Global Christian Leaders to Gather at ‘JerusalemCouncil II’ in Athens to ‘Hear what the Holy Spirit is Saying to the Third Millenium Church’
World’s Largest Pastor’s Network to Convene Leaders from Every Major Denomination and Christian Fellowship
MELBOURNE, Fla., Jan. 16, 2025 – In homage to the First Century Church Fathers who gathered in Jerusalem to discern what the Holy Spirit was saying about sharing the Gospel with the entire world, the Global Church Network is convening “Jerusalem Council II” in August of 2025, inviting global leaders to discuss and discern what the Holy Spirit is saying regarding current world issues and the fulfillment of the Great Commission.
Global Church Network, founded by Dr. James O. Davis, is the largest pastors’ network in the world. The Jerusalem Council II is expected to draw key Christian leaders from 100 plus nations, representing every major denomination and Christian fellowship.
“At Jerusalem Council I, less than two decades after Jesus’ resurrection, Jewish followers of Jesus honored His Great Commission by welcoming Gentiles,” said Dr. Davis. “In Jerusalem Council II, 2000 years after Jesus’ resurrection, the Global Church Network will reaffirm Jesus’ Great Commission and synergize our collective work to more effectively share with all people groups the eternal hope God has made available in Jesus Christ.”
The meeting will take place in Athens, Greece, August 12-14, 2025. In the spirit of Jesus instructing His disciples to forgive seventy times seven, 490 Kingdom-minded, Christ-centered and Great Commission-focused leaders will come to wrestle with what the Spirit is saying to the Third Millennium Church, according to Davis. Attendees will convene at both the world-famous Acropolis and at Mars Hill in Athens for the final sessions concluding the council.
Dr. Ronnie Floyd, past President of the Southern Baptist Convention and the National Day of Prayer, will serve as Pastor of Prayer for Jerusalem Council II. “We are inviting Christian leaders to join us at Jerusalem Council II, where we will agonize in prayer, strategize our mission and mobilize the Global Church to finish the Great Commission,” he said. “I am honored to partner with like Kingdom-minded leaders at Jerusalem Council II.”
“In the Jerusalem Council I, the leaders said, ‘it seemed good to the Spirit and to us’ (Acts 15:28). In the Jerusalem Council II, likewise, global leaders will come with the anticipation of hearing what ‘the Spirit is saying to the Church today,’” said Dr. Craig Keener, New Testament Scholar at Asbury Seminary, and Cohost of Jerusalem Council II. “In the Jerusalem Council II, just as Jerusalem Council I recognized, the Church’s mission is grounded in Scripture, in the good news of what Jesus Christ has done, and empowered by the Spirit, to serve the global unity of Jesus’ movement and our mission to the world.”
Seven main plenary sessions will address seven global issues and to discern what the Holy Spirit is saying to the Third Millennium Church regarding:
1. New maps for a new Millennium
2. Scripture and the Unknown God
3. Jesus and our Humanity
4. GRAIN (Genetics, Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, Information Technology and Nanotechnology)
5. Christian Entrepreneurship and Global Business
6. Call of God For Gen Now
7. What the Church should do now to finish the Great Commission
Some of the notable Jerusalem Council II speakers who will address these topics include:
· Dr. Byoungho Zoh, Founder/President of Tongdok Bible Church in Seoul, Korea
· Dr. Carla Sunberg, Church of the Nazarene Superintendent from Lenexa, Kansas
· Dr. Alex Mitala, Founder of New Birth Fellowship in Kampala, Uganda
· Dr. David Sobrepena, Founder of Word of Hope Church in Manila, Philippines
· Council co-hosts Dr. Keener, Dr. Davis and Dr. Leonard Sweet, President of SpiritVenture ministry.
There will be six Jerusalem Council II Praise and Worship Teams – from Asia, Oceania, North America, Europe, Africa and Latin America. Near the conclusion of the meetings, attendees will travel together via buses to the Acropolis to pray for the nations of the world. They’ll next visit Mars Hill Amphitheater to commit to what they’ve just heard in the final keynote message, “Making the Unknown God Known to All Peoples Today.” They’ll collectively read and commission The Millennium Three Church Declaration, which will be crafted during the council. Timothy’s Family, a world class travel and tour company in Greece, is partnering with GCN to ensure every attendee has an unforgettable experience at Jerusalem Council II.
“I envision as we come to Jerusalem Council II, the Church is on her knees in repentance, acknowledging her brokenness, seeking wisdom and re-storying,” Dr. Sweet said. “The church has a future precisely because it stays on its knees – not in surrender to the world, but in surrender to God. It's in this paradoxical posture that the Church discovers her true power – a Church that kneels is a Church that rises. We are praying for a new Pentecost.”
Dr. Davis is already praying that those who attend Jerusalem Council II “will be encouraged in our Spirit, enlarged in our Faith, and expanded in our Vision,” he said. “Just as the Gospel went global following the direction of the Holy Spirit at the first Jerusalem Council, at the conclusion of Jerusalem Council II, the Global Church must synergize together to finish the Great Commission. As we celebrate the 2000th birthday of the Church in June 9-11, 2030, we will commence the third millennium of the Church.”
To learn more about Jerusalem Council II, visit www.jerusalemcouncil2.com.
About Global Church Network
Established in 2001, Global Church Network is a growing coalition of more than 2,750 Christian ministries and 700,000 churches synergizing their efforts together to build the premier community of pastors worldwide and has helped plant five million new churches for a billion-soul harvest. The Global Church Divinity School has helped train tens of thousands of Christian leaders since 2002. For more information, visit gcnw.tv.
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Media Contact:
Roy Kamau, A. Larry Ross Communications
972-267-1111
roy@alarryross.com
Global Church Network Launches 22 Ministry Training Hubs Spanning 60 Million Square Miles Across Oceania
Pacific Nations Unite to Fulfill Great Commission by 2030
MELBOURNE, Fla., Oct. 14, 2024 – Pastors and ministry leaders from across 22 Pacific Island nations converged in Fiji October 8-10, 2024, for the FINISH Oceania Summit, where they collaboratively developed missional strategies for leadership development, evangelism, discipleship, church planting and strategic networking. Convened by the Global Church Network (GCN) in synergistic partnership with Dr. Suliasi Kurulo, founder of World Harvest Center and Christian Missionary Fellowship in Suva, Fiji, the summit was the next part of the FINISH 2030 campaign to finalize the Great Commission by 2030.
“In order to complete the Great Commission, ministry leaders must be able to tie relational knots to build a net that works. No knot, no net, no network,” said Dr. James O. Davis, GCN president and founder. “I am encouraged at the strength of the networks, friendships and partnerships that were formed last week – I firmly believe that our goal is in reach!”
Rev. Kiel Maimai, Vanuatu Assemblies of God General Superintendent, brought the event’s keynote address. “I was honored to bring this message at the FINISH Oceania Summit, but more excited to launch a ministry training hub in Vanuatu, my home country that consists of 80 islands stretching nearly 1,000 miles.”
According to Dr. Davis, the focus on small island nations is vital to the fulfillment of the Great Commission. “To accomplish the big task of the Great Commission, we must be willing to go small,” said Dr. Davis. “Some of these island nations have fewer residents than a small American town or neighborhood, yet they are just as crucial to God’s plan.” Rev. Lgasiatama Mokole, a pastor from Niue, one of the smallest nations in the world, agrees. “We may be a small nation,” said Mokole, “but we are thrilled to be included in the Global Church Network and to launch a ministry training hub for our people.” Niue, located northeast of New Zealand, has a population of just over 1,600 people.
