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Monday, October 23, 2006
Global Missions Leaders Gathering for Important Conference on Landmark Study
Study To Shape International Missions for Next 20 years
Download “Operation ACCESS!” press kit @ www.maf.org/news/news/operation_access_study_released
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 16, 2006
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Alex Coffin @ 704/364-2942
alexcoffin@mindspring.com
NAMPA, Ida. – Some of the world’s international missions organizations are sending their key leaders here to Mission Aviation Fellowship’s (MAF) new headquarters Wednesday and Thursday, Oct. 18-19, to determine how to implement results of MAF’s recent landmark study – “Operation ACCESS!” – for global missions.
The “Operation ACCESS!” study (www.operationaccessmaf.org) focuses on pockets of people, forgotten or heretofore unreachable. It identifies 364 areas where transportation, communications and technology barriers impede or prevent access to the Gospel, or to resources needed to enable community development, healthcare and education services. It also assesses the nature and significance of the barriers, the degree of any ministry taking place and suggests how to overcome the barriers.
The five-year global research project provides critical, unprecedented information that could shape international evangelism, ministry and humanitarian strategies for the next two decades.
“The ‘Operation ACCESS!’ conference is a ‘working meeting’ of key decision makers from missions organizations, denominations and Christian non-governmental organizations from around the world,” said Dave Bochman, MAF chief operating officer and conference organizer.
“Our goal is to forge partnerships with other organizations to determine how best to use the study data to overcome barriers and reach the lost,” he said. “But we also want to facilitate other organizations working together and the development of collaborative strategies.”
Phill Butler, president of visionSynergy (www.visionsynergy.net), an organization based in Edmonds, Wash., that develops strategic international Christian networks focusing on high impact opportunities for world evangelism, will facilitate the “Operation ACCESS!” conference.
Butler said “Operation ACCESS!” has the potential to shape worldwide evangelism strategies for the next 20 years.
“The issues facing us are on such a scale that they cannot be tackled by any individual or organization alone,” he said. “The Church must collaborate and work together.”
Kevin Swanson, MAF president, said research shows that despite extraordinary missions efforts, three out of four people alive on the earth have not heard the Gospel.
“The Apostle Paul in Romans 10:14-15 talked about the need to ‘send preachers.’ But preachers can’t be sent unless the barriers that prevent their access and sustainability are overcome,” said Swanson. “‘Operation ACCESS!’ is a strategic ‘roadmap’ to accomplish this God-appointed task.”
“MAF’s foundational re-analysis of its work and of mission work in general has produced a breathtaking new analysis of the challenge before us,” said Dr. Ralph Winter, founder of the U.S. Center for World Missions.
Dr. Charles H. Kraft, professor of anthropological and intercultural communication at Fuller Theological Seminary School of World Missions, called the study “one of the most promising projects I’ve seen in my 32 years at Fuller.”
“Operation ACCESS!” found that in all of 364 remote sectors in 64 countries, transportation, communications or technology barriers prevent or impede people's access to the Gospel, resources for spiritual growth and basic services.
Key findings are as follows:
* 52 percent of all sectors present “significant” barriers to reaching people living in the area.
* 66 percent of all sectors had little or no ministry in place.
* “Significant” communications barriers are faced in 89 percent of sectors; 56 percent of sectors face almost insurmountable communications barriers.
* 87 percent of sectors are difficult to access by road.
* Other barriers include: social and economic factors (75 percent); agency resources factors (61 percent); transportation and travel factors (23 percent); political and religious factors (21 percent); and geography factors (6 percent).
* Fulfilling the task of the Great Commission demands that barriers be addressed and strategies deployed to overcome them– and that they be developed in cooperation with indigenous and international missions groups.
* Surveys were conducted in 15 of the 27 countries where the top 100 least-reached people groups live (Joshua Project).
Founded in 1945, MAF (www.maf.org) stations some 200 missionary families in the remotest regions of 23 countries on five continents. MAF pilots fly approximately 40,000 flights a year, transporting missionaries, medical personnel, medicines and relief supplies, as well as conducting thousands of emergency medical evacuations. MAF also provides telecommunications services, such as satellite Internet access, high-frequency radios, electronic mail and other wireless systems, in isolated areas.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the death of MAF pilot Nate Saint, who, along with missionaries Jim Elliot, Ed McCully, Pete Fleming and Roger Youderian, was speared to death by Waodani (Auca) Indians in Ecuador.
*****
About Religion Press Release Services
Religion Press Release Services distributes press releases, press advisories, photos and other stories on behalf of religious organizations, denominational offices, think tanks, watchdog groups, advocacy groups, coalitions, foundations, colleges, universities, seminaries, publishers and others.
The organizations and/or individuals who submit materials for distribution by Religion Press Release Services are solely responsible for the facts in and accuracy of their materials. Religion Press Release Services will correct any errors brought to its attention.
Contact Us
To distribute press releases through Religion Press Release Services, contact Claudia Sans at csans@religionnews.com or 202-383-7870. For more information check out our PDF brochure.
Religion News Service, 1101 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20036 (202) 463-8777
Download “Operation ACCESS!” press kit @ www.maf.org/news/news/operation_access_study_released
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 16, 2006
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Alex Coffin @ 704/364-2942
alexcoffin@mindspring.com
NAMPA, Ida. – Some of the world’s international missions organizations are sending their key leaders here to Mission Aviation Fellowship’s (MAF) new headquarters Wednesday and Thursday, Oct. 18-19, to determine how to implement results of MAF’s recent landmark study – “Operation ACCESS!” – for global missions.
