharing God’s love and salvation through Jesus Christ with all the world,” she said.

Netanyahu:Today we saw the differences betwn a ftotilla of peace activities-with whom we disagree but whose right to a different opinion we respect - and a flotilla of hate organized by violent ,terrorism-supporting extremists-Isreal Navy takeover Rachel Corrie without accident.

"Today we saw the difference between a flotilla of peace activists - with whom we disagree, but whose right to a different opinion we respect - and a flotilla of hate organized by violent, terrorism-supporting extremists," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday following the takeover.

The operation was personally overseen by Israel Navy Commander Eliezer Marom and the commander of the Shayetet 13, Col. A, who traveled in a boat alongside the Rachel Corrie. The IDF jammed all signals coming from the ship and its passengers.

The Israel Navy first contacted the Rachel Corrie on Friday, trying to convince its passengers not to sail on to the Gaza Strip. Speaking to the activists through the Irish government, Israel attempted to persuade them to dock in Ashdod, where their cargo would be inspected and then they would accompany it to the ground border crossings to the Gaza Strip.

Afghanistan Suspends 2 Christian Aid Groups

Afganisthan PM Kazai.

Afghanistan suspended two church-based aid groups on Monday over allegations that the organizations are proselytizing in the Islamic country.

Church World Service and Norwegian Church Aid cannot operate while authorities investigate the claim.

“We are not proselytizing,” said Maurice Bloem, deputy director for international programs at CWS, to The Christian Post. “If you would speak with the local community and organizations they will confirm that we stick to the code of conduct for an NGO (non-governmental organization), which is you should do your work and not proselytize.”

Gospel for Asia Mourns Murder of Indian Missionary-EU Team Visits Site of Anti-Christian Violence in India

Gospel For Asia has expressed its sorrow over the murder of one of its missionaries in India last month.

Ajit Bansi was constructing a new church in Assam when he was killed by an extremist anti-Christian group on May 20. He had gone to a nearby town to purchase materials for the final phase of construction but never returned.

GFA said he was ambushed together with three other people and that all four were shot dead by the extremist group.

Interview: Jerry Rankin on Spiritual Warfare, Missions

Jerry Rankin, the president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s International Mission Board, spokeabout his new book with missiologist Ed Stetzer called Spiritual Warfare and Missions

In the interview, Rankin explained what Satan’s most effective strategy is to stop the expansion of the Kingdom of God and why missions is not the ultimate goal of the church.

The following are excerpts from the interview.

Passion for Christ Movement (P4CM) Statement of Faith.

THE SCRIPTURES

We believe that the Bible, consisting of the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments, is the infallible Word of God, verbally inspired by God, without error, deception, or contradiction. We believe the Bible has God for its author, redemption through Christ as its theme, and salvation for its end. We believe that God’s intentions, commands, and truth as revealed in the Bible, are the supreme and final authority in all areas that it addresses, both directly and indirectly. Therefore, we believe the teachings of Scripture are the supreme standard by which all human conduct, truths, creeds, and religious opinions should be tried.

2 Timothy 3:16, 2 Peter 1:20-21, 2 Peter3:15 and Deut 17:18-20.

Passion for Christ Movement

Townsville nurse serves in West Africa, answers a call from God

“A friend at work was talking about the work done by volunteers serving with Mercy Ships, but I disregarded the thought of being involved until that thought kept nagging at the back of my mind,” says Townsville nurse Sarah George.

Sarah spent ten weeks onboard the world’s largest charity hospital ship in the West African nation of Togo, working as part of the ship’s eye team restoring sight through free cataract surgery to the people of that country. She was one of more than 400 volunteer crew members onboard, drawn from 40 nations, all travelling at their own expense and giving of their time and talents to provide a range of health and community development services to some of the world’s poorest people.