Ministry leaders set a combined goal of educating and equipping 30,000 ministers for the Oceania region. GCN’s Global Hubs of Christianity utilize on-site trainers as well as a curated library of courses from the online Global Church Divinity School (GCDS), which also provides training for busy ministry professionals in the United States.
During the final session of the FINISH Oceania Summit, newly appointed Hub leaders from all 22 Pacific Island nations entered the World Harvest Center sanctuary with a representative flag bearer, introduced by FINISH 2030 Director Dr. Ejaz Nabie, senior pastor of Faith Assembly in Queens, New York. Following the audience’s celebration, Dr. Davis brought a brief challenge and officially launched the 22 Oceania ministry training hubs: Australia, Fiji, New Caledonia, French Polynesia, Papua New Guinea, Niue, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Yap, Chuuk, Cook Islands, Marshall Islands, Guam, Samoa, Pitcairn, Tonga, Pohnpei, New Zealand, America Samoa, Kiribati, Kosrae and Nauru.
A new, original song inspired by the themes of FINISH 2030 was presented by the renowned World Harvest Church (WHC) worship team, fully crystallizing the essence of what FINISH 2030 means and how the Great Commission will be completed. GCH and WHC are forming a media/music partnership to help promote worldwide more than 20 praise and worship songs written and produced by the group. “Some of the greatest and most enriching music in the world in general and the Church in particular has been produced by the WHC worship team. We are honored to partner with them,” said Dr. Davis.
The FINISH Oceania Summit follows FINISH Summits in the Caribbean, Asia, West Africa, Southern Africa and East Africa. Each summit focuses on the six steps of FINISH: Find, Intercede, Network, Invest, Send and Harvest … all focused on the necessary synergy and mobilization to finish the Great Commission by 2030.
To learn more about Global Church Network, visit https://gcnw.tv.
About Global Church Network
Established in 2001, Global Church Network is a growing coalition of more than 2,750 Christian ministries and 700,000 churches synergizing their efforts together to build the premier community of pastors worldwide and has helped plant five million new churches for a billion-soul harvest. The Global Church Divinity School has helped train tens of thousands of Christian leaders since 2002. For more information, visit gcnw.tv.
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Media Contact:
Roy Kamau, A. Larry Ross Communications
972-267-1111
Global Church Network Gathers Ministry Leaders from Hard-to-Reach Pacific Island Nations to Synergize for the Fulfillment of the Great Commission by 2030
Thousands Mobilize for ‘FINISH Oceania’ in Fiji October 8-10
ORLANDO, Oct. 7, 2024 — In pursuit of completing the Great Commission by 2030, the Global Church Network (GCN) will host the FINISH Oceania Summit from October 8-10 in Suva, Fiji. This groundbreaking summit will gather thousands of ministry leaders from 22 island nations and 10 territories to synergize, equip and unite in prayer as they strategize how to reach every unreached people group across the region.
Oceania, with its vast expanse of islands scattered across the Central and South Pacific, represents one of the most geographically challenging mission fields. Covering 30 percent of the Earth’s surface, the region includes small and remote islands where populations can be as tiny as 50 people. However, GCN is dedicated to reaching even the smallest communities, demonstrating that no population is too remote or insignificant for the Gospel.
Dr. James O. Davis, founder and president of the Global Church Network, underscores the importance of focusing on these small populations to achieve the larger goal of the Great Commission. “To accomplish the BIG task of the Great Commission, we must be willing to go SMALL,” says Dr. Davis. “Some of these island nations have fewer residents than a small American town or neighborhood, yet they are just as crucial to God’s plan. One delegation is traveling by boat at 5 miles per hour across the ocean just to attend the Summit. This is the kind of commitment it will take to reach every person with the Gospel.”
Dr. Davis further emphasizes the unity that the FINISH Summit fosters among ministry leaders across the world. “There is nothing quite like synergizing with fellow brothers and sisters in Christ from various nations, tongues and tribes,” says Davis. “Through faithful missionaries, evangelists and pastors, the Gospel is being proclaimed across these island nations and territories.”
Cohost of the FINISH Oceania Summit, Dr. Suliasi Kurulo, Founder of World Harvest Center and Founder/President of Christian Mission Fellowship, in Suva, Fiji, states, “We must take the Great Commission literally and seriously. We have invited and partnered with key ministry leaders from island nations of the Pacific, from Guam to New Zealand.” Dr Kurulo’s international ministry has helped plant more than 7,000 churches in 116 nations.
In 2012, GCN launched the “Global Hubs of Christianity” to synergize the best relationships, systematize the most relevant training and strategize for ministry to unreached people groups. Today, GCN has established over 200 Hubs throughout the world, and they expect to reach 800 Hubs by 2030. Each Hub provides two years of strategic equipping, with pastors and ministry leaders meeting every six months for training in leadership development, church planting, networking, evangelism, discipleship and global missions.
GCN has partnered with over 700,000 local churches worldwide, spanning virtually every denomination and world region. To achieve the goal of mobilizing and synergizing the Body of Christ for the fulfillment of the Great Commission, GCN holds its biennial Synergize Conference and annual leadership summits and provides extensive online resources through the Global Church Divinity School (GCDS) to equip pastors and church leaders from around the world for outreach in their surrounding communities.
This year’s FINISH Oceania Summit builds on the momentum of recent FINISH Summits in West Africa, East Africa, and Southern Africa, where nearly every nation across the continent has been impacted by GCN’s ministry Hubs. These summits continue to play a crucial role in GCN’s FINISH 2030 initiative, which seeks to complete the Great Commission by the 2,000th birthday of the Church.
To learn more about the Global Church Network and its initiatives, visit gcnw.tv.
About Global Church Network
Established in 2001, Global Church Network is a growing coalition of more than 2,750 Christian ministries and 700,000 churches synergizing their efforts together to build the premier community of pastors worldwide and has helped plant five million new churches for a billion-soul harvest. The online Global Church Divinity School has helped train tens of thousands of Christian leaders since 2002. For more information, visit gcnw.tv.
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Media Contact:
Roy Kamau, A. Larry Ross Communications
972-267-1111
Global Church Network Celebrates Opening of 200th Hub for Worldwide Evangelism Training
Multiplication Impact of Ministry Training Hubs – Reaching 800 by 2030 – Essential to FINISH the Great Commission in this Generation
ORLANDO, September 24, 2024 — With a mission to finalize the Great Commission by 2030, Global Church Network (GCN) has set a goal of establishing 800 leadership training hubs worldwide in order to mobilize one million new ministers at a time when there is a global shortage of pastors. With the grand opening of Hubs in both the Balkans and South Africa this month, GCN will have launched 200 Hubs on six continents, putting the ministry on track to exceed its goal within this decade.
“Just like airline companies and major corporations have their hubs, the Church should have ‘Global Hubs of Christianity,’” said Dr. James O. Davis, founder/president of GCN, the largest pastors’ network in the world. “In order for us to equip and educate one million new ministers in the Body of Christ by 2030, we must move from production to reproduction, from addition to multiplication, which these hubs enable us to do.”
The Global Hubs of Christianity are launched at regional FINISH Summits (FINISH2030.com), international pastors’ gatherings convened to strategize for reaching their part of the world with the Gospel message. During each FINISH Summit, Hub leaders are trained and launch dates are set, with the number of Hubs launched reflecting the same number of nations represented at that FINISH Summit.
