The Lausanne Researchers International Network

The front desk

admin — Wed, 07 May 2008 07:20:10 +0000

Missions and Ministry Seminar

admin — Wed, 07 May 2008 07:18:39 +0000

World Map - small

admin — Wed, 07 May 2008 07:10:03 +0000

Whole group full size

admin — Wed, 07 May 2008 06:59:28 +0000

Are young people less religious?

admin — Wed, 07 May 2008 06:02:54 +0000

The trends in religious behaviour of young people (in this case those aged 15-29) can be a barometer of the religious direction of nations. There are several ways to define if someone is religious, but this analysis focuses on self-reported attendance at religious services. The principal data source is the World Values Survey, a multi-wave investigation initiated in 1981 which covered 62 countries in the latest round. In the majority of countries, older people do participate in religion more than younger people. However, that pattern is not universal and this study highlights the countries where the general pattern does not hold. Levels of participation of young people in religion have varied widely over the past quarter century. Some countries have seen major declines - some from a high base, others from an already low base - while others have experienced stability or substantial increases. The characteristics of different types of country patterns will be described, with respect to overall participation rates, majority religion, male/female differentials and growth v. decline in religiosity.

Marion Burkimsher

Click the following link to the full paper:

Are young people less religious?

Mapping and missions research in Africa: Thinking out of the box

admin — Wed, 07 May 2008 06:01:24 +0000

An exciting development in Christian missions’ research is the role which maps and mapping are playing in this regard and how they are assisting the church in the fulfillment of the command of the Lord Jesus Christ to be His witnesses from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). This paper briefly defines what mapping is and how it is of value in missions’ research. There is then a brief outline of the history of mapping for mission purposes starting in the 18^th Century with William Carey and ending in the current era of information technology. There are some exciting developments in mapping and missions in Africa which will challenge the common misconception that nothing good can come out of Africa. Many mapping projects are on the go in Africa (e.g. from South Africa, Cameron and Lesotho as well as multi-national projects). There is also a growing interest in mapping training and using computer software to create maps which will be of value to Christian ministry in Africa. Training by GMI (Global Mapping International) has taken place in various countries on the continent such as South Africa and Egypt. Inserv (Institute for Strategic Services) has also conducted training in Lesotho. People from Africa have also received training from GMI in the USA. There is also interest in future training from South Africa, Lesotho, Namibia, Kenya, Cameron and Nigeria. Some innovative African applications of mapping in missions’ research will be discussed, from a local level to a national level to an international level in line with Jesus’ command in Acts 1:8. At a local level maps have been produced of the Roodepoort area of the city of Johannesburg to show the relationship between the number of young adults (age 20 to 34) and those who are non-religious. There is a great need for churches to be involved in ministry to young adults who are now the largest age group in Roodepoort and the most likely to be non-religious. On a national level a project to map churches in South Africa has started. Applications of this project will be discussed. At an international level a map has been produced on the 10/40 window showing the religious make up of each country as well as other information of interest for missions. This map shows a way of presenting a correct picture of the religious make up of a country especially when no one religion is dominant e.g. when there are almost equal numbers of Christians and Muslims. Also at an international level there are plans to create accurate up to date maps of the distribution of languages and people groups in Southern Africa. This project will assist MANI (Movement for Africa National Initiatives) who are endeavoring to establish national initiatives of churches in each country in Africa which will mobilize to reach the lest-reached peoples in their respective countries with the Gospel. Also at a continental level there is a desire to create an African CD of maps of mission interest for Africa from updated information. The paper will close with a look at some of the challenges for the future of mapping for missions’ research in Africa including the need for accurate information and the challenge of getting church leaders in Africa to understand the importance of missions’ research and the role mapping can play in such research.

Pierre Wedepohl.

For the full paper click on the following link: mapping-and-missions-research-in-africa-paper

Short term Christian Mission Volunteers

admin — Wed, 07 May 2008 05:59:26 +0000

A study conducted for Scripture Union Australia in 2006 measuring a range of aspects concerning their short term mission activities. Self-administered questionnaires were completed by a random sample of 200 short term mission volunteers for Scripture Union.

The following key points were identified and examined in the study:

Distribution profile of the demographic and behavioural characteristics of mission volunteers.
Identification of a series of reasons for participating in mission.
Preference and impact of mission volunteers to accept a group structure where all members are involved in the decision making process and the leadership function is shared across the group.
Personal confidence levels in evangelism and its effect on tailoring mission activities.
Value of training in evangelism as seen by the mission volunteers.
The importance of balancing the task of sharing the Gospel and developing relationships with non-Christians (i.e. through follow-up evangelism).
Barriers to mission participation from within and outside the mission.
The potential impact of the mission volunteers’ awareness of the mission organisation.
Qualitative feedback on past missions as well as suggestions for new activities by the mission volunteers.

For the full paper, click here: su_report_lausanne_version1

Ministry for a new age: Church-based counselling centres

admin — Wed, 07 May 2008 04:56:28 +0000

By Viv Mountain

Traditionally the proclamation of the gospel message has been not only in word, but also in caring service to those experiencing need in the society. In recent times many progressive local Churches have responded to the perception of community need through opening Counselling Centres. This is an extension of the pastoral role of the Priest or minister using the Christian faith context linked to current psychological expertise.

The intention of this research project is to investigate the contribution being made by these church-based, community counselling centres. This study will not aim to evaluate the centres but rather to gather a wide understanding of the varieties of service and operational models.

Ministry for a new ag

Discerning fruitful practises in Evangelism: carrying out research with fruitful missiological findings

admin — Wed, 07 May 2008 04:44:49 +0000

By Donald B. Allen

What does it mean to be ‘fruitful’, especially in areas such as evangelism, church planting, discipleship, and leadership development? Are there principles that we can learn from one another that will enhance our ministry, at least by helping us to remove stumbling blocks?

A global ministry partnership began about four years ago to explore these questions. Researchers began working within their own agencies. The process led to a wider research project involving several hundred workers with significant ministry experience.

In this, the first of three papers in a series entitled ‘Discerning fruitful practises in Evangelism,’ Dr. Don Allen will propose ‘fruitful practices’ as an emerging method of missiological research and its potential for helping workers keep “the end in mind” as they share God’s love with peoples of other faiths. This paper includes a historical overview of the concept as well as its foundational assumptions and cautions as an interdisciplinary method of research.

Discerning fruitful practises in Evangelism: carrying out research with fruitful missiological findings

Proposal for Etnopedia

admin — Wed, 07 May 2008 04:39:00 +0000

By David Markham

Etnopedia.org is an Internet based project that allows bi-lingual Christians to translate unreached peoples’ profiles into other languages. It also allows the research effort, mainly by regional and country level researchers, to expand the research process.

There are four themes in this proposal: translating unreached peoples’ profiles into as many languages as possible; empowering international multi-lingual translators and researchers; expanding the unreached peoples’ research to field level investigators; fostering cooperation, prayer and mobilization. Why people profiles? Because, they are used and understood by the whole church.

Presenting Etnopedia 2008