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

“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)

“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)

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…

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

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

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

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

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

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

Proclaim the utter uniqueness of Jesus to a pluralistic world.

A Compelling Call for a Better Integrated Effort

• Defragment and better integrate autonomous efforts


• Avoid duplication and waste of resources


• Avoid duplication and waste of resources

• Practice our organic unity in Christ (John 17:21)

Birth and Development of the Great Commission Roundtable

• March, 1999, Hurdal, Norway


• March, 1999, Hurdal, Norway

• Create a new global forum, a “network of networks”, first called Global Evangelism 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.”



• August, 1999, Dallas, Texas


• August, 1999, Dallas, Texas

• International Task Force and Facilitation Team chosen


• March, 2000, Sierra Madre, California



• Mission statement, values and criteria for participating networks agreed on



• Mission statement, values and criteria for participating networks agreed on

• Name of Great Commission Roundtable (GCR) adopted

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)


• Encouraging the whole church to take the whole gospel to the whole world.




• Serving as a global forum for existing and emerging networks.




• Serving as a global forum for existing and emerging networks.

• Anticipating and celebrating fresh initiatives and creative leadership for world 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.



• 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.


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)


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.



3. Committed to evangelization as understood in the broader sense of incarnational, transformational ministry as described in the Lausanne Covenant.



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.


Where is GCR going?

“We are building the road as we are walking on it.”

Where is GCR going?

• a new wineskin for a new millenium

Where is GCR going?


• bring together existing mission networks to provide a roundtable or open forum where we can “connect and participate as equal partners”

Where is GCR going?


• 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

Where is GCR going?

• connect what is already happening

Where is GCR going?


• be in genuine, ongoing relationship

Where is GCR going?


• be in genuine, ongoing relationship

• hearing from the Lord of the Church and listening to one another as to how we might better collaborate.

Why are we meeting here together?

• Calls to mission and strategies through waiting and listening to God


• Mission breakthroughs through praying and listening (Acts 1:14).


• 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)

• Regularly coming together in one place


• Working towards agreement, being reconciled where that needs to happen



• Listening corporately to the voice of the Spirit



• Listening corporately to the voice of the Spirit

• Relationships with God and one another are the foundation of everything

Connecting the Body of Christ to Love and Serve One Another in Shared Mission

• Be connective tissue to the Body of Christ in mission


• Be connective tissue to the Body of Christ in mission

• Affirm we are His Body, members one of another


• Humbly bear with each other, build one another up, affirming our basic oneness in Christ, and carry out His assignments (Eph 4:15-16)

The early church offered themselves

and their resources to the whole Body.

The world marveled,

“How much they

love one another!”

“Love is the Bottom Line”

• “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 17:23)

“Love is the Bottom Line”

• “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 17:23)

• The world best evangelized through transforming relationships.

• Get to know each other at a deeper level.


• “Emphasize fellowship”


• “Emphasize fellowship”

• Go on walks, swim, play volleyball or whatever to enable deeper fellowship.

Possible Outcomes?

Possible Outcomes?

1. Build relationships with leaders and their networks.

Possible Outcomes?


3. Learning about best practices and innovations in mission.

Possible Outcomes?


4. Learning about best practices and innovations in mission.

5. Listening to God and one another.

Possible Outcomes?

• Identifying areas of possible collaboration to connect partners for joint ministry projects and efforts.

Possible Outcomes?

• Identifying areas of possible collaboration to connect partners for joint ministry projects and efforts.

• Worshipping together and praying for one another.

Possible Outcomes?

5. Identifying areas of possible collaboration to connect partners for joint ministry projects and efforts.

6. Worshipping together and praying for one another.

7. Enjoying the natural beauty of Malaysia and having some fun.

• Give special priority to worship and prayer!


• Enjoy our time together!


• Enjoy our time together!

• May the Spirit renew your strength and put a new fire in your heart!

Time of discussion in groups of six to eight (30 minutes)

1. what you most want to see happen during this consultation, and

2. what tangible outcome you most want to see accomplished as a result of our time together.

After introductions giving your name, country, organization or network, share two things:

Discuss these, try to come to consensus, and choose one most important outcome for each category. Write each in big lettering with a marker on a large piece of paper and post it on the wall. As the consultation proceeds, we will see if these outcomes are achieved and evaluate our results during the last session.

Time of prayer in threes or fours (15-20 minutes)

Pray together for outcomes discussed, for the consultation, and for one another.

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

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