The Hubs are then connected with the Global Church Divinity School, making accredited online theological training available for the participants via a new partnership with Assemblies of God Theological Seminary. Each GCN Hub “synergizes the best relationships, systemizes the finest training, strategizes for unreached people groups, and in some cases scripturalizes new Bible translations,” according to Davis. The Hubs begin to multiply after two years of training, compounding growth on a global scale.
The first Hub was launched at Word of Hope Church in Manila in 2012. Church founder Dr. David Sobrepena explains, “Once the Hub training is completed after two years, the Hub multiples to 2, 4 or 6 more Hubs in the nation, with new leaders being trained at each location. We are now ramping up to 100,000 plus leaders being trained per year in the Global Hubs of Christianity here in the Philippines.”
Today, GCN has Hubs in some of the world’s hardest to reach places, such as Guyana in the Amazon, and in the highest places such as Nepal’s Himalayan Mountains. In the United States, Hubs are identified as regional campuses of the Global Church Divinity School hosted by local churches throughout the nation.
Dr. Davis says, “Everything in the Global Church Network has a reason, rhythm and a ramp. Nothing is random. Jesus said, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few.’ We are praying for the Lord to raise up more Hub trainers worldwide to help keep up with the growth of the Global Hubs of Christianity.”
Every Hub has a Hub Leader, a Hub Planning Committee, and two Hub trainers, who commit to visit the Hub four times – every six months over a two-year period. Over the two years, 30 courses are taught to the pastors and leaders who attend. Additionally, every Hub member receives complementary membership to GCDS, where they take the original 30 courses that are being taught by the two Hub trainers. GCN applies both an in-person and online approach. Upon the completion of the two years of training, graduation occurs with every pastor/leader receiving a diploma and a lifetime membership to GCDS.
On August 29-30, 2024, GCN hosted the FINISH East Africa Summit in Kampala, Uganda, where attendees set an audacious goal. Hundreds of pastors and leaders from eleven different nations synergized their efforts as East Africa co-chair Dr. Alex Mitala explained, “For months, missional leaders in East Africa worked to develop a multiplication plan for future Hubs and GCDS. Over the next eight years, we believe more than 40,000 Hubs will be established in East Africa, and more than 2 million Christian leaders will be trained through the Hubs and the GCDS. Our goal is for every church to become a Hub.”
Rev. Ejaz Nabie, Senior Pastor of Faith Assembly, Queens, New York, and FINISH 2030 Executive Director states, “The Global Hubs of Christianity serve as a powerful model of multiplying Christ-centered, Kingdom-Minded pastors and leaders toward the completion of the Great Commission.”
To learn more about Global Church Network, visit https://gcnw.tv.
About Global Church Network
Established in 2001, Global Church Network is a growing coalition of more than 2,750 Christian ministries and 700,000 churches synergizing their efforts together to build the premier community of pastors worldwide and has helped plant five million new churches for a billion-soul harvest. The Global Church Divinity School has helped train tens of thousands of Christian leaders since 2002. For more information, visit gcnw.tv.
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Media Contact:
Roy Kamau, A. Larry Ross Communications
972-267-1111
Global Church Network and Assemblies of God Theological Seminary Partner to Address Growing Shortfall of Pastors
Formal Relationship Makes Accredited Online Courses Available to Thousands of Emerging Ministry Leaders around the World
ORLANDO, Sept. 10, 2024 — The Global Church Divinity School (GCDS), an online pastor training resource launched in 2001 by the Global Church Network (GCN), is excited to announce a formal partnership with Assemblies of God Theological Seminary (AGTS) at Evangel University in Springfield, Missouri, to provide GCDS students accredited graduate credit hours toward a Master’s degree from AGTS.
“The greatest need in the Global Church today is not more models, money or methods, but God-called, Christ-centered, Kingdom-minded, Spirit-empowered, Bible-based preachers, who can communicate to the Now Generation and lead the Church toward the fulfillment of the Great Commission,” said Dr. James O. Davis, founder of GCN and GCDS, and himself an AGTS graduate. “We are honored to synergize together with the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary to address the shortfall of trained ministers and make accredited, world-class training more accessible to busy professionals and those living far from traditional seminaries.”
Part of the Global Church Network, the largest pastors’ network in the world, GCDS comprises more than 260 courses in 8 languages, with more than 1000 lecture hours and over 200 faculty. GCDS currently interfaces with GCN’s Global Hubs of Christianity, providing the finest training possible even in the hardest places in the world. Now, with this new partnership, GCDS students can earn AGTS Specialized Certificates in Preaching, Teaching, Pastoral Life, Bible, Christ Formation, Arts & Imagination, and Contextual Semiotics.
AGTS Vice President Dr. Wade Mumm, who also serves as Lead Pastor of Greeneway Church in Orlando, was raised by missionary parents in Thailand and so uniquely understands the challenges of educating and equipping ministry leaders in remote locations. “I look forward to creatively, strategically and synergistically developing incredible educational onramps onto the highway of ministry with the Global Church Divinity School,” he said.
The Global Church Network launched GCDS 22 years ago, anticipating fewer leaders entering ministry careers in the future – something that has become a challenge here in the U.S. as well as around the world. According to Dr. Davis, himself an Assemblies of God ordained minister, “Whether the Church is growing at supersonic speed or experiencing slower growth, there are not enough pastors to fill the existing pulpits, much less the starting of new churches.”
Dr. David Sobrepena, Global Church Network Cochair for East Asia and Founder of Word of Hope Church in Manila, shared that he is “thrilled with the academic relationship between the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary and the Global Church Divinity School. “We must forge new dynamic paths and faster means to equipping and educating future pastors and ministers,” he said.
As an early pioneer in online divinity studies and ministry preparation, GCDS has equipped tens of thousands of ministers from every nation across the globe over the last 22 years.
The Assemblies of God Theological Seminary was founded in 1973 under the leadership of the late Dr. Thomas F. Zimmerman, Assemblies of God General Superintendent. Over the years, thousands of students from around the world have graduated from AGTS, carrying with them its vision statement, “Truth on Fire.”
“The Global Church Divinity School partnership with the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary is the next step to raising up high quality leaders to finish the Great Commission,” added Rev. Brian Ashworth, Senior Pastor of Kingdom Harvest Church in Belfast. “We have witnessed firsthand as we have taught in the Global Church Network Hubs, both in Moldova and Egypt, hundreds of pastors and leaders have been equipped with the finest training possible to help them plant churches and preach the Gospel.”
Rev. Terry Bailey, Superintendent of the Tennessee Ministry Network of the Assemblies of God, agrees. “We began making the online training of the Global Church Divinity School available to our pastors and ministers about ten years ago,” he said. “We could not be more pleased with the academic relationship formed between the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary and GCDS.”
About Global Church Network
Established in 2001, Global Church Network is a growing coalition of more than 2,750 Christian ministries and 700,000 churches synergizing their efforts together to build the premier community of pastors worldwide and has helped plant five million new churches for a billion-soul harvest. To learn more, visit https://gcnw.tv. The Global Church Divinity School currently interfaces with GCN’s Global Hubs of Christianity, providing the finest training possible even in the hardest places in the world, and has helped train tens of thousands of Christian leaders since 2002. For more information, visit gcnw.tv.
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Media Contact:
Melany Ethridge, A. Larry Ross Communications
972-267-1111
Global Church Network Gathers Ministry Leaders from East Africa to Synergize for the Fulfillment of the Great Commission by 2030
More Than 600 Leaders from 10 East African Nations Will Mobilize for ‘FINISH East Africa’ in Uganda from August 29-30
ORLANDO, August 26, 2024 — With a mission to finalize the Great Commission by 2030, Global Church Network (GCN) will host the FINISH East Africa Summit from August 29-30 in Kampala, Uganda, gathering hundreds of ministry leaders from 10 nations across East Africa for networking, equipping and prayer.
