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Reflections from the 3rd Lausanne Congress

Last week, more than 4,000 Christians from virtually every country on earth gathered in South Africa for the 3rd Lausanne Congress.  Christianity Today called the event the most diverse gathering of Christians in history.  It brought together “leaders from more than 200 countries to confront the critical issues of our time – other world faiths, poverty, HIV/AIDS, persecution, among others – as they relate to the future of the Church and world evangelization.”

Alliance President Jedd Medefind was among the 400 U.S. delegates.  Medefind described, “The speakers, deliberations, international connections and other more apparent purposes of the Congress were tremendous.  But what most impacted me was encountering the global Body of Christ so tangibly.  The distinctive dialects, shades of skin, clothing, music and perspectives made a breathtaking kaleidoscope—all united under Jesus Christ.  It was a glorious shadow of the Kingdom to come.”  Read more Lausanne reflections on the Alliance blog.

It’s Not Too Late!

Desperation_BandWith Orphan Sunday right around the corner, it’s not too late to make your plans!  Add your voice to thousands around the world who will be speaking out for the fatherless. It’s your final chance! Here are three simple ideas to put your event together quickly:

1. Join the Online Simulcast on Friday, November 5th:  Use this student-focused live concert with The Desperation Band to build an unforgettable evening for your group and hear how students are showing the world God’s heart in service to orphans. For more details…
2. Request the Free DVD, Answer the Cry:  This 60-minute program featuring Francis Chan, Mark Schultz, and Steven Curtis Chapman highlights ways every Christian can make a lasting difference for an orphan.  For more details…
3. Hold a focused Prayer Meeting:  Bring your neighbors, friends, and church family together for an hour of prayer for the orphan and response of the local church.  For prayer guides and resources…
Or shape your own event with free online resources and videos!

Alliance Members in Focus: Meet-Up in Ethopia

Lifesong__-_Girls_in_lineOne of the highlights of Alliance membership is the spirit of collaboration and service seen in projects around the world.  This bond was well-illustrated this September when Alliance Members Children’s HopeChest and Lifesong for Orphans crossed paths in Ethiopia at a newly opened school in the city of Ziway.  At the heart of this reunion were individual Alliance members Randy and Candice Wagenleitner whose story and heart for the orphan brought the teams together:

“The Lord used Lifesong to provide our family with a matching grant for the adoption of our daughter a year and a half ago. As we got to know Lifesong better and saw how they were about so much more than grants and loans and were involved in orphan care around the world, we knew we wanted to be a part of that in some way. As Randy and I began to think and pray about the mission focus for our church”s vacation Bible school this year, we knew we wanted to focus on mobilizing the children and their parents to care for orphans.  We knew that the kids at our church would get excited to help build a playground for the kids in Ethiopia, and they proved us right.  They did everything to raise funds from lemonade and kool-aid stands, to making bracelets, passing out baby bottles to fill up, painting rocks, baking cookies, and even selling frogs! By the end of that week almost 300 children and their parents had raised around $4,500 for the children in Ziway Ethiopia! This was enough to not only build the playground, but to help with a few school supplies as well. It was a huge blessing to be a part of!

Lifesong_staff_with_Matt_Sarah_from_HopechestRight around the same time, we had become Alliance members, attended the Summit, and met up with Children’s HopeChest while we were there. We loved their vision of connecting churches and organizations with communities of orphans and prayed that we would be able to partner with their ministry in some way in the future. We felt the Lord leading us to take the first step of faith and be a part of the mission trip to Ethiopia in September.  We never dreamed we would have the opportunity to see the Ziway school in person and now have pictures and video of our special time there to bring back and show our church. Our lives were changed last month as we literally went to “visit orphans in their distress.’”

The Ziway school opened this August to serve nearly 200 orphaned and vulnerable children in the local area.  “We’re all working for the same goal to bring the gospel of Jesus to these children, transforming their lives.” said Andy Lehman, Vice President of Lifesong for Orphans. To learn more about how you can join with the work of Alliance members around the globe, visit The Christian Alliance for Orphans.