Greetings!
Welcome to Transform World Next Generation's newsletter. This newsletter contains information about the 4/14 Window, the opportunities and challenges in reaching that generation, and case studies illustrating how God is at work around the world. If you want a more in-depth look at these issues, visit the 4/14 Window website to download a copy of the full 4/14 Window report.
In this issue we focus on 4/14 Window: A Mission for Tomorrow. We'll look at how God is raising up a new generation of Christ followers to transform the world by studying the models of a nation (Ethiopia), a denomination (The Church of the Nazarene) and the upcoming 4/14 Window Global Summit to be held September 6-8 in NYC.
And finally we invite you once again to join others around the world in fasting and praying on the 4th and 14th of each month as we find strength, direction, and wisdom from God in reaching the 4/14 Window.
Martha Anderson
Transform World newsletter editor
National Director, Centurions Program of Prison Fellowship / BreakPoint
Join Us in Prayer and Fasting on the 4th and 14th
Praying the Apostolic Prayers for the 4/14 Window
In Ephesians 1:17-19, Paul prays:
... asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God.
I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called-his holy people who are
his rich and glorious inheritance. I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God's power for us who believe him.
This month, let us pray together: "Father of Glory, give to our track and task force facilitators the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him.
Grant that each one will have an ever-increasing knowledge/experience of:
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what is the hope of His calling -- the assurance and clarity of God's call for their life
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the riches of the glory of His Inheritance in the saints -- our destinies are His inheritance what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe
At the end of this newsletter, please also see "Praise Reports and Prayer Requests."
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The 4/14 Window: A Mission for Tomorrow
By Luis Bush
Working Together to Raise up a New Generation from the 4/14 Window - A Mission for Tomorrow modeled in this email by 1) a nation, 2) a denomination and 3) the upcoming 4/14 Global Initiative launch at the 4/14 Window Global Summit September 6-8, 2009.
One indicator that the 4/14 Window is becoming a Mission for Tomorrow came in early July 2009 with the convergence of 20,000-plus people representing more than 100 countries at the annual General Assembly of the Church of the Nazarene. The Board of General Superintendents declared an emphasis called Connecting A New Generation: A Decadal Emphasis on Children and Youth, based on Psalm 79:4: "We will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power, and the mighty works he has done." This Covenant, passed unanimously in the General Assembly, references the 4/14 Window and states outright, "the Church of the Nazarene acknowledges that children are important to God and a priority in His kingdom" (see text of Covenant, "Value of Children and Youth" included in this newsletter).
A second indicator that the 4/14 Window is becoming a Mission for Tomorrow was recently revealed in Ethiopia, where I participated in a 4/14 Window Ethiopian Summit July 24-25, 2009. The Ethiopian 4/14 Summit models "Children as Solution" for tomorrow (see my article that follows, along with the report and resolution of the event).
A third indicator that 4/14 Window is becoming a Mission for Tomorrow involves the upcoming 4/14 Global Initiative launch at the 4/14 Window Global Summit, September 6-8, 2009. As of July 27, 2009 there were more than 330 registrations for this Summit from more than 70 countries.
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A Model Denomination:
"The Value of Children and Youth" Covenant of the Church of the Nazarene
Editor's Note: This Covenant was unanimously passed by 20,000 delegates from 100 nations at the Church of the Nazarene General Assembly ending July 3, 2009
The Bible commands every Christian to "speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute" (Proverbs 31:8). The Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4-7; 11:19) admonishes us to communicate God's grace to our children. Psalm 78:4 declares, "We will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power, and the wonders he has done." Jesus affirms this in Luke 18:16, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these."
As a response to this biblical perspective, the Church of the Nazarene acknowledges that children are important to God and a priority in His kingdom. We believe God directed us to attend to all children - to love, nurture, protect, uphold, guide, and advocate for them. It is God's plan that we introduce children to the life of salvation and growth in grace. Salvation, holiness, and discipleship are possible and imperative in the lives of children. We recognize that children are not a means to an end, but full participants in the Body of Christ. Children are disciples in training, not disciples in waiting.