“God is opening incredible doors for synergistic ministry in East Africa,” says Dr. James O. Davis, founder and president of GCN, the largest pastor’s network in the world. “Through faithful missionaries, evangelists and pastors, the Gospel is being proclaimed throughout the continent of Africa. Our hope is to join in their efforts and provide them with the resources and connections needed to extend their impact for the Kingdom.”
In 2012, GCN launched the “Global Hubs of Christianity” to synergize the best relationships, systematize the most relevant training and strategize for ministry to unreached people groups. Today, GCN has established over 180 Hubs throughout the world, and they expect to reach 800 Hubs by 2030. Each Hub provides two years of strategic equipping, with pastors and ministry leaders meeting every six months for training in leadership development, church planting, networking, evangelism, discipleship and global missions.
The purpose of this month’s FINISH East Africa Summit is to strategize and launch 10 new Hubs in East Africa. In addition to the FINISH West Africa Summit (March 2023) and the FINISH Southern Africa Summit (April 2024), this summit will result in nearly every nation in Africa having been impacted by the launch of a ministry Hub within the past two years.
“Airlines and businesses have hubs. Why shouldn't the Church have hubs to make ministry more effective and efficient?” says Dr. David Sobrepena, Founder of Word of Hope Church and GCN Co-chair East Asia. “Through the Global Hubs of Christianity, we are striving to equip more than one million ministers.”
GCN has partnered with over 700,000 local churches worldwide, spanning virtually every denomination and world region. To achieve the goal of mobilizing and synergizing the Body of Christ for the fulfillment of the Great Commission, GCN holds its biennial Synergize Conference and annual leadership summits and provides extensive online resources through the Global Church Divinity School (GCDS) to equip pastors and church leaders from around the world for outreach in their surrounding communities.
“I have been serving in the Global Church Network for nearly 20 years. Our team has set a goal to equip at least 1,000 young ministers in the next two years in Uganda in the Global Church Divinity School,” states Dr. Alex Mitala, Founder New Birth Pentecostal Fellowship. “We are honored to host FINISH East Africa in Kampala, Uganda, continuing the work of FINISH 2030 which the Global Church Network launched on November 1, 2017, in Castle Church, Wittenberg, Germany, at the graveside of Martin Luther.”
“There is nothing quite like synergizing with fellow brothers and sisters in Christ from various nations, tongues and tribes,” says Dr. Davis. “During our meetings, I am reminded of our mission and the great challenge that is before us all. However, fulfilling the Great Commission is only possible if we move past ego and logo and embrace we go.”
To learn more about Global Church Network, visit https://gcnw.tv.
About Global Church Network
Established in 2001, Global Church Network is a growing coalition of more than 2,750 Christian ministries and 700,000 churches synergizing their efforts together to build the premier community of pastors worldwide and has helped plant five million new churches for a billion-soul harvest. The Global Church Divinity School has helped train tens of thousands of Christian leaders since 2002. For more information, visit gcnw.tv.
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Media Contact:
Roy Kamau, A. Larry Ross Communications
972-267-1111
Dr. James O. Davis of Global Church Network Reveals New Book Offering a Powerful Pathway into the Abundant Life of Joy
‘The Joy Book’ Helps Readers Find Lasting Joy in Any Circumstance
ORLANDO, July 30, 2024 — Seasoned author and founder of Global Church Network, Dr. James O. Davis, has written “The Joy Book: A Christian’s Abundant Joy in Darkest Nights,” releasing September 10, 2024, to invite and encourage readers to experience everlasting joy rooted in Christ
After the death of his two children in the 1990s, Dr. Davis learned firsthand the sacred path of knowing “the joy of the Lord is our strength.” In his latest book, he masterfully outlines the pathway to abiding joy through contemplative expository of the book of Philippians, while sharing practical and inspiring insights from his personal encounters with the Lord.
“The Lord does want us to be happy and healthy, but holiness is the Lord’s higher aim for our lives,” Dr. Davis shares. “In like manner, while the Lord desires that we be happy and satisfied, joy and fulfillment are at a much deeper level. Joy can be gratifying in a way that is not selfish, while happiness is more focused on our own pleasure.”
“The Joy Book” delves into the distinct differences between happiness and joy, offering readers a biblical understanding of what it means to “rejoice at all times.” Dr. Davis illustrates how the Apostle Paul's teachings reveal the secret to experiencing joy regardless of circumstances.
The book is structured as a thematic breakdown of the book of Philippians, exploring various aspects of joy, such as:
The Positives of the Christian Life: An introduction to the foundational elements of a joyful Christian life.
The Preaching of the Christian Life: Insights into the role of preaching and spreading the Gospel as a source of joy.
The Patterns of the Christian Life: Examining the behaviors and attitudes that exemplify a joyful Christian walk.
The Prize of the Christian Life: Understanding the ultimate reward and goal of living a life rooted in Christ.
The Peace of the Christian Life: Discovering the peace that accompanies a life devoted to Christ.
he Provisions of the Christian Life: Recognizing and appreciating God's provision in all circumstances.
Dr. Davis’s years of ministry experience and his personal encounters with God provide a rich backdrop for the insights shared in "The Joy Book." Some noteworthy endorsements include:
“In a world trite on truth and shallow in service, Dr. Davis has brought joyful leadership into the Body of Christ.” – Dr. Carla Sunberg, General Superintendent of the Church of the Nazarene
“The Joy Book captivates our attention and shows us the path from mere happiness to incredible joy in our daily living.” – Dr. Doug Beacham, General Superintendent of International Pentecostal Holiness Church (IPHC)
“Dr. Davis has captured the essence of the joy message in this latest work.” – Dr. Timothy Hill, General Overseer Emeritus of the Church of God
“The Joy Book” teaches readers that while they cannot redecorate the outward situations around them, they can refurbish and renew their inward soul. Dr. Davis writes: “There is a path of joy and peace that passes all understanding, but in order to walk in this joy and peace, we must embrace the secrets of knowing Christ daily and living in the power of the Holy Spirit.”
“The Joy Book: A Christian’s Abundant Joy in Darkest Nights” is set to release on September 10, 2024. To learn more or purchase a copy, visit https://jamesodavis.com/product/the-joy-book/. To watch the official book trailer, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WI7xjWw8eRo&ab_channel=GlobalChurchNetwork.
About the Author
Dr. James O. Davis is co-founder of Global Church Network, a growing coalition of more than 2,750 Christian ministries, 180 plus hubs and 700,000 churches, who are synergizing and mobilizing their efforts to help finalize the Great Commission by 2030, the 2000th Birthday of the Church. The Global Church Divinity School has helped train tens of thousands of Christian leaders since 2002. For more information, visit gcnw.tv.
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Media Contact:
Lauren Briggs, A. Larry Ross Communications
972-267-1111
lauren@alarryross.com
Global Church Network Mobilizes Leaders from Southern Africa to Synergize for the Fulfillment of the Great Commission by 2030
More than 350+ Leaders from Nine Southern African Nations will Gather in Cape Town for ‘FINISH Southern Africa’ from April 3-5
ORLANDO, March 18, 2024 — As part of a global movement to finalize the Great Commission by 2030, Global Church Network (GCN) is hosting the FINISH Southern Africa Summit from April 3-5 in Cape Town, gathering hundreds of ministry leaders from nine nations across Southern Africa for networking, equipping and prayer.
