KINGFISHER INTERNATIONAL FAMILY NEWS
FEBRUARY 2020
ISSUE 10
Twenty seven years and counting... It was 27 years ago that a small group of people, cast a vision to launch a church that would reach the unchurched. 27 years ago, there was no internet, no social media, no digital downloading of live-streamed videos. Cassette tapes, overhead projectors and written letters that were physically posted in a letterbox were all we had. How times have changed! But then, there are certain things have have not changed at all:
the ‘extreme’ category for its level of persecution of Christians. In the 2019 Open Doors World Watch List, there are now 11 countries in that category. Kingfisher Family is represented in that list, as many churches are spread throughout northern India, which is number 10 on the list of extreme persecution. China is climbing the list and now stands at number 27. Kingfisher Family is reaching out further and further afield at a time when it is becoming more and more costly to be known as a follower of Jesus Christ. I believe that this will be a defining decade for Kingfisher Family, and that, in the face of rising opposition and persecution, the Gospel of Jesus Christ will have an amazing impact on this troubled, broken world.
• We still need relationships where we know that we matter, that we are valued. • We still need hope, as hopelessness is on the rise. • We still need a Saviour, as we are as unable as ever to save ourselves.
At a recent vision casting event for Kingfisher Family, I outlined what I believe is a major challenge from God for the coming year and beyond. You can catch the whole talk by visiting our YouTube channel, which is easily accessible via www.kingfisherfamily.org (click on Resources), but the highlights are shared in this edition of the International News. The Great Commission is for today! It challenges us to become Great Commission disciples - in the face of an angry world, a hopeless world, a lost world, to bring the hope of a relationship with our Saviour, Jesus Christ. This is the decade to focus afresh and commit ourselves to being part of a Great Commission Tsunami that will sweep the world as never before!
The things that have changed are superficial, and just passing anyway (remember how CDs came and went?) The things that are truly important will not change - and that is reflected in the vision and values of Kingfisher Family. We continue to reach out around the world, offering support, help and direction to a growing number of church planters, leaders, teachers and pastors as they courageously continue to minister in challenging circumstances. 2020 is the start of a whole new decade - a decade where religious persecution is on the increase. Five years ago, only North Korea was in
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Kingfisher building projects
Dumagat Education Program update
New resources available