AUG U S T
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ISSUE NUMBER 4
THE NETWORK Go into all the World What an amazing year of 'firsts' for Kingfisher! The first time that all three Kingfisher churches in Gloucester had baptism services within the same calendar year; the first time we have had an olympic team come to visit and take part in various church activities; the first book published by Kingfisher Resources; the first time we have held an International Network Conference! 'Go Into All The World', held at the Guild Hall, Gloucester, on July 14th, brought together people from Africa, India and the UK to celebrate all that God is doing in and through this Network of churches, and hear an inspiring challenge to be part of the spreading of the worldwide Gospel. The Gospel is the most contagious phenomenon in Church history...something so 'catching' that just 11 scared, ill-equipped individuals, empowered by the Holy Spirit have today become a worldwide movement numbering over
2 billion. The Gospel is spreading rapidly around the world in areas that have been violently opposed to the Christian message. • In Iran, more people have become Christian since 1979 than at any other time in the country's history! Estimates are around 1000 new converts each month. • Africa is now majority Christian. 52% of the entire continent (including North Africa, traditionally strongly Muslim) is now Christian • Operation World (2010) reports that the church in Nepal flourishes as a "remarkable indigenous movement" within a strongly Hindu culture. From the first Christian church formed in 1952, Nepal's believers grew to 200,000 by 1990, during times of persecution, and to some 850,000 Christfollowers by 2010.
In a year of so many 'firsts', the International Conference signalled a return of focus to a very familiar theme: sharing the most contagious, most lifetransforming, hope-filled message this planet has ever encountered. With renewed intensity and passion, we are zeroing in once more as a Network on Jesus command to 'Go and make disciples'...to seek and seize opportunities to share the Good News of the Kingdom, demonstrate how he has changed our lives, and offer the opportunity to those around us to make that discovery for themselves. Jesus Christ changes lives. He has changed yours, he has changed mine. Together we are going to offer that life-changing relationship to those who have yet to experience that. During the remainder of this year we are going to be offering an increasing number of opportunities to be part of Jesus' command: 'GO and make disciples!'.