“Our aim with FINISH is to foster meaningful connections among Christian leaders worldwide by strategically targeting regions where access to the Gospel is limited or hard to reach," said Dr. James O. Davis, founder and president of GCN. "Think of FINISH as a train; we are calling leaders to take a bold step and join us on our journey to complete the Great Commission.”
GCN is synergistically partnered with thousands of organizations and more than 700,000 local churches around the globe, spanning virtually every denomination and world region. To achieve the goal of mobilizing and synergizing the Body of Christ for the fulfillment of the Great Commission, GCN holds its biennial Synergize Conference and annual leadership summits and provides extensive online resources through the Global Church Divinity School (GCDS) to equip pastors and church leaders from around the world for outreach in their surrounding communities.
The FINISH Southern Africa Summit will feature six plenary sessions after the acronym FINISH: Find, Intercede, Network, Invest, Send and Harvest.
Keynote speakers will include:
· James O. Davis, founder and president of the Global Church Network;
· Timothy Hill, general overseer of the Church of God in Cleveland, Tennessee;
· Alex Mitala, founding president of BBT in Uganda;
· Stafford Petersen, Moderator at Full Gospel Church of God;
· Kathy Branzell, president of the National Day of Prayer Task Force;
· David Sobrepena, General Superintendent of Assemblies of God, Philippines;
· Theo Roman, pastor, Assemblies of God;
· Stephen Wengam, General Superintendent of Assemblies of God, Ghana;
· Larry Lamb, lead pastor at Cielo Vista Church, El Paso, Texas;
· Fabian Jood, lead pastor at Planetshakers, Cape Town; and
· Joel Dibetose, chairman of International Pentecostal Holiness Church, South Africa.
“Leaders from all nine nations in Southern Africa will be represented at this exciting gathering,” said Dr. Davis. “There has been no greater time than this for the global Body of Christ to mobilize and synergize its efforts for the completion of the Great Commission by 2030.”
Registration for FINISH Southern Africa is open at www.FINISHSA.com, however, spots are limited. To learn more about Global Church Network, visit https://gcnw.tv.
About Global Church Network
Established in 2001, Global Church Network is a growing coalition of more than 2,750 denominations and 700,000 churches synergizing their efforts together to build the premier community of pastors worldwide and has helped plant five million new churches for a billion-soul harvest. The Global Church Network is now the largest pastors network in the world. For more information, visit gcnw.tv.
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Media Contact:
Lauren Briggs, A. Larry Ross Communications
972-267-1111
‘Synergize 2024’ Unites Ministry Leaders from Every World Region for the Fulfillment of the Great Commission by 2030
‘Our commitment must be to complete, not compete.’
ORLANDO, Feb. 22, 2024 — Global Church Network (GCN), a growing coalition of more than 2,750 denominations and 700,000 churches, concluded its biennial Synergize Pastors and Leaders Conference last week on Friday, February 16 by challenging international ministry leaders from 80 nations to play an active role in helping to fulfill the Great Commission by the year 2030 — the 2,000th birthday of the Christian Church.
With the goal of equipping, networking and mobilizing one million new ministers to help accomplish Christ’s most important mandate to believers, the Conference gathered more than 900 leaders representing every world region, February 14-16, in Orlando, Florida.
In his opening remarks, GCN visionary founder, Dr. James O. Davis, delivered a call to action, urging that synergistic global evangelism is imperative as the Church enters the most important decade of fulfilling the Great Commission in history.
“This is a provided, present, priceless, providential, passing day,” said Dr. Davis. “We can either use it or lose it. The Kingdom of God is built on relationships — first with the Lord and then with each other. Our commitment must be to complete, not compete. Everyone has a role in the goal and a part in God’s heart.”
The three-day conference featured 25 renowned plenary speakers sharing powerful messages related to the Synergize 2024 theme of “The Unhindered Gospel” — a reference to the last verse of the book of Acts which says the Gospel was shared “with all boldness and without hindrance!” Daily breakout sessions addressed best practices related to modern evangelism, prayer, missions, technology in ministry and leadership development.
“We must embrace an uncommon proclamation, an uncompromising passion, an uncomfortable persistence and an unwavering purpose,” said Dr. Davis. “We are living in Acts 29 today, as church leaders are still telling the story. The Apostle Paul was in prison, but you can’t lock up the Gospel – it’s ‘unhindered.’”
On the second day of the conference, Dr. Tommy Barnett, Founder of Dream City Church and Dream Centers International, and Dr. Davis announced “Jerusalem 2030,” scheduled to convene at the International Convention Center (ICC) in Jerusalem on June 9-11, 2030, to celebrate what the Lord has done in our generation. Registration is now open for 3,000 distinguished leaders to attend in honor of the first 3,000 who came to Christ exactly two millennia earlier when the Apostle Peter preached his sermon at the First Pentecost, consummating the birth of the Church.
In preparing for the historic and groundbreaking gathering in Jerusalem, the Global Church Network set strategic missional goals at the Wittenberg 2017 Conference on November 1, 2017. These missional goals include: 1) Enlisting of nine billion prayers for the upcoming nine billion world population; 2) Establishing 800 Hubs in the Global Hubs of Christianity; 3) Equipping one million new ministers throughout the Body of Christ through the Global Church Divinity School and Hubs; 4) Empowering FINISH Summits in every world region; and 5) Entering the hardest 3,000 unreached people groups with the gospel.
Christian leaders in Africa, Europe and Asia have already set a collective goal of training 425,000 pastors – and 169 Hubs are already operational.
Since its inception in 2002, the Synergize Pastors and Leaders Conference has drawn more than 75,000 leaders from more than 100 nations representing 100 denominations. For more information, visit synergize.tv.
More information about “Jerusalem 2030” can be found at gcnw.tv.
About Global Church Network
Established in 2001, Global Church Network is a growing coalition of more than 2,750 denominations and 700,000 churches synergizing their efforts together to build the premier community of pastors worldwide and has helped plant five million new churches for a billion-soul harvest. The Global Church Network is now the largest pastors network in the world. For more information, visit gcnw.tv.
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Global Church Network Announces Historic Gathering to Celebrate 2,000th Birthday of the Church in 2030
3,000 International Ministry Leaders Expected to Gather for ‘Jerusalem 2030’ on Pentecost Weekend, June 7-9, 2030
ORLANDO, Feb. 19, 2024 — As part of Synergize 2024, an international gathering of 900 pastors and ministry leaders that took place last week in Orlando, Global Church Network (GCN) visionary founder Dr. James O. Davis announced a historic and groundbreaking celebration of the 2,000th anniversary of the founding of the Church, “Jerusalem 2030,” scheduled to convene at the International Convention Center (ICC) of Jerusalem on Pentecost weekend, June 9 -11, 2030.
At a vision-casting banquet on Thursday, February 15, Dr. Davis announced registration is now open for 3,000 distinguished leaders to gather in honor of the first three thousand who came to Christ exactly two millennia earlier when the Apostle Peter preached his sermon at the First Pentecost, consummating the birth of the Church.
Themed “It is Finished,” the three-day event is designed to encourage and commend ministry leaders for their role and effort in fulfilling the Great Commission – as commanded by Jesus to take the Gospel message to the whole world.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqCPsNJb6HQ
“All ministry roads lead to Jerusalem, the city of promise, prayer, prophecy and passion,” said Dr. Davis. “Jerusalem is the city of light, love and leadership. It’s a city of innovation, impartation and inspiration. It’s the perfect meeting place for Jerusalem 2030.”