The “Operation ACCESS!” study (www.operationaccessmaf.org) focuses on pockets of people, forgotten or heretofore unreachable. It identifies 364 areas where transportation, communications and technology barriers impede or prevent access to the Gospel, or to resources needed to enable community development, healthcare and education services. It also assesses the nature and significance of the barriers, the degree of any ministry taking place and suggests how to overcome the barriers.
The five-year global research project provides critical, unprecedented information that could shape international evangelism, ministry and humanitarian strategies for the next two decades.
“The ‘Operation ACCESS!’ conference is a ‘working meeting’ of key decision makers from missions organizations, denominations and Christian non-governmental organizations from around the world,” said Dave Bochman, MAF chief operating officer and conference organizer.
“Our goal is to forge partnerships with other organizations to determine how best to use the study data to overcome barriers and reach the lost,” he said. “But we also want to facilitate other organizations working together and the development of collaborative strategies.”
Phill Butler, president of visionSynergy (www.visionsynergy.net), an organization based in Edmonds, Wash., that develops strategic international Christian networks focusing on high impact opportunities for world evangelism, will facilitate the “Operation ACCESS!” conference.
Butler said “Operation ACCESS!” has the potential to shape worldwide evangelism strategies for the next 20 years.
“The issues facing us are on such a scale that they cannot be tackled by any individual or organization alone,” he said. “The Church must collaborate and work together.”
Kevin Swanson, MAF president, said research shows that despite extraordinary missions efforts, three out of four people alive on the earth have not heard the Gospel.
“The Apostle Paul in Romans 10:14-15 talked about the need to ‘send preachers.’ But preachers can’t be sent unless the barriers that prevent their access and sustainability are overcome,” said Swanson. “‘Operation ACCESS!’ is a strategic ‘roadmap’ to accomplish this God-appointed task.”
“MAF’s foundational re-analysis of its work and of mission work in general has produced a breathtaking new analysis of the challenge before us,” said Dr. Ralph Winter, founder of the U.S. Center for World Missions.
Dr. Charles H. Kraft, professor of anthropological and intercultural communication at Fuller Theological Seminary School of World Missions, called the study “one of the most promising projects I’ve seen in my 32 years at Fuller.”
“Operation ACCESS!” found that in all of 364 remote sectors in 64 countries, transportation, communications or technology barriers prevent or impede people's access to the Gospel, resources for spiritual growth and basic services.
Key findings are as follows:
* 52 percent of all sectors present “significant” barriers to reaching people living in the area.
* 66 percent of all sectors had little or no ministry in place.
* “Significant” communications barriers are faced in 89 percent of sectors; 56 percent of sectors face almost insurmountable communications barriers.
* 87 percent of sectors are difficult to access by road.
* Other barriers include: social and economic factors (75 percent); agency resources factors (61 percent); transportation and travel factors (23 percent); political and religious factors (21 percent); and geography factors (6 percent).
* Fulfilling the task of the Great Commission demands that barriers be addressed and strategies deployed to overcome them– and that they be developed in cooperation with indigenous and international missions groups.
* Surveys were conducted in 15 of the 27 countries where the top 100 least-reached people groups live (Joshua Project).
Founded in 1945, MAF (www.maf.org) stations some 200 missionary families in the remotest regions of 23 countries on five continents. MAF pilots fly approximately 40,000 flights a year, transporting missionaries, medical personnel, medicines and relief supplies, as well as conducting thousands of emergency medical evacuations. MAF also provides telecommunications services, such as satellite Internet access, high-frequency radios, electronic mail and other wireless systems, in isolated areas.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the death of MAF pilot Nate Saint, who, along with missionaries Jim Elliot, Ed McCully, Pete Fleming and Roger Youderian, was speared to death by Waodani (Auca) Indians in Ecuador.
*****
About Religion Press Release Services
Religion Press Release Services distributes press releases, press advisories, photos and other stories on behalf of religious organizations, denominational offices, think tanks, watchdog groups, advocacy groups, coalitions, foundations, colleges, universities, seminaries, publishers and others.
The organizations and/or individuals who submit materials for distribution by Religion Press Release Services are solely responsible for the facts in and accuracy of their materials. Religion Press Release Services will correct any errors brought to its attention.
Contact Us
To distribute press releases through Religion Press Release Services, contact Claudia Sans at csans@religionnews.com or 202-383-7870. For more information check out our PDF brochure.
Religion News Service, 1101 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20036 (202) 463-8777
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About Religion Press Release ServicesReligion Press Release Services distributes press releases, press advisories, photos and other stories on behalf of religious organizations, denominational offices, think tanks, watchdog groups, advocacy groups, coalitions, foundations, colleges, universities, seminaries, publishers and others. The organizations and/or individuals who submit materials for distribution by Religion Press Release Services are solely responsible for the facts in and accuracy of their materials. Religion Press Release Services will correct any errors brought to its attention.
Contact Us
To distribute press releases through Religion Press Release Services, contact Claudia Sans at csans@religionnews.com or 202-383-7870. For more information check out our PDF brochure.
Religion News Service, 1101 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20036 (202) 463-8777
