The Need of Our World and its Challenge to Christ’s Church

2. “Look at the peoples and watch — and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told…For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.” (Habakkuk 1:5, 2:14)

3. “I pray…that all of them may be one…so that the world may believe that you have sent me…May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” (John 17:20-23)

4. The Need of Our World and its Challenge to Christ’s Church “Let my heart be broken with the things which break the heart of God.” — Bob Pierce, evangelist, humanitarian, and founder of World Vision Let our hearts be broken…

5. Over 1.6 billion people with little or no chance to hear of Jesus Christ.

6. The Church is sending only 2.5% of its total missionary force to them (10500 out of 420,000 missionaries).

7. Christians are spending only .02 % of total church expenditure for this purpose ($54 million out of $270 billion).

8. There are over 3000 ethnic peoples still less than 5% Christian.

9. 85% of the poorest nations are in the unevangelized world. “The lost are the poor and the poor are the lost.”

10. The western world needs to be re-evangelized, especially youth.

11. Proclaim the utter uniqueness of Jesus to a pluralistic world.

12. A Compelling Call for a Better Integrated Effort

13. A Compelling Call for a Better Integrated Effort

14. A Compelling Call for a Better Integrated Effort

15. Defragment and better integrate autonomous efforts

16. Defragment and better integrate autonomous efforts • Avoid duplication and waste of resources

17. Defragment and better integrate autonomous efforts • Avoid duplication and waste of resources • Practice our organic unity in Christ (John 17:21)

18. Birth and Development of the Great Commission Roundtable • March, 1999, Hurdal, Norway

19. Birth and Development of the Great Commission Roundtable • March, 1999, Hurdal, Norway • Create a new global forum, a “network of networks”, first called Global Evangelism Roundtable

20. Birth and Development of the Great Commission Roundtable • Connect existing ministry and mission networks in an “open, inclusive partnership in order to encourage wide participation and facilitate collaboration between geographical and functional groups.”

21. Birth and Development of the Great Commission Roundtable • August, 1999, Dallas, Texas

22. Birth and Development of the Great Commission Roundtable • August, 1999, Dallas, Texas • International Task Force and Facilitation Team chosen

23. Birth and Development of the Great Commission Roundtable • March, 2000, Sierra Madre, California

24. Birth and Development of the Great Commission Roundtable • March, 2000, Sierra Madre, California • Mission statement, values and criteria for participating networks agreed on

25. Birth and Development of the Great Commission Roundtable • March, 2000, Sierra Madre, California • Mission statement, values and criteria for participating networks agreed on • Name of Great Commission Roundtable (GCR) adopted

26. What is GCR’s mission? • The Great Commission Roundtable is a global community of ministry and resource networks focusing on the fulfillment of Christ’s Great Commission, welcoming all such networks to connect and participate as equal partners. (GCR Mission Statement — March 30, 2000)

27. What is GCR’s mission? • Encouraging the whole church to take the whole gospel to the whole world. (GCR Mission Statement — March 30, 2000)

28. What is GCR’s mission? • Encouraging the whole church to take the whole gospel to the whole world. • Serving as a global forum for existing and emerging networks. (GCR Mission Statement — March 30, 2000)

29. What is GCR’s mission? • Encouraging the whole church to take the whole gospel to the whole world. • Serving as a global forum for existing and emerging networks. • Anticipating and celebrating fresh initiatives and creative leadership for world mission. (GCR Mission Statement — March 30, 2000)

30. What is GCR’s mission? • Urging the Church to give special focus in prayer and ministry to those who have little or no access to the gospel or Christian ministry. (GCR Mission Statement — March 30, 2000)

31. What is GCR’s mission? • Urging the Church to give special focus in prayer and ministry to those who have little or no access to the gospel or Christian ministry. • Actively mentoring the next generation for world evangelization. (GCR Mission Statement — March 30, 2000)

32. What are the criteria for participating networks? 1. Committed to the Lordship of Jesus Christ and the fulfillment of His Great Commission. (Adopted by GCR International Task Force, March 30, 2000)

33. What are the criteria for participating networks? 1. Committed to the Lordship of Jesus Christ and the fulfillment of His Great Commission. 2. Committed to the unity of the Body of Christ and willing to work in partnership with others from diverse backgrounds culturally and ecclesiastically. (Adopted by GCR International Task Force, March 30, 2000)

34. What are the criteria for participating networks? 3. Committed to evangelization as understood in the broader sense of incarnational, transformational ministry as described in the Lausanne Covenant. (Adopted by GCR International Task Force, March 30, 2000)

35. What are the criteria for participating networks? 4. At least initially the Great Commission Roundtable will be limited to leaders (or their designates) of international, regional or functional ministry or resource networks and associations of churches. (Adopted by GCR International Task Force, March 30, 2000)

36. Where is GCR going? “We are building the road as we are walking on it.”

37. Where is GCR going? • a new wineskin for a new millenium

38. Where is GCR going? • a new wineskin for a new millenium • bring together existing mission networks to provide a roundtable or open forum where we can “connect and participate as equal partners”

39. Where is GCR going? • a new wineskin for a new millenium • bring together existing mission networks to provide a roundtable or open forum where we can “connect and participate as equal partners” • “defragmenting” the mission movement

40. Where is GCR going? • connect what is already happening

41. Where is GCR going? • connect what is already happening • be in genuine, ongoing relationship

42. Where is GCR going? • connect what is already happening • be in genuine, ongoing relationship • hearing from the Lord of the Church and listening to one another as to how we might better collaborate.

43. Why are we meeting here together? • Calls to mission and strategies through waiting and listening to God

44. Why are we meeting here together? • Mission breakthroughs through praying and listening (Acts 1:14).

45. Why are we meeting here together? • The whole mission to the Gentiles and ultimately the Gospel’s spreading to the ends of the earth began in the place of worship, prayer and listening! (Acts13:2)

46. Regularly coming together in one place

47. Regularly coming together in one place • Working towards agreement, being reconciled where that needs to happen

48. Regularly coming together in one place • Working towards agreement, being reconciled where that needs to happen • Listening corporately to the voice of the Spirit

49. Regularly coming together in one place • Working towards agreement, being reconciled where that needs to happen • Listening corporately to the voice of the Spirit • Relationships with God and one another are the foundation of everything

50. Connecting the Body of Christ to Love and Serve One Another in Shared Mission • Be connective tissue to the Body of Christ in mission