Today is Monday, December 2nd, 2013; Karen's Korner #2706
A couple of weeks ago my church friend Joy and I attended our church's "International Conference on Missions" in Kansas City. While the conference was held from Thursday through Sunday, we participated in parts of three days.
Like most conferences, there were trade show booths, worship times, break-out workshops among other things. About 10,000 people attended.
Here are a couple of comments, highlights:
* This year's president was from Mexico. One of his comments, "In the past four years, the drug cartel has killed more than 100,000 people'" in his country.
* In one of the workshops, I learned that more people of the Muslim faith have been converted to Christianity in the past 40 years, than in the prior 400 years. The leader cited five reasons why; I can recall three: technology and the lack of 'borders' because of computers and advanced communication; Muslim students studying in colleges located in Christian countries, coming in direct contact with authentic Christians; and the thirdly answers to people praying for Muslims - some people are being contacting directly by God 'through dreams and visions'. The speaker said, "We need to praise God that the 'doors to the Muslim faith are wide open!".
* While there were more than 300 trade show type booths, recruiting youth to Christian colleges/educations; attempting to interest participants in supporting a mission/missionary with time, talents, or dollars, maybe ten or less were selling wares made by some third world countries, attempting to help some of its citizenry to support themselves. One in particular was Rapha House from India and several other countries, teaching young girls a trade. These girls are now out of the sex trafficking industry. These new skills and a market for their products, allowed them to move from one lifestyle to another one, more of her choosing. Both Joy and I purchased an item or two!
* In another workshop, I learned that 75% of our churches in America have either plateaued, are in decline, or near death. A couple of signs of decline: 40% of the people doing 90% of the work is a sign of beginning the decline; as a church comes closer to death: 10% of the people doing 90% of the work. We need to ask God, where is our church? What kind of plans does He have for our church futures?
* Two days were deemed as "Youth Days". Some of the programming paralleled what the adults were doing; others were special events and activities were just for them. IDES (International Disaster Emergency Services) had two special opportunities for youth who chose to participate: they built walls, ends, roofs for 42 storage units which will be readied to 'buckle together', when the next U.S. disaster happens, also 70,000 emergency meals were put together for those in need.
* One amazing session was a one hour "world prayer time" on Saturday morning. The 'pray-ers' were organized in advance: one-by-one they came to the microphone and prayed. Some were from the United States; some were not. Some prayed in English; some in their native language. All were broadcast on a couple of jumbo screens. At times, the screen would move to people in other parts of the world who live, outside of the conference center, where several thousand people were participating. Some might be located in India; another might be in a ghetto area on New York City. Each praying for things globally, collectively, or specifically for needs of their country; maybe a particular of their mission work.
What an opportunity to be reminded, once again, that 'God is alive and well on planet earth! And to think that each of us gets to be a part of it!
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