Thus, holistic and transformational ministry to children and their families in every local church will be a priority as evidenced by:
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Providing effective and empowering ministries to the whole child-physically, mentally, emotionally, socially, and spiritually;
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Articulating Christian positions on current social justice issues that affect children;
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Connecting children to the heart of the mission and ministry of the faith community;
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Equipping parents to nurture the spiritual formation of their children.
Since the church's educational institutions (colleges, universities, and seminaries) prepare students for leadership, they play a crucial role in carrying out the vision and mission of communicating the value of children.
The Church of the Nazarene envisions an intergenerational faith community where children and youth are loved and valued, where they are ministered to and incorporated into the Church family through a wide variety of means and methods, and where they have opportunities to minister to others in ways consistent with their ages, development, abilities, and spiritual gifts.
For the following reasons:
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As a child, Jesus was embraced by the religious leaders in the Temple . They listened to Him and marveled at His insight.
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As an adult, Jesus valued and welcomed children.
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Around the world, many children are not valued and nurtured.
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In a world that is characterized by pluralism and postmodern thought, it is critical to reach out in love to children and youth. Demographically, more than one-third of the world's population is children and youth. Statistics show the prime age to win a child to Christ is the "4/14 Window" the ages between 4 and 14. A child's sense of trust is developed in the first year of life. Trust is necessary for a person to have faith to receive Jesus Christ as Savior. Trust comes as loving, caring adults meet the needs of the whole child.
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A Model Nation:
Ethiopian 4/14 Summit Models "Children as Solution"
By Luis Bush
Many Christian leaders in Ethiopia experience a sense of spiritual/ministerial indebtedness to the Church in Africa and beyond in the twenty-first century. They seek to fulfill their call to bless the nations of Africa and beyond in that which was not fully realized after the Ethiopian Eunuch returned with the Word of God in his heart, born anew from his visit to Jerusalem and the enlightening instruction through Phillip in the first century.
The 4/14 Ethiopian Summit held July 24 and 25, 2009 unveiled a readiness to become a Phillip for other nations of Africa and the world, having received the revelation of Children as Solution and having begun to take practical steps toward its implementation.
As was observed, Ethiopia is both old and new. Old in age, going back 3000 years, but new in age, with three out of every four people under 18 years old and two out of five people under 14 years old.
It is my conviction that the Ethiopian Church is a model for the church around the world through which they can become a source of encouragement, inspiration, information and instruction for the following compelling reasons:
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How the Ethiopian Church responded to the Marxist takeover in 1974 with all 11 major denominations coming together in unity and persevering in that unity 35 years is an example to the rest of the body of Christ.
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How the great wave of violent persecution that followed until 1991 was transformed from an insurmountable barrier to the gospel (that threatened to destroy the Church), resulting in the purifying of the Church instead.
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How cell group multiplication and house churches developed leadership throughout the church with the teaching of the priesthood of every believer.
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How the church grew not only in quantity-to eight million by 1997 and now 15+ million, just 11 years later-but also in quality. The Ethiopian Church has become a model of a growing healthy church.
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How the study of the Scriptures and understanding that each believer was to live a prophetic life has exerted transformational impact on society in every domain and sphere of society these believers found themselves in.
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How Ethiopian Christ-followers took counsel together, as the elders of the church did in Acts 12, in the Church Council in April 2004, for three days of prayer and reflection on the role of the body of Christ in addressing the challenges of Ethiopia; how they explored opportunities within the Church and through the Church as the Body of Christ to be His agent to bless the nation.
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How these Ethiopian church leaders concluded, upon carefully examining the threats, that the Church is called to be the solution in the nation but also, uniquely-as I believe, no other nation has done, with such clarity and conviction-children as solution. They considered "what is that in your hand?" (Ex 4:2) and realized it was their own children, called to become agents of Ethiopia's transformation: Children as solution.
They realized not only that children's ministry, building healthy families, is one of the most strategic ways to build the church but also to bless the society. They have written and embraced a covenant on ministry to children with no less than 60 different provisions.
It is my conviction that the 4/14 Initiative, under the Lordship of Christ, aligns itself with growing a healthy church in accordance with His Word of purposeful promise: "I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it" (Mt. 6:18)-and the Ethiopian Church provides a way by which this becomes reality.
