Five Global Trends

Five encouraging developments worldwide

Often the best news doesn't make it into the newspapers. At the start of 2006, Joel News International lists a simple top-5 most encouraging developments.

1. An unprecedented growth of the prayer movement worldwide;
2. God's Spirit being poured out in many places, marked by conversion and miracles;
3. Many new partnerships and networks are being formed on a city-, nation- and even continental level, linking prayer, saturation church planting and frontline missions;
4. More and more Christians, churches and ministries are engaging in a transformational process to bring godly change to their societies;
5. Radically simple and innovative forms of church are springing up in many places, reaching the unreached.


Source: http://www.joelnews.org

------
I think the toughest for us to deal with will be #2 & #5. There is something about the miraculous that is really troubling to the evangelical world. I mean, we would all say that God can (and does) still do miracles, but the frequency and verasity that is being shown worldwide is a bit alarming to our tride and true ways of doing missional business. I think we are going to have to embrace the reality of the gospel going forth in power if are to fully understand how God is choosing to move in this day.

Combine that with the simple expansion of the kingdom through simple people and you have a very ACTS like set up. Many villages and communities were won in Asia minor by the display of healings and miracles . . . and many of the new leaders of these churches could not even read. They could not even have a quiet time the way that we typically teach students to have a quiet time. I am sure they pondered the new truths they heard and simply listened to God to hear more. This is very simple - and in may ways scares us to death!

I am not sure why. Part of it is our desire to have good sound doctrine - and even to protect doctrine (as if God is having trouble doing this for himself). Another part is our need for control. Our western idea of having things structured and organized. This is neither. A third aspect is credit. It is hard to point to one person, organization or event that can take credit for what happens with this kind of simple expansion - and I think that somehow troubles us (ok, it troubles me - you can be troubled by your own troubles).


But at the end of the day the lost are being saved (and the blind are given sight). It is hard to argue with the numbers and the passion of the church growing in these areas. Not seminary trained, no buildings and no professional help - and yet the church expands at an explosive rate.