After the announcement, Mrs. Rakefet Iluz, Vice President of Marketing, International Convention Center of Jerusalem, said their facility is honored to host the culmination of “FINISH 2030,” welcomed Dr. Davis and Global Church Network to Jerusalem and recognized their commitment to an enduring peace among nations, and presented to Dr. Davis the Jerusalem Peace Ambassador Award.
“We encourage you to keep praying for the peace of Jerusalem, a city of friendship and faith, where peace and prosperity are not just a dream, but a reality,” she said.
The event will feature 12 world-changing speakers, the grandest Gospel singing and music in the body of Christ and a celebration of what the Lord of the Harvest has done in our generation.
The comprehensive “FINISH 2030” collaborative partnership involving more than 700,000 churches representing 2,900 denominations began on November 1, 2017, in Wittenberg Germany, on the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation when Martin Luther first made his 95 theses public.
“Completing the Great Commission is about motivation,” said Dr. Davis. “The pastors and ministry leaders who will be represented at this celebration of the Lord’s harvest in Jerusalem are world-changers. Today, they are making an impact on the Kingdom, not only out of obedience to the Lord, but because of their passionate desire to go and make disciples of all nations. Together, we will see the fulfillment of the Great Commission.”
Over the next six years, the Million Ministers Mandate initiative will teach and train one million pastors to help plant churches in the hardest places, through integration of the online Global Church Divinity School, a total of 12 FINISH regional summits – through which the first three in Africa, Europe and Asia, have set a collective goal of training 425,000 pastors – and more than 800 global hubs of Christianity, of which 169 are already operational.
Synergize 2024, which concluded Friday evening, February 16, is a biennial event hosted by GCN that seeks to equip, network and mobilize one million new ministers for the fulfillment of the Great Commission. Since its inception in 2002, Synergize has drawn more than 75,000 leaders from more than 100 nations representing 100 denominations.
The theme for the 2024 conference last week was “Unhindered,” based on the last word in Acts 28, the final chapter of the book of Acts. “We are living in Acts 29 today, as church leaders are still telling the story,” Davis said. “The Apostle Paul was in prison, but you can’t lock up the Gospel – it’s ‘unhindered.’”
The event featured 18 breakout sessions addressing best practices related to modern evangelism, prayer, missions, technology in ministry and leadership development. For more information about Synergize, visit https://synergize.tv/.
More information about “Jerusalem 2030” can be found at https://gcnw.tv/
About Global Church Network
Established in 2001, Global Church Network is a growing coalition of more than 2,750 denominations and 700,000 churches synergizing their efforts together to build the premier community of pastors worldwide and has helped plant five million new churches for a billion-soul harvest. The Global Church Network is now the largest pastors network in the world. For more information, visit gcnw.tv.
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Global Church Network's ‘Synergize 2024’ Conference to Gather Christian Leaders from Every World Region
Biennial Event Unites the Global Church for the Fulfillment of the Great Commission by 2030
ORLANDO, Jan. 17, 2024 — With the goal of equipping, networking and mobilizing one million new ministers to help fulfill the Great Commission, Global Church Network’s Synergize 2024 will take place February 14-16, 2024, in Orlando, Florida, drawing more than 800 pastors and leaders from 80 nations and every world region.
A biennial event, “Synergize” is designed for Christian leaders who desire to network, synergize and mobilize for the fulfillment of the Great Commission. Since its inception in 2002, the conference has drawn more than 55,000 Christian leaders from more than 100 nations representing 100 denominations.
“Synergize 2024 is where the Church comes together to help save the world,” said founder and president of Global Church Network (GCN), Dr. James O. Davis. “General Superintendents, General Overseers, Pastors and evangelistic leaders who want to go beyond just ‘doing church’ can instead embark on a Christian ministry adventure that will impact their entire community and every nation.”
The three-day event will feature 25 renowned plenary speakers sharing powerful messages related to the Synergize 2024 theme of “The Unhindered Gospel” — a reference to the last verse of the book of Acts which says the Gospel was shared “with all boldness and without hindrance!” Five major sessions will challenge attendees to be unhindered in their mind, management, marriage, missions and ministry.
“Why would we withhold the cure, when people around us are ill?” asked Dr. Carla Sunberg, General Superintendent of the Church of the Nazarene. “Let us unite to bring the healing power of Jesus to every nation. Synergize has been the place where I have found brothers and sisters from across many different churches and denominations who are ready to link arms.”
The conference will offer 18 engaging breakout sessions led by distinguished faith experts addressing best practices related to modern evangelism, prayer, missions, technology in ministry and leadership development.
Synergize 2024 will highlight remaining priorities for FINISH: 2030, GCN’s strategic mandate to mobilize 1 million new ministers to help fulfill the Great Commission by the 2,000th anniversary of the founding of the Church.
"I have spoken at every Synergize Conference since 2010,” said Dr. Timothy Hill, General Overseer of the Church of God, Cleveland, TN. “Dr. Davis and I have traveled the world together focused on synergizing the Body of Christ. I believe Synergize 2024 attendees will witness firsthand a faith-filled focus on FINISH: 2030.”
Conference speakers include:
· Dr. James O. Davis, founder and president of the Global Church Network, who many consider to be the leading Christian networker of our time;
· Dr. James Merritt, former president of the Southern Baptist Convention, founder and senior pastor of Cross Pointe Church in Duluth, Georgia and host of “Touching Lives;”
· Gustavo A. Crocker, elected 41st general superintendent of the Church of the Nazarene in June 2013;
· Sam Rodriguez, Jr., evangelical Christian leader and founder of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference;
· Matt Potter, founder of Pray.com, the worlds #1 app for daily prayer and Christian based media content;
· Scott Evans, founder and CEO of Outreach;
· Bobby Schuller, senior pastor at Shepherd’s Grove Church in Irvine, California;
· George Foreman, American former professional boxer, entrepreneur, minister and author;
· Kathy Branzell, president of the National Day of Prayer (NDP) Task Force;
· Tommy Barnett, founding co-pastor of Dream City Church in Phoenix, Arizona and Dream Centers Worldwide, chancellor of Southeastern University; founder of the Dream Center, the home missions project of the southern California district of the Assembly of God;
· Tim Coalter, presiding Bishop of the global Church of God of Prophecy;
· Rev. Doug Clay, general superintendent of the Assemblies of God USA in Springfield Missouri;
· Doug Beacham, general superintendent of the International Pentecostal Holiness Church (IPHC);
· Leonard Sweet, E. Stanley Jones Professor of Evangelism at Drew University in Madison, N.J.;
· Dr. Timothy Hill, general overseer of the Church of God, Cleveland, TN;
· Dr. Carla Sunberg, elected 43rd general superintendent of the Church of the Nazarene in June 2017;
· Dr. Kenneth Ulmer, senior pastor-teacher of Faithful Central Bible Church in Inglewood, California.
“As Christians, we’re called to reach every tongue, every tribe, every person and every nation,” added Dr. Davis. “It’s not something that any one person, church, denomination or ministry organization can do alone. Only by working together as the body of Christ will we finish the race set before us. Synergize 2024 is about understanding where the Church is going globally, how it impacts each of us locally and removing all hindrances to sharing the Gospel globally.”
All plenary sessions, networking meetings, special meal functions and fellowship opportunities for Synergize 2024 will be held at the Signia by Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek in its new Waterside Ballroom.
A full event schedule and registration information for Synergize 2024 is available at https://synergize.tv/.
Editor’s Note: Media are welcome to cover this unique and impactful event. Please contact Lauren Briggs for on-site credentialing (lauren@alarryross.com) or to obtain an access code for the media livestream.
