The World Evangelical Fellowship (WEF) comprises six regional fellowships, which partner with the national fellowships of the countries in their regions. Berita NECF met up with four regional secretaries to find out the challenges evangelicals are facing in their regions.
Gerry Seale,
Evangelical Association of the Caribbean (EAC)
The EAC was launched in 1977. Today, it has 11 national members, two denominations and four agencies in full membership. Another four agencies hold associate membership.
Gerry shares: “One significant challenge we face is finance to fund our programmes. Ours is a small region made up of small islands, which means small financial resource base.
We also face significant challenges in family structure, which is partly a result of our heritage of African slavery where slaves were treated and bred like animals. The concept of family was not allowed under the slavery system and this is a lingering problem even though slavery was abolished more than 100 years ago. For example, in Barbados, more than 70 percent of children are born outside of marriage and this is common across the islands of the Caribbean.
The other reality that results from the slavery situation is the significant economic issue where the minority of the whites still controls the economic wealth. For example, in Barbados, three percent of the population is white but they dominate the economy. It’s been very difficult for the blacks to break into economic empowerment because 200 years ago, structures were built in the society to prevent them from doing so.
On our part, we have established a number of commissions. Our Communications Commission networks Christian media. Out of this has come funding for a project, which links via satellite the 50 over Christian radio stations. The commission provides training for pastors on how to use radio as a medium to advance their ministries and has also conducted Christian writers’ workshops.
We have an Evangelism and Missions Commission, which organises missions conferences, and a Theological Commission, which networks all the Bible Schools in the region and publishes an annual theological review. We have a prayer network through e-mail and we hope to start our research network soon. We are now also looking at starting a Children’s Commission.
Because ours is a disaster-prone region with many developmental issues, we are forming a Commission on Relief and Development. This commission will tackle the AIDS issue because the Caribbean is second only to Africa in the incidence of HIV infections.
We also want to begin developmental projects that will assist the poorest parts of the Caribbean. World Relief is partnering with us here. Tearfund and Samaritans’ Purse have also expressed interest.”
Gordon Showell-Rogers,
European Evangelical Alliance (EEA)
Europe is a varied continent with vast spiritual needs, says Gordon. Albania and Switzerland could be on a different planet. Russia is a lot bigger than Monaco. Some are Protestant countries but the majority is Roman Catholics and orthodox.
The EEA has 28 national alliances and several affiliated members. Despite the very dark spiritual context of this post-Christian continent, in which church attendance continues to decline, EEA membership is growing dramatically as church leaders in countries across the region have drawn closer together.
Gordon shares: “Within the evangelical alliance of Europe, we are excited about several things we are doing. We have two major functions. Firstly, the EEA serves the national alliances, encouraging the development of alliances in those countries where they do not exist while encouraging the growth of existing alliances. Our vision is to see well-functioning and representative national alliances in 43 countries across Europe.
Secondly, the EEA performs certain functions that will be more effectively performed as a whole group. These include our advocacy ministry into the European Union and a cooperative set of activities with mission agencies in Europe, and with the Lausanne movement across Europe called Hope for Europe, which tries to bring the hope of Christ into the lives of the European people.
We are firmly committed to learning from the rest of the world, particularly in those regions like Asia, where God is granting growth. We are learning to expect from God, to pray more urgently and passionately that God will come down to our countries. At the same time, we are seeking ways to contribute to other regions.”
Gary Walsh,
North America
The fellowship consists of three evangelical fellowships—the National Association of Evangelicals, the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada and Alliance Francophone des Protestants Evangeliques du Quebec. Together, they represent 83 denominations and over 300 Christian organisations and educational institutions.
Gary shares: “In North America, there is a liberalising of social mores as the government, court and media continue to move the culture and society further away from religious rooting. The national evangelical alliances in the USA and Canada are working very hard to strengthen their ministry of advocacy and representation to the
governments.
We have established a committee to work on an extensive scholarly project to create the underpinnings for the Christian approach to moral and social issues in the North American continent.
Right now, there are so many of the old-line denominations that are losing members. The renewal movement within those denominations is looking to the evangelical alliances, so very discreetly, we are opening our doors to these revived people while maintaining our relationships with our co-denominations.
We are moving through the very difficult process of waking up to the fact that the old Christendom era is over and we have been lulled to sleep thinking we are Christian countries.
We are now going through this disconcerting time of being aware that we are going to choose just like everybody else in the world does. The natural cultural thing is not the Christian thing. It’s a little discouraging to find out that someone is questioning using the Lord’s Prayer at the civic ceremony, or at the High School Graduation. I pray that our evangelical people will not lose heart over this. I tell them we have never been satisfied with nominal Christianity so don’t worry about this change.
We’ve always said it is personal faith in Jesus Christ; it’s the gospel that makes the difference. The difficult phase we are going through will drive us to our knees. It will make us stronger, make our families stronger, as we realise we have to make a decision to follow Christ.”
Dr Francis Sunderaj,
Evangelical Fellowship of Asia (EFA)
Asia is a continent of vast diversity with a population of about 3.2 billion or 56 percent of the world’s population. There are over 1,080 known languages and 2,660 ethno-linguistic groups. Protestant Christians made up about 4.5 percent of the total population. The EFA was formed in 1983 and today, it has 16 national members and 11 Asia-wide Christian agencies.
Dr Sunderaj shares: “The growing influence of post-modernity, dominance of information technology, rapid urbanisation, vast rural population, the effects of globalisation, social exploitation and poverty, erosion of moral values—these are just some of the issues faced by the Church of Asia.
We work through our national fellowships by strengthening them. In 1997, we held the 2nd Asia Missions Congress where we invited several missions and church leaders to motivate and mobilize them to work in unity. We have a consultation for Children at Risk and another one handling women issues. Last year, we had a consultation on biblical stewardship. Leadership seminars are organised for churches in countries such as Nepal, Cambodia and Myanmar, where there is a great need to train leaders.
Some of our national fellowships are very strong while some are weak. But they all try to have their own programmes and work alongside their local churches.” |
