This is an article from the March-April 1997 issue: Countdown to AD2000

GCOWE ’97 (Global Consultation on World Evangelization)

GCOWE ’97 (Global Consultation on World Evangelization)

At the end of June four thousand mission and church leaders from over 120 countries will be coming to Pretoria in South Africa for the start of GCOWE '97 and the ten consultations that make it up. Here we present Willie Crew of the World Mission Centre and his thoughts as we approach this major meeting. --EditorAs the planning for the GCOWE '97 conference has been unfolding, it has become evident that the enemy is trying to impede the whole process. He certainly does not want this conference to take place. Almost everyone involved has been under severe spiritual attack.

A paradigm shift....

The fact that GCOWE '97 is being held on African soil is extremely unique. For years this great continent has been referred to as the dark continent. It has also been seen as a mission field and most Africans have viewed themselves as recipients of missions.

I believe that GCOWE '97 is going to shift a paradigm in Africa but more so it will shift a paradigm in terms of how the world perceives Africa. For the first time in modern day history, the majority of participants at a conference on World Evangelization will come from Africa. These African leaders are men and women with anointed ministries who work in extremely difficult conditions. Delegates from other parts of the world will benefit from meeting these humble men and women who are performing great exploits in God's Kingdom.

I am convinced that GCOWE will start a process to expose these Africans to the world. Moreover the unique expertise in evangelism and church planting evident in Africa needs to be employed among the unreached peoples of the world, especially in the 10/40 window. I truly believe that we will not complete the task of reaching the world without the unique contribution of the people of Africa.

An anchor nation....

It is significant that GCOWE '97 is being held in Pretoria, South Africa --formerly known as the headquarters of apartheid. With the demise of apartheid and the birth of a new nation, South Africa has broken out of its isolation, and the church in South Africa is beginning to fulfill its calling to be a blesser of nations. In fact, South Africa is ready to take its place as an anchor nation on the continent of Africa alongside other anchor nations in the world.

A singular time....

The timing of GCOWE '97 is crucial in that it is 42 months away from

the end of this millennium. It is also positioned in a singular period of time in the history of the church when God is divinely superintending a mighty move of His Holy Spirit world-wide, precipitating the greatest revival in the history of the church. For this reason the "fathers" and key leaders from around the world must meet to set goals for the church according to God's plan, not only to strategize to plant churches among the unreached peoples of the earth, but also to responsibly lay "tracks" for the next generation in the 21st century. In so doing, they will increase the momentum in World Evangelization.

Not a typical conference....

Some of the consultations at GCOWE '97 will be unique. To my knowledge, this will be the first time in modern day church history that businessmen will come together to hear from God how they can strategically assist in completing the task of reaching the lost. According to Dr Phil Steyne, theological institution presidents and academic deans have not come together since the Reformation to discuss how they can renew their curriculum to focus on World Evangelization.

GCOWE '97 will not be a typical conference merely containing consultations, tracks and plenary sessions. In a real sense, GCOWE '97 will be 10 conferences in one. Sixty percent of the conference will be devoted to the 10 parallel consultations which will run concurrently in 10 different venues. During these three days the consultation leaders will lead the attendees to set goals and objectives focused on the following:

- Reaching out to the 1739 unreached people groups as indicated in the Joshua Project 2000.

- Africa's contribution in the process of reaching the world with the Gospel.

Role of the local church....

An important component of GCOWE '97 is the focus on the role of the local church in missions. Based on a proven yet fairly unknown strategy of "hubs" and "gateways," local church networks in South Africa have been strategically focused on world regions. In the consultation for Local Church Pastors, pastors will set goals and objectives that could become a model for missions mobilization in the future. The leadership within this consultation believes that the local church has a far greater role to play than just supporting missions.

A time of waiting on God....

The leaders attending GCOWE '97 display amazing commitment in that all are prepared to come at their own expense without necessarily speaking or receiving recognition. In actual fact, most are coming with expectant hearts, waiting to hear what the Great General of the church, the Lord Jesus has to say to them. Therefore, the conference is so designed to give people adequate time to present a subject, discuss it with the group and then inquire from the Lord how He wants them to proceed.

Strategic Intercessors....

Each consultation has a team of 21 key intercessors led by an internationally recognized intercessor the likes of Cindy Jacobs, Lawrence Khong and Ben Udofia. Fourteen of these team members will pray in two hour sessions while seven attend the consultation.

The leader of each prayer team will ensure that all the relevant information is being fed to a central point in the conference structure. Three overseers will sum up what the Lord is saying so that we can establish an overall picture of the Lord's direction for the conference. Part of the closing session on Friday night and the Saturday morning city march will be a concert of prayer.

Finally....

The conference will focus on the Joshua Project 2000 unreached people groups. With only 42 months left before the year 2000, most agencies, mission organizations, denominational mission organizations, local churches and individuals will have to make painful and sacrificial adjustments in order to realize the goal of the Gospel for every person and a church for every people by the year 2000.

Our request to you is that you pray that the Lord will be in full control of these 10 strategic consultations and that He will guide them each step of the way. May we come out of GCOWE '97 not just encouraged and motivated, but also determined to plant viable churches among all the unreached peoples of the world starting with the 1739 unreached peoples on the Joshua Project list.

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