We have had a refreshing time in Hawaii - so good to be with family, friends, and churches here again. We are very grateful for your faithful friendship and prayers. Our mobile number until February 10 is 808 315 5364. Our journey continues… we fly to Oregon today.
We just received a very encouraging report about the Third Lausanne Conference which Mark attended in October in Cape Town. If one man can be credited with bringing everyone and everything together for this tremendous gathering it is Doug Birdsall. The Lord used him, and the team he wisely gathered, in a wonderful way. We think you will enjoy Doug’s reflections and by viewing the links he cites:
Cape Town 2010 Reflections From Doug Birdsall
22 November 2010
It is far too soon to fully assess the significance of CT2010. Indeed
only the Lord truly knows how CT2010 will impact his church and the
world in the years to come. As I reflect on the Congress, read blogs,
emails and articles from participants, I am in awe of Gods blessings on
this gathering. Please join me in praising the Lord for the following:
• Sense of wonder at Gods people coming together from nearly
every country and corner of the earth - joy that the Majority World
Church was the actual majority at CT2010!
• Global community of men and women who worked tirelessly to
plan and serve CT2010.
• Powerful testimony by an 18-year-old North Korean girl.
Unforgettable.
(http://conversation.lausanne.org/en/conversations/detail/11671, posted
with permission)
(Note from Mark: This is REALLY good, you can also see this at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KEFbo2tJ_8 )
• Glory of the gospel expounded daily from the book of
Ephesians. May the message of Ephesians reverberate around the world.
• Miraculous provision of stewards from India, cousins Vijay and
Daniel, who took just two hours to solve sophisticated cyber attacks on
our websites.
• Unity of speakers whose presentations provided a ringing
endorsement for truth.
• Significant impact of the Table Groups.
• Timeliness of Libby Little’s presence with us honoring Christ
as she also honored the life of her recently martyred husband in Afghanistan.
• Stories and images of God on the Move in every region of the
world.
• Significant media coverage of CT2010, from 100 onsite media
and many more offsite receiving reports from our Communications team.
• Creativity and growing energy around issues like Diaspora
People, Mega-Cities, Children, Orality; developments in the Global
Anglican Communion; Ziya Merals fresh thinking with respect to Islam;
an eagerness for a global Kingdom equilibrium as articulated by David
Ruiz and Patrick Fung; and a meeting with World By Radio leadership.
• Beauty and vibrancy of worship as a global community, the
pageantry of the Opening Celebration and the foretaste of heaven
experienced in the holy and majestic celebration of the Lords Supper
during the Closing. Personally, the Closing Ceremonies were the most
glorious experience of worship I have had anywhere and at anytime.
(http://conversation.lausanne.org/en/conversations/detail/11010.)
Additionally, each time I joined the Global Executive Leadership Forum
and the Government, Business and Academia Think Tank, I sensed
excitement as these leaders were finding one another and finding their
voice in the work of world evangelization. Similarly, I enjoyed visits
to the Womens Global Cafe; where hundreds of women and men who share
passion for the gospel and bearing witness to Christ were able to
connect.
Perhaps the most exciting meeting I participated in was with the Younger
Leaders. Organizers had planned on 250 people for the Friday evening
gathering. However when I arrived in the ballroom a half an hour after
it started, there were nearly 900 younger leaders there. The vibrancy
and enthusiasm in the room was electrifying! I stayed until I could
barely stay awake, talking with leaders keen to learn how they could be
involved in the future of Lausanne.
Certainly the most surprising meeting was with the official observers
from the Vatican, the Orthodox Churches and the World Council of
Churches. After expressing appreciation for being invited to the
Congress, they wanted to know how to continue their involvement,
conversations and friendships begun during the Congress. When I asked
what had captivated their imagination, three things were mentioned:
first, they were impressed by the intellectual vigor of the discussions;
second, they were moved by the personal stories shared by the North
Korean girl and by Libby Little; third they found the worship and
fellowship with such a vibrant global community to be a source of
personal and spiritual renewal.
To keep us connected and to highlight resources and research related to
world evangelization, plans are underway for an expanded Lausanne
website (www.lausanne.org
Global Conversation. Please check the website regularly for Congress
resources, videos, photos and meeting notices…
Our prayer is that all that was invested in the Congress and in the
ongoing work of The Lausanne Movement will be multiplied and bear much
fruit as we seek to be responsive to Gods call…
Thank you for your faithful partnership in the gospel.
Yours in Christ,
Doug Birdsall
Executive Chairman, The Lausanne Movement
December 5 Sierra Presbyterian Church, Nevada City, California
December 10 Biola Congregational Church, Biola, California
December 12 Meadowlark Community Church, San Marcos, California
December 19 New Life Presbyterian Church, La Mesa, California
December 26 First Baptist Church of El Segundo, El Segundo, California
January 2, 2011 Montrose Community Church, Montrose, California
January 9 Valley Presbyterian Church, North Hills, California
January 16 La Canada Presbyterian Church, La Canada, California
January 30 Hawaii Kai United Church of Christ, Hawaii Kai, Oahu, Hawaii
February 6 North Shore Christian Church, Kilauea, Kauai, Hawaii
February 11 – Return to Beijing
Rejoicing in His Advent! Mark and Dayna Blair
Our Email blairstan2@gmail.com
or markblair@bicf.org or blairstan@psmail.net (secure)
Our Mission
Pioneers - 10123 William Carey Drive - Orlando, FL 32832 – USA www.pioneers.org
Our Blog www.blairstan.blogspot.com
Skype: blairstan
Our Ministry
Beijing International Christian Fellowship - www.bicf.org
Hear Mark’s sermons at: http://bicf.org/sermon-zgc
Our Mailing Address
Beijing International Christian Fellowship / Zhong Guan Cun
Raycom Infotech Park, Tower C, Room B115,
2 Kexueyuan Nanlu, Haidian District, Beijing, China 100190
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