| |
| |
CMF International in the Twenty-first
Century
Twenty years ago a college intern named Steve came to spend
the summer with our family in Tanzania, bringing with him
a cassette tape of the band U2. Years later, it came as no
surprise when I learned that Bono, the band’s lead singer,
had a pronounced social conscience that was directly linked
with his own faith in God.
At the last Willow Creek Leadership Summit, Bono made an impassioned
plea for the Church to become more actively involved in the
world’s social problems -- specifically
hunger, poverty, and the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Though quite a
few American churches have been sensitive to these issues
for years, there is no doubt that the Church of tomorrow is
going to be more aware of social concerns than ever before.
Since 1949, CMF (Christian Missionary Fellowship) has partnered
with the Church, integrating such concerns into the work of
missions. Because our ministry is holistic in nature, we continue
to move to the forefront in the resolution of social problems
while staying true to our purpose of drawing the nations to
Christ and His Church.
When the tsunami hit Indonesia, we moved into action immediately.
While the United Nations’ ships with their cargoes of
building supplies languished offshore due to political maneuvering,
we were in the first wave of response to help the displaced
people of Banda Aceh build simple brick homes (and encouraged
the small groups of Christians there). We’ve gone into
the slums and abject poverty of Nairobi and Addis Ababa to
bring the hope of the Gospel and the reality of a transformed
community with Community Health Evangelism.
CMF joins hands with American churches, national Christians,
and international organizations in the fight against the HIV/AIDS
pandemic. We partner with companies to bring business and
the Good News to nations where missionaries are not welcome.
Christ is communicated through the care and opportunities
that come through these unique partnerships.
You will see us on strategic university campuses across the
globe, showing the love of Christ to young people who might
never have heard that they need a Savior. That’s an
investment we are making for the future as these young people
become the movers and shakers.
Although we pursue the global trends that affect the Church
and her work today, we do not try every new thing that comes
along or jump on every bandwagon. Our Board, our staff, our
mission teams all seek the Holy Spirit’s guidance so
that CMF remains an effective force in Kingdom building.
Lyrics from one of U2’s songs continues to reverberate
in my mind: “One man came, in the name of love....”
One man who came in the name of love was Jesus, and because
He came, we go.
Doug
Priest
Executive Director
|
|
|
|
