Faith
Church Leaders Launch New Era After AICOCIM
Faith Facts
- AICOCIM concluded with leaders outlining priorities for the future mission of the Church.
- Commissions and task forces were launched to address discipleship, justice, digital engagement, and more.
- The Nagpur Declaration serves as a covenantal call to faithfulness and transformation in India.
The All India Congress on Church in Mission wrapped up in Nagpur, marking the beginning of a renewed commitment to God’s calling in India. Over 450 Christian leaders from every Indian state gathered for prayerful discussion on 13 distinct themes shaping the Church’s next steps.
Reports from each thematic track focused on equipping believers for renewed witness in areas like discipleship, justice, technological engagement, family, and theological education.
“The Congress is not the end,” said Vijayesh Lal, General Secretary of the Evangelical Fellowship of India. “It is a doorway. What matters is not that we gathered, but that we go from here to our calling—to years of faithfulness.”
Lal revealed the draft of the Nagpur Declaration, intended as a statement of Christian witness and a covenant of enduring commitment for churches throughout the nation.
Several new commissions—including those focused on discipleship, justice, digital innovation, pastoral care, and families—were introduced as part of EFI’s ongoing mission and anniversary celebrations. These groups are designed to build unity and resilience amid new challenges facing the Church in India.
Additionally, specialized task forces will drive efforts in evangelism, theological education, leadership, women and youth empowerment, and the responsible use of media and technology.
“These task forces will ensure that the fruit of the Congress will be the obedience in the decade to come,” Lal stated, urging the body to go forward in unity and boldness under Christ’s lordship.
At the Congress’s close, EFI leaders led prayers of thanksgiving, dedicating every commitment to God’s glory, with a vision to see families, communities, and the nation transformed through faithful Christian witness.
“The call is very simple, but it is never easy,” Lal concluded. “It is to surrender afresh to Christ, to stand with courage, and to imagine new pathways of witness for the next decade.”
To read more, visit Christian Daily International
Faith Facts
- The majority of pastors now use AI tools such as ChatGPT and Grammarly to prepare sermons.
- Sixty-one percent of pastors report using AI weekly or daily, a significant rise from the previous year.
- Church leaders express concerns over the ethical and spiritual impacts of AI-generated content.
Many pastors are turning to AI technology to enhance sermon preparation while emphasizing the importance of maintaining spiritual discernment and personal connection.
Commonly used AI tools in ministry include ChatGPT for research and creative support, and Grammarly for refining church communications.
Researchers found that church leaders see value in AI for efficiency, yet remain vigilant about upholding biblical truth and safeguarding the unique role of human guidance in ministry.
Churches of various sizes and denominations are participating in the adoption of AI, with a majority willing to invest in further education and ethical training regarding its use.
Leaders are encouraged to approach technological tools with wisdom and transparency, prioritizing faith-based values and community trust as they navigate these new opportunities.
Faith Facts
- Sherry Pogue transformed a French château into a free spiritual retreat for Christian missionaries and their families.
- The ministry, Restored & Renewed, was founded to renew missionaries’ strength and prevent burnout.
- The château also fosters community outreach and Christian fellowship in a largely secular region of France.
Sherry Pogue purchased the 6,000-square-foot Château Claire Fontaine in rural eastern France to advance God’s calling by providing rest and renewal to missionaries. Built in 1870, the four-level home now welcomes missionaries at no cost, offering comfort, recreation, and biblical counseling.
“Our goal is to keep missionaries on the field,” Pogue shared, noting many face exhaustion worldwide.
Sue Foster, a veteran missionary, expressed that Restored & Renewed has “been a tremendous blessing to a great many missionaries around the world, including myself!!”
Pogue, working with life coaches and even a helpful poodle, intentionally opens her doors to missionaries of all biblical backgrounds, emphasizing Christian unity and support. She observed the challenges large missionary families face in affording rest, so her property’s expansive grounds and tranquil setting provide much-needed relief.
Luk Brazle, another missionary, described the experience as healing: “A place where we could sleep, be cooked for and nothing was expected of us was healing.” His family found fellowship with other missionary families, strengthening their connections and faith.
Pogue’s commitment is rooted in her extensive background in education and counseling, all guided by her strong faith in God’s direction. She credits God’s hand for preparing her path, from her early days studying French to her present ministry work in France.
Beyond the château, Pogue organizes Christian services in the local Catholic church—often closed and without a priest—to share the hope of Christ in the village. Professor Robert McCready, whose students join these events, testified, “We would talk about the Lord between songs…it was very encouraging.” His involvement in these faith-filled gatherings was so positive that the mayor honored him as an honorary citizen and welcomed continued Christian fellowship.
Through dedication to biblical values, Sherry Pogue’s faithful obedience is a powerful testimony to the difference one believer can make in God’s kingdom and in the lives of His servants.
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Faith Facts
- St Bernard of Clairvaux, born in 1090, was a leading Cistercian abbot and theologian who shaped church life in medieval Europe.
- He described three distinct Advents: Christ’s past coming, His future coming, and His present coming into believers’ hearts.
- St Bernard’s Advent sermons inspired the faithful to experience Jesus’s presence as fulfillment, hope, and joy.
St Bernard of Clairvaux, canonized in 1174, was renowned for his spirituality, wisdom, and service to Christ’s church.
He taught that Advent is a sacred journey, reflecting on Christ’s incarnation, promised return, and daily presence in the hearts of believers.
“If anyone loves me and keeps my word, my Father will love them, and my Father and I will come to them and live with them.”
Jesus’ message in John 14:23 calls Christians to open their hearts to His love and guidance today.
Let this Advent be a time to renew our faith, honor Christ’s coming, and share His hope in our families and nation.
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