2005 Minutes of Synod - Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church

MINUTES OF THE GENERAL SYNOD137joining in this witness to Muslims. Deeply felt needs in the lives of Muslimshave prompted an expression of the Body of Christ through those in theChurch who are able to help with and pray for those needs. We havewitnessed the Lord’s sovereignty in a friendship with a student in Charlotte,whom was met at a mosque and who has visited an ARP Church athis own request. Team ministries have been initiated in Columbia,Charlotte and Gastonia. ARPs indicating an interest in varied levels ofinvolvement now number over 140. Prayer continues to be a majoremphasis through an e-mail prayer memo and a regular newsletter.Alan J. Avera addressed the Synod on behalf of Outreach NorthAmerica and its hopes and plans. Raymond W. Cameron Jr. led theSynod in prayer for the work of ONA.A motion carried that Northeast Presbytery be permitted todevelop a mission congregation in Orange County CA.A motion carried that the remarks of Mr. Avera be printed in theMinutes of the General Synod.DESPERATE NEEDPeople in our world need the gospel: not only people across the ocean, butalso the people across the street.We heard last night about the body blows we have taken from ourculture.Spiritual darkness, cultural and societal decay have reached unprecedentedlevels globally. Poverty, hunger, injustice, sickness and thebreakdown of the family are now commonplace among all nations.We greatly desire to see this turned around to the glory of God’s Name,so we pray earnestly for a widespread spiritual awakening through whichthe invisible kingdom of God becomes more visible in every sphere of life.We long and pray to see God’s will being done more and more on earth asit is in heaven.Responding to that need.The ARP Church has a commendable history of taking the gospel acrossthe ocean. World Witness has been far-sighted in recognizing new missionfields that the ARP Church is being called to reach. The ARP Churcheshave done a great job of responding to the opportunity represented by thesenew mission fields.Other churches have also done a great job of responding to the missionfield across the ocean. As a result, the last 5 years have seen the greatestglobal church growth ever.For example:Every day sees 80,000 – 100,000 new believers in the world.Worldwide 3,500 new churches are planted each week.69