Global Connections
Encyclopedia
Global Connections is a charitable organisation acting as a UK network of mission agencies, churches, colleges and support agencies involved in evangelism
around the world. Amongst the several hundred organisations and churches that are members of the Global Connections network are many of the most prominent Christian
faith-based organisations as well as many major organisations involved in relief and development. The mission statement
for the Global Connections network reads:
Global Connections sees encouraging churches to become more involved in global issues, including world mission, as one of its key purposes. As part of this they seek to provide opportunities for church leaders to engage with the leaders of mission agencies.
Global Connections also endeavours to bring together those who work in similar areas or to direct them to where they can find help on practical, legal or missiological issues. As part of this they organise approximately 20 forums, where members can meet with and learn from those who share similar concerns and can become involved in joint projects and co-operative actions.
In the post-war period, the mission movement in Britain had to adjust to many changes across the world including the end of the colonial era. However, the FIMS lacked the authority and ability to make recommendations and provide guidance for the British mission movement. In 1958 a new agency, the Evangelical Missionary Alliance (EMA) succeeded the FIMS and a central office with part-time staff was established.
The UK itself was now becoming a mission field with mission partners travelling there from other nations. Furthermore, increasing ethnic diversity was changing the face of the UK. At this time many local churches were becoming involved in mission directly. The organisation wanted to reflect these profound and diverse changes and to develop the understanding of mission and it’s variety of expressions.
(EA) and the African and Caribbean Evangelical Alliance (ACEA). They try to work closely with these two partners on strategic issues relating to mission.
Within Europe, Global Connections are members of the European Evangelical Missionary Alliance (EEMA), which brings together networks with similar visions from across Europe. Through them Global Connections has close links to the European Evangelical Alliance (EEA), which works in partnership with the EEMA.
At an international level Global Connections are members of the World Evangelical Alliance
Mission Commission (WEA-MC). They are also closely linked to the Lausanne movement and provide a link for them within the UK.
Evangelical Alliance official website
Evangelism
Evangelism refers to the practice of relaying information about a particular set of beliefs to others who do not hold those beliefs. The term is often used in reference to Christianity....
around the world. Amongst the several hundred organisations and churches that are members of the Global Connections network are many of the most prominent Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
faith-based organisations as well as many major organisations involved in relief and development. The mission statement
Mission statement
A mission statement is a statement of the purpose of a company or organization. The mission statement should guide the actions of the organization, spell out its overall goal, provide a path, and guide decision-making...
for the Global Connections network reads:
"Mission at the heart of the church, the church at the heart of mission."
Global Connections sees encouraging churches to become more involved in global issues, including world mission, as one of its key purposes. As part of this they seek to provide opportunities for church leaders to engage with the leaders of mission agencies.
Global Connections also endeavours to bring together those who work in similar areas or to direct them to where they can find help on practical, legal or missiological issues. As part of this they organise approximately 20 forums, where members can meet with and learn from those who share similar concerns and can become involved in joint projects and co-operative actions.
History
The International Missionary Fellowship (IMF) was formed in 1941 when the need for consultation between mission leaders was frequently urgent due to the numerous crises resulting from the World War II. The IMF was primarily a prayer fellowship for interdenominational mission societies. The name was changed to the Fellowship of Interdenominational Missionary Societies (FIMS) in 1946.In the post-war period, the mission movement in Britain had to adjust to many changes across the world including the end of the colonial era. However, the FIMS lacked the authority and ability to make recommendations and provide guidance for the British mission movement. In 1958 a new agency, the Evangelical Missionary Alliance (EMA) succeeded the FIMS and a central office with part-time staff was established.
The Present
In the year 2000 the organisation EMA changed its name to Global Connections and membership was extended to include agencies whose mission focus was primarily the UK and churches involved in mission. This was done in response to continuing changes in the mission world. These included the growing size and development of the church outside the West and the false dichotomy between the West and the developing world. Mission was now from everywhere to everywhere.The UK itself was now becoming a mission field with mission partners travelling there from other nations. Furthermore, increasing ethnic diversity was changing the face of the UK. At this time many local churches were becoming involved in mission directly. The organisation wanted to reflect these profound and diverse changes and to develop the understanding of mission and it’s variety of expressions.
Associated Networks
In the UK, Global Connections is associated with two other partner networks, the Evangelical AllianceEvangelical Alliance
The Evangelical Alliance is a London-based charitable organization founded in 1846. It has a claimed representation of over 1,000,000 evangelical Christians in the United Kingdom and is the oldest alliance of evangelical Christians in the world....
(EA) and the African and Caribbean Evangelical Alliance (ACEA). They try to work closely with these two partners on strategic issues relating to mission.
Within Europe, Global Connections are members of the European Evangelical Missionary Alliance (EEMA), which brings together networks with similar visions from across Europe. Through them Global Connections has close links to the European Evangelical Alliance (EEA), which works in partnership with the EEMA.
At an international level Global Connections are members of the World Evangelical Alliance
World Evangelical Alliance
- Introduction :' is a global ministry working with local churches around the world to join in common concern to live and proclaim the "Good News of Jesus" in their communities...
Mission Commission (WEA-MC). They are also closely linked to the Lausanne movement and provide a link for them within the UK.
Member organisations on Wikipedia
- All Nations Christian CollegeAll Nations Christian CollegeAll Nations Christian College is a missions college, located in Hertfordshire and validated by the Open University.- Aims :Unlike some Bible colleges, the focus of ANCC is primarily missiological - that is, it is focused on training people for cross-cultural Christian mission service anywhere in...
- All Souls Church, Langham PlaceAll Souls Church, Langham PlaceAll Souls Church is an Anglican Evangelical church in central London, situated in Marylebone at the north end of Regent Street on Langham Place, just south of BBC Broadcasting House. As well as the core church membership, many hundreds of visitors come to All Souls, bringing the average number of...
- BeaconLight TrustBeaconLight TrustBeaconLight Trust is a non-denominational Christian training organisation that provides biblical training resources. BeaconLight is a registered charity , a member of Global Connections and the Evangelical Alliance.- History :...
- Belfast Bible College
- Book Aid InternationalBook Aid InternationalBook Aid International is an NGO that exists to encourage literacy and access to books particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East by distributing books to libraries and other locations that increase community access. Book Aid International currently work in 12 countries in sub-Shahran...
- Church Pastoral Aid SocietyChurch Pastoral Aid Societyis an Anglican evangelical mission agency which works with a wide variety of churches across the UK and the Republic of Ireland. Its aim is to ‘enable churches to help every person hear and discover the good news of Jesus’. It provides a range of tools, training and resources to churches to develop...
Related links
Global Connections official websiteEvangelical Alliance official website