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Report from the Field: The 4/14 Window Ethiopian Summit
July 26, 2009
By Shiferaw W. Michael
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Background - on the human side the Summit on Raising up a New Generation from the 4/14 Window to Transform the World Ethiopia has its beginning at the meeting of Luis Bush, a servant of God and catalyst of the Transform World New Generation Raising up Christ followers from the 4/14 Window Initiative, and Shiferaw W. Michael, the Director of the Child Development Training and Research Center, in a meeting in Florida, USA in May 2009 on Children. The Holy Spirit used the forum of their meeting and the exchange of information regarding the vision God gave both of these people to make them agree on the organizing a summit of the Ethiopian chapter of the Transform World Initiative.
Ethiopia is a country whose name is synonymous with hunger, disease, abject poverty, internal strife, conflict with neighboring countries and other horrors. These things that have occurred in and on the country repeatedly made the evangelical church leadership in the country to prayerfully think of ways to reverse this lamentable situation. This led the church leaders see the solutions to the challenges of their country face in its children. To this effect the church leadership took three major decisions as its contribution to help their country out of these horrendous situations:
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They issued a historic document entitled- Covenant on Ministry to Children in 2001 that spelled out clearly and in detail the church's responsibility to children.
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In April of 2004 the church leaders, in their 3 days meeting identifying the following 8 challenges that they believed were threats to the very existence of their country:
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Environmental degradation
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Ethnic conflict/tribalism
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Low level of democratic culture
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Poverty
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Lack of good governance
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Low level of appreciation and understanding of human and children's rights
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Poor hygiene and sanitation
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Fanaticism in some religions
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In the same meeting they resolved that the resolution of these issues is found in the creation of a new generation of Ethiopians "that are disciples of Christ, lead exemplary and become sources of transformation of Ethiopia and beyond".
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They saw a need for an organization that can be the church's instrument for the realization of this endeavor and decided that an institution called Child Development Training and Research Center (CDTRC) be established.
The participants of the Summit - about 58 senior church and NGO leaders participated in the Summit. They were composed of:
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Representatives of 28 of the 31 member evangelical denominations of the Evangelical Churches Fellowship of Ethiopia (ECFE)
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Representatives of 8 main child focused Para church organizations
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Representatives of Christian mothers
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Representatives of the 4/14 Window
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The Country Director of Compassion International Tanzania and his wife
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Dr. Luis Bush of the Transform World New Generation Raising up Christ followers From the 4/14 Window Initiative
The process and conclusion of the Ethiopia Summit on the Raising up a New Generation from the 4/14 Window to Transform the World
Having departed from meeting with Luis Bush, Shiferaw went back to Ethiopia and shared the idea with the General Secretary of the ECFE about the matter. The General Secretary discussed the request of Shiferaw with the Executive of Board of ECFE where it was agreed and decided that the Summit be conducted in Ethiopia. July 24/25 2009 was set as the dates for the Summit.
A special prayer group was setup for the purpose besides this being put as the prayer item of the 24/7 prayer chain that goes on nationwide. Invitations were issued to member denominations and Para churches by the Secretariat of ECFE and CDTRC.
The Summit had two objectives:
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Enable the Body of Christ in Ethiopia learn what the Body of Christ in other parts of the world is doing with respect of raising up a new generation from the 4/14 window to transform the world
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Create an opportunity for the body of Christ to share its own experience with respect to the measures it has taken in the same area
Content of the program of the Summit - the following were done during the two days Summit:
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Presentations - Three presentations were made at the Summit. Two of these were by Luis Bush and the third by Shiferaw. The first presentation of Luis Bush focused on the opportunities the body of Christ has in the 4/14 window and appealing and encouraging the Ethiopia church to do more in sharing what it learned through the trials it passed through the Communist era. In his second message he shared about the Transform World initiative and briefly touched on the challenges faced by the 4/14 window. Shiferaw walked the participants through the journey the body of Christ in Ethiopia travelled so far in focusing and mobilizing the 4/14 window
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Devotions - Each of the two days began with the sharing from the Word of God
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Prayer - Prayer was offered at different intervals and conclusion of each day.
