NEWS – october 19
let’s celebrate!
Steve Oliver writes:
Each year, at this time, all the churches in Regions Beyond across six continents join together in taking up an offering for our global gospel advance. This is based on the same principle God gave Moses for the collection of manna.
In Exodus 16:16-18 we read: “This is what the Lord has commanded: ‘Gather of it, each one of you, as much as he can eat. You shall each take an omer, according to the number of the persons that each of you has in his tent.”‘ And the people of Israel did so. They gathered, some more, some less. But when they measured it with an omer, whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack. Each of them gathered as much as he could eat.
This has been our practice for years now, and it is astonishing to see what we have achieved as a result of our togetherness in giving. While preparing the ‘offering video’, I felt prompted to ask the various sphere leaders to help me do an audit of what we have achieved over the past year – it was astonishing! I asked them to provide details for 9 questions – the result, over 100 new initiatives have been born among us this year!
Let me share with you some of the details…and express a BIG thank you!
Steve asked:
List new nations that have opened up this year.
They responded:
We are now working in 4 new nations – Nepal, Sri Lanka, Kenya and Bhutan as well as 3 further states of India, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal and Meghalaya and the island of Cebu in the Philippines.
Training events in Zanzibar, Zambia and Challenge 19 in India.
Steve asked:
List training events completed in this current year.
They responded:
In excess of 28 training courses have been completed. These included leaders’ conferences, theology training weekends, training in evangelism, Bible schools, Apostolic Boot Camp, Challenge 19, Transform 19, discipleship training, honouring of spiritual mothers and fathers, Gospel Advance, and Marathon 19.
Steve asked:
List new churches planted over the present year.
They responded:
23 new RB churches have been planted. These are located in India, Zambia, Tanzania, Mozambique, South Africa, Burundi, UAE, Philippines, Australia, USA and UK.
Steve asked:
List mission teams sent out this year.
They responded:
9 mission teams have been sent out, to Lusaka, Zanzibar, Andhra, Orissa, Punjab, UP, Goa, Philippines and Sydney.
Caloocan, Philippines
Cebu City Church Plant
Steve asked:
List new works among the poor.
They responded:
8 new works have been established; five small business developments in South Africa, a feeding program among the Ita people in Subic (Philippines), a farming project and schools in Chocolate City, Liberia.
Steve asked:
Identify any closed nations where you have established connections.
They responded:
We now have connections into 2 new closed nations. There are also 5 new nations opening up to us and 2 new regions within countries where we are already working.
Steve asked:
List churches adopted into RB in your sphere.
They responded:
19 new churches have been adopted, in India, Bhutan, Australia, The Philippines, Zambia, Tanzania, Mozambique and South Africa.
Steve asked:
List any other breakthroughs to celebrate this year.
They responded:
The Goodwill Church in Lusaka has acquired a new building, new spheres are developing in the UK, and the Seven Springs Training Centre in South Africa is now two-thirds built!
Mominpura, Pakistan
Steve asked:
List potential nations and regions opening up.
They responded:
5 plus two new areas in countries already reached; Japan, S Korea, Pakistan, Tarlac and Palawan in the Philippines, Siera Leone, Conakry in Guinea, W Africa, and Edinburgh in Scotland.
When we see what has been accomplished through the generous and sacrificial giving of people in our global Regions Beyond family in this past year, let’s worship God for His wonderful faithfulness and stir faith to give generously again as we approach our next annual offering.
The video, which includes Steve’s ‘thank you’ message, is available for you all to share with your churches at https://vimeo.com/367254156