About Global Church Network
Established in 2001, Global Church Network is a growing coalition of more than 2,600 Christian ministries and denominations synergizing their efforts together to build the premier community of pastors worldwide and has helped plant five million new churches for a billion soul harvest. The Global Church Network now consists of more than 700,000 churches and has become the largest pastors network in the world. For more information, visit gcnw.tv.
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Media Contact:
Lauren Briggs, A. Larry Ross Communications
972-267-1111
Thousands Encouraged to Lead in Fulfilling the Great Commission at Synergize 2020
Global Church Network Conference Ends by Challenging Thousands of Participants with FINISH 2030
ORLANDO, Fla., Jan. 31, 2020 – Global Church Network (GCN) ended its biennial international Synergize Conference today by challenging the more than 850 international attendees and thousands more watching online from nearly 50 nations to play an active role in helping to complete the Great Commission by the year 2030, the 2,000th anniversary of the global Church.
A group of world-class speakers addressed various topics of leadership to encourage and motivate participants to take part in GCN’s FINISH 2030 initiative working toward this monumental goal. During the final session, GCN announced that it has surpassed its milestone of reaching $2 million for phase one of FINISH 2030.
At the Global Church Leadership Meeting (annual meeting of Global Church Network) and the Synergize 2020 Pastors & Leaders Conference, the Global Church Network launched a powerful GCN App, celebrated the goal of 5 million new churches for a billion soul harvest being accomplished, raised more than $2,000,000 for Finish 2030 and pivoted toward the completion of the Great Commission by the 2000th birthday of the Church.
Rev. Angela Donadio, ordained minister, bestselling author and founder of Voice of the Voiceless, noted that God defines a noteworthy leader by the posture of their heart. She shared five Kingdom-minded principles leaders must possess to have the heart posture of God, including knowing there are no shortcuts to integrity, learning to pivot when others quit and caring more about celebrating the Kingdom of God than cowering to criticism.
“In order to fulfill the Great Commission, we must follow and fight for and fulfill the call of God in our lives,” Donadio said. “The fear of the Lord must mean more to us than the praise or criticism of people.”
Recognizing the diversity of the church and the importance of working together to fulfill the Great Commission, Rev. Peter Mortlock, pastor of City Impact Church based in Auckland, New Zealand, with additional campuses worldwide, reminded participants that God is doing the same thing He’s been doing for over 2,000 years – building His church and saving souls.
“Our relationship with one another is very important,” said Mortlock. “We have to keep on loving each other. If the devil can divide us, we lose our ability to be significant and make a difference in the world.”
Dr. Glenn Burris Jr., president of The Foursquare Church and CoChair/Global Church Leadership, challenged attendees to be a liberator for the Gospel by removing obstacles, taking risks, opening doors and getting out of the way when other leaders need to step in.
“You can’t declare liberty unless there is freedom from something,” Burris said. “The end result of effective ministry is that people are being set free – emotionally, spiritually or physically.”
Paul Daugherty, pastor of Victory Church in Tulsa Oklahoma, encouraged leaders of the next generation that they have what it takes to lead. “The master key is Christ in me to set me free from the lies of the enemy,” Daugherty said.
He went on to explain that this master key works through a leader’s sight, serving others and stepping into what God has called them to do.
Evangelist Tamyrn Klintworth, founder of In His Names Ministries, which has offices in South Africa, the United States and the United Kingdom, gave a powerful speech on baptism of the Holy Spirit and urged leaders to stop making everything about them.
“Stop worrying about saying the right thing. Stop focusing on yourselves and realize who you are filled with God Almighty. You have all you need to win your nation for God,” said Klintworth.
Bartholomew Orr, senior pastor of Brown Missionary Baptist Church in Southaven, Mississippi, challenged the Church to be bold and move with compassion instead of looking away from the problems in front of us. He reminded leaders that Jesus didn’t limit His plan or power, and neither should the church.
“Let’s be bold enough to think outside the box,” Orr said. “Let’s be bold, big and brave in our communication.”
Following Orr, Dr. Leonard Sweet, historian, author and professor at Drew University in Drew, New Jersey, explained that when it comes the doing the work God has called us to do, what empowers us and enables us is our relationship with God. Using examples from the Bible and current events, including the tragic passing of NBA Champion Kobe Bryant, Dr. Sweet established that our relationship with God is key to everything.
“What God wants more than anything else, what means the most and brings Him the most pleasure, is His relationship with us. Relationships are the most important thing in life,” said Dr. Sweet.
To conclude Synergize 2020, Dr. Kenneth Ulmer, senior pastor and teacher at Faithful Central Bible Church in Inglewood, California, spoke a powerful word from the heart about how believers must actively participate if they want to see what God is doing. Additionally, using rain as a metaphor for what God is about to do over the next decade, he provided encouragement to those who may feel discouraged in their efforts to sow seeds.
“Every miracle requires your participation,” said Ulmer. “God brought you here to Synergize 2020 to tell you that if you would just hold on you will begin reaping seeds. God’s about to take you from a waiting season to a rejoicing season. God is about to release the rain!”
For more information about Synergize 2020, visit synergize.tv, and Global Church Network, visit, gcnw.tv
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Media Contact:
Kristin Nill
knill@alarryross.com
972-267-1111
The Global Church Network's Synergize 2020 Pastors & Leaders Conference to Draw 850 International Church Leaders
Tenth Biennial Gathering Will Celebrate 1 Billion Souls Reached, Unveil Plan to Fulfill the Great Commission by 2030
WHAT: The biennial Synergize Pastors & Leaders Conference organized by The Global Church Network (GCN), formerly Billion Soul Network, will gather 850 influential international pastors and leaders, representing more than 100 denominations and 60 countries, to connect and mobilize for the fulfillment of the Great Commission. In addition to featuring inspiring speakers, Synergize 2020 will celebrate GCN achieving the unprecedented milestone of reaching its goal of 1 billion souls saved and 5 million churches planted since its inception in 2002.
Additionally, Synergize 2020 will lay the groundwork for FINISH 2030 (FINISH2030.com), GCN’s new objective to fulfill the Great Commission in the next decade 2030, which will be the 2,000th anniversary of the founding of the Church. This objective was first announced at the GCN-sponsored Wittenberg 2017 Congress in Castle Church, Wittenberg, Germany, where Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses and initiated the Protestant Reformation.
The foundational themes for this year’s conference are: Begin, Believe, Belong, Become and Build, inspired by Rev. Peter Mortlock, founder of City Impact Church in Auckland, New Zealand.
WHO: The objective to reach 1 billion souls saved and 5 million churches planted worldwide was originally established by Dr. Bill Bright, founder of Campus Crusade (now Cru), and Dr. James O. Davis, president of The Global Church Network. The two leaders co-founded The Synergize Conference (formerly Beyond All Limits) in 2002. Founded in 2001, GCN is an international organization established to mobilize and synergize the Body of Christ to fulfill the Great Commission. To achieve this end, GCN holds its biennial Synergize Conference and provides extensive online resources through the Global Church Learning Center (GCLC.tv) to equip pastors and church leaders from around the world for outreach in their surrounding communities.
Coming out of Synergize 2020, GCN will initiate an international FINISH 2030 thrust to launch a global hub in every nation, complete Bible translation for the remaining unreached people groups, and plant churches where there has never been a church before.
Speakers at this year’s event include:
Dr. James O. Davis, president of the Global Church Network and Cutting Edge International, is considered to be today’s leading Christian networker;
Dr. Kenneth Ulmer, senior pastor-teacher of Faithful Central Bible Church in Inglewood, California;
Dr. Timothy Hill, general overseer of the Church of God in Cleveland, Tennessee;
Dr. Leonard Sweet, vice president of Academic Affairs and dean of the Theological School and E. Stanley Jones Professor of Evangelism at Drew University in Madison, New Jersey.