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Contribution by representatives of the 4/14 window - The contributions focused on the opportunities they see the Body of Christ has in the 4/14 window and on the challenges the 4/14 window faces
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Group and plenary discussion and presentation by groups - The groups made presentations of their findings and these were followed by discussion at the plenary level
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Declaration by the participants - The participants of the Summit then issued a declaration that contained two main messages which were addressed to the Ethiopian church itself and the world wide body of Christ. The declaration is attached as an annex to this report
Glory to God in the highest!
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The Ethiopian Evangelical Churches 4/14 Window Summit Resolution - Raising up the new generation from the 4-14 window to transform Ethiopia and beyond!
Having heard the voice of our eternal Father about his heart for children and ministry to them; the prophetic message for the Ethiopian church to keep pressing on in bringing solutions to the nation and beyond with due emphasis to "children as solutions" as well as the vision of raising a new generation from the 4 -14 window to transform the world;
Recognizing the Ethiopian Evangelical Churches' awareness on the importance of children and their augmented commitment for child ministry; the strategic initiatives such as "THE COVENANT ON THE MINISTRY TO CHILDREN", "THE CHILD DEVELOPMENT TRAINING AND RESEARCH CENTER - CDTRC" and "CELEBRATING CHILDREN WEEK" taken in response to God's repeated call to minister to the generation; the strategic potential of the Ethiopian Evangelical Church such as strong unity, the existence of supportive and resourceful para-church organizations; and the encouraging steps the Ethiopian government is taking regarding children issues; and
Deeply concerned about the problems and plights that the world is facing principally as a consequence of the broken relationship with our God, with each other as well as with nature;
Deeply convinced on the strategic importance as well as potential of children to bring about holistic transformation in our society and beyond; the challenges the new generation is facing; and that the "soon" in the Biblical promises to Ethiopia as stated in Psalm 68:31, is "now";
The Ethiopian Evangelical Churches resolve:
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To amplify their commitment to holistic child ministry as well as the efforts to implement child ministry initiatives in raising up a new generation to transform Ethiopia, and beyond. This includes:
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Continue praying for children.
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Intensifying efforts for full scale implementation of initiatives.
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Keeping children's agenda as a top priority.
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Championing the causes of children.
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Ensuring child participation at different levels.
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Equipping family for better nurturing of children.
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To collaborate and network for efficient and effective ministry to children.
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To call the world wide church:
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to embrace and implement the 4-14 window initiatives.
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to establish a global network to develop a collaborative spirit for effective and efficient utilization of resources in raising a new generation.
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To initiate and strengthen research and documentation on opportunities and challenges related to children.
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To systematically document and share our experiences to the church in Africa and beyond as well as to continue learning from them.
The Ethiopian Evangelical Churches 4/14 Window Summit
July 25/2009, Addis Ababa
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Praise Reports and Prayer Requests
Praise Reports:
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Thank the Lord for the 4/14 Window focus and commitment (as reported in this newsletter) by the Ethiopian Church and the Nazarene Church. Pray that they would faithfully and powerfully move forward in their 4/14 Window activities.
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Praise God for how He is stirring His people worldwide for the 4/14 Window. Give thanks for all the churches and national/regional/local efforts dedicated to raising up a new generation to advance His glory and Great Commission purposes.
Prayer Requests:
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For the visas and travel finances, as well as spiritual and ministry preparation, for participants to the 4/14 Window Global Summit in New York City, September 6-8, 2009
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That the Lord would help us in acquiring, storing, and sharing all the information and contacts needed for His 4/14 Window purposes; for His help in communicating effectively and securely among ourselves
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For continued wisdom and clarity of mind as each 4/14 track leader fine tunes their 7-year strategic plan -- and for grace and courage to put these plans into action
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That each leader and facilitator spends time praying for the "laborers" God is providing as regional and national leaders for 4/14 activities
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For protection, good health, and blessing for each of us and for one another's marriages and extended families
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For wisdom from and sensitivity to the Holy Spirit for each facilitator as they recruit leaders from "Generation X" (ages 26-44) and "Generation Y" (ages 7-25)
Announcements & News
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The 4/14 Window Global Summit 6-8 September is the official launch of the 4/14 Window Global Initiative.
For more information visit http://4to14window.com
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