What I have learned thus far . . .

Greetings from Chicago (or Elgin to be precise)! Training has been fabulous thus far, I have learned SO much, my brain is on information overload. There have been some very interesting things brought up thus far as people have given presentations on ministries, and other mission oriented topics. Here are some interesting facts I've learned thus far:

• It is estimated that there are 14,000 people groups in the world that have been discovered over the past 20 centuries and at this point all but 2,000 have been reached with the Good News (most of this growth exponential in the last few centuries). Most of these 2,000 lie in the "10-40" window (North Africa, Middle East, South Asia), basically the Muslim world
  
• American Christians account for 80% of the wealth in the Christian world
• 70% of all Muslims that become Christians have some supernatural experience (dream, miracle, etc) that leads them to Christ
• 50% of all people in the world are under age 25
• 70% of all Christians accept the Lord between ages 10 and 20
  

I don't know how this rests with you, but for me it raises a lot of excitement, but also a bit of frustration. It is exciting to know that we are so close to fulfilling the Great Commission (some even estimate it could happen during this generation's lifetime). But, the last little bit like climbing a mountain will be the hardest because it is the most resistant cultures in the world that are left. I can tell that God is gearing up for the final push, so many churches are becoming more missions oriented, not just in America but worldwide. More missionaries are going out from Latin America, the Philippines and other third world areas. It is also so great to know how important youth ministry is in the world, that's what I'm doing in Bolivia! The one frustrating thing is learning how much wealth American Christians have that they are not using towards things like missions and Christian development in the church. Pray for people to loosen their pocket books and give more . . .

As I've learned more about International Teams, its core values and beliefs, I am more and more admiring it for being a biblically grounded organization and one that focuses on enhancing the relationship between church and missionary, not hindering it.

Pray for the final push of missions, the job is almost done and soon Jesus will return to bring us home . . .what a wonderful thought.