Dr. David Sobrepeña, senior pastor of Word of Hope Christian Church and co-chair Asia/Church Planting Worldwide and FINISH 2030;
Dr. Elmer Towns, co-founder of Liberty University, where he serves as dean of the School of Religion;
Rev. Luke Barnett, pastor of the 25,000-member multi-campus Dream City Church in Phoenix, Arizona;
Dr. Doug Beacham, general superintendent of the International Pentecostal Holiness Church (IPHC) and former pastor of the Franklin Springs Pentecostal Holiness Church in Franklin Springs, Georgia;
Dr. James Merritt, former president of the Southern Baptist Convention, founder and senior pastor of Cross Pointe Church in Duluth, Georgia and the host of “Touching Lives;”
Dr. Carla Sunberg, elected 43rd general superintendent of the Church of the Nazarene in June 2017;
Rev. Peter Morlock, founder and senior pastor of New Zealand’s City Impact Church, which has grown from 20 people in 1982 to thousands of members at five campuses throughout New Zealand;
Dr. Glenn Burris, president of Foursquare Church, who provides spiritual and administrative oversight to more than 1,800 churches in the U.S. and more than 100,000 churches and meeting places in 140 countries; and
A full list of speakers can be found here.
WHERE:
Majestic Ballroom
DoubleTree by Hilton Orlando at SeaWorld
10100 International Dr.
Orlando, FL 32821
407-352-1100
WHEN: Tuesday, January 28
Opening Session: 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Wednesday, January 29
Session Two: “Begin,” 9 a.m. – 12p.m.
Session Three: “Believe,” 2 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Session Four: “Belong,” 7 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Thursday, January 30
Session Five: “Become,” 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Session Six: “Build,” 2 p.m. – 5 p.m.
DETAILS: Media are welcome to cover the sold-out event. Those unable to participate in-person can view the conference via a livestream, using a special media code:
URL: https://bit.ly/37cCYND, PW: MEDIA
For questions about the event, livestream information or to arrange an interview, please contact Kristin Nill at knill@alarryross.com or 248-231-1766.
Global Church Network Challenges Church Leaders to Finish Great Commission, Honors Pastor Tommy Barnett
FINISH 2030 Co-Chair Recognized for His Passion for Bringing People to Christ
ORLANDO, January 30, 2020 – It was an extraordinary second day at the Global Church Network’s (GCN) Synergize Conference with more than 850 international attendees representing more than 100 denominations and 60 countries helping to raise $1.8 million of $2 million needed to complete phase one of FINISH 2030, an initiative aimed at finishing the Great Commission on the 2000th anniversary of the founding of the global Church.
James O. Davis (left) challenges the crowd to participate in FINISH 2030 as Tommy Barnett (right) and other
FINISH 2030 specifically seeks to find the remaining unreached people groups around the world, translate the Bible into every language, plant churches within walking distance of all individuals, including more than 57 million people without a church living in 20,000 villages high in the Himalaya Mountains, and create disciples for Christ.
Tommy Barnett, pastor of Dream City Church and co-founder of The Dream Center, serves as honorary chairman of FINISH 2030 and was awarded GCN’s Global Statesman Award for the work he has done to expand the Kingdom.
“Tommy Barnett has inspired us. He is a visionary pacesetter who challenges people to believe more and stay on the path. He knows how to multiply himself and dream big,” said James O. Davis, president of Global Church Network. “He is truly a statesman, and we are grateful for him and his life.”
In addition to launching FINISH 2030, the hundreds of Synergize attendees and thousands more watching via live stream were inspired by a vast group of speakers that tackled three themes: Begin, Believe and Belong.
Speaker Highlights Included:
Dr. Douglas Beacham of International Pentecostal Holiness Church kicked off the day reminding attendees “Jesus didn’t call us to be relevant…we go into crowded cities, abandoned towns, translate the Bible; we patiently endure so we can do those things;”
Rev. Lana Vasquez of Life Impact International encouraged pastors to “look up and lookout…we must see the harvest with urgency;”
Dr. David Sobrepeña of Word of Hope Christian Church reminded leaders in the room and watching online that “without the Holy Spirit we are nothing” and encouraged them to keep eternity in mind;
Dr. James Merritt of Cross Pointe Church spoke about how we as people “cannot be the person we want to be without the power of God;”
Rev. Ana Ruth Diaz, principal pastor of the Church of God Oasis of Love in Honduras, challenged believers, saying, “your faith needs to be activated”…”your faith and my faith are necessary to obtain what God wants us to do.”
Rev. Tony Yeo of Covenant Evangelical Free Church discussed the crisis facing the church and encouraged pastors to look at what type of church they are building while providing solutions;
Dr. Randall Bach of Open Bible Churches reminded pastors and leaders that they “need to be intentional stage setters for Jesus and be faithful anticipation builders;”
Dr. Carla Sunberg with the Church of Nazarene spoke about the importance of ministering to children, saying, “It is our responsibility to protect and care for children...we must be intentional in reaching the next generation;”
Rev. Luke Barnett of Dream City Church shared his personal story of receiving a God-sized vision, after climbing a mountain for 40 Days like his father, Tommy Barnett used to do, in hopes of encouraging those who need a fresh vision from God;
Rev. Doug Clay, the General Superintendent of Assemblies of God, talked about establishing a cause and inspired those listening by reminding them that, “Jesus wants you to see the size of the opportunity and remember how big God actually is…He is big enough to exceed all our small expectations;” and
Dr. Timothy Hill the General Overseer of the Church of God in Cleveland, Tennessee, concluded the evening with a powerful message about being in the will of God, living one’s purpose and not giving up.
Synergize 2020 concludes Thursday with sessions from Rev. Angela Donadio, Rev. Peter Mortlock, Dr. Glenn Burris, Rev. Paul Daugherty, Dr. Ben Lerner, Dr. Bartholomew Orr, Dr. Leonard Sweet, Dr. Kenneth Ulmer and Rev. Tamryn Klintworth. Those unable to attend the conference can watch it online by visiting synergize.tv.
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EDITOR’S NOTE: For questions about the conference, livestream information or to arrange an interview, please contact Kristin Nill at knill@alarryross.com or 972-261-1111.
Global Church Network Celebrates An Historic Milestone at Synergize 2020 Opening Session
Night of Celebration Encourages the Church to Finish the Fight
Orlando, Fla., Jan 29, 2020 – With 850 leaders gathered and thousands watching online, Synergize 2020 got underway with a celebration of The Global Church Network (GCN) achieving its goal of reaching 1 billion souls for Christ and planting 5 million churches in an effort to fulfill the Great Commission.
“This mission was started nearly 20 years ago by Dr. Bill Bright and myself, at First Baptist Church, in Orlando, at the Beyond All Limits Conference. We cast vision to more than 5,000 pastors and leaders from every state in the United States, every province in Canada and 20 nations. The Billion Soul goal was a huge goal but on November 7, 2019 we reached it,” said James O. Davis, president of Global Church Network. “We got this job done because we all came together to reach it. It wasn’t about who got credit, it was about adopting God’s goal to save lives. We all have a role in God’s goal and a part in God’s heart.”
In addition to celebrating this success, Davis along with Dr. David Mohan, Co-Chair/India for the Global Church network, spoke about the next chapter, FINISH 2030. This global initiative seeks to finish the Great Commission by the 2,000th anniversary of the founding of the