November 2011 Post | Max Chismon
"I would consider my attending the consultation as one of the spiritual highlights of my life this year," commented one of the 225 delegates who attended the recent Kairos International Conference in Chiangmai, Thailand.
Forty countries were represented, nearly doubling the number of participants and countries represented at the previous conference just three years earlier!
New Kairos 4th Edition
The launch of the new 4th edition was the main focus of the Conference and also to further the understanding of the Kairos Movement.
The new 4th edition has undergone the most significant revision since the first edition in 1994. There are many new videos and some 'classics' have had a major 'facelift'. Both the quality and presentation of all course materials is now of a much higher standard.
This new edition, we believe, reflects accurately, where the world Christian movement is today and the world in which we live and serve God's global purpose!
Global Reports
The reports of Kairos happenings around the world and the exciting mission initiatives resulting from the courses, where once again a highlight. In the Philippines whole denominations are being mobilized for mission - the Church in Russia is beginning to focus on the unreached in their region of the world and in many countries where Christian witness is restricted, breakthroughs of people groups coming to Christ were reported!
We also heard of the development of non-traditional mission initiatives that has the potential of seeing tens of thousands of cross-cultural works engaging with unreached peoples.
Globalization has presented the Church with significant new opportunities of witness, on a scale, never before experienced!
A Structure for Expansion
The Lord has given us a 'structure' that is 'like a franchise' which enables the Kairos Course to be effectively and efficiently introduced into new countries and/or language groups. One of the benefits, of this, is the opportunity now for other courses and programs, to be included, to further assist in our journey towards effective ministry to all peoples.
From a 'Course' to a 'Movement'
It all began in 1988 when Bill Molenkamp, then Director of WOI, challenged us to focus on the unreached peoples of the Philippines. Since then the Lord has led us on a journey we could never have imagined! A 'course' has become a 'movement' that, by the grace of God, will play a part, in seeing the Church recapture its priority of engaging in the world Christian movement. The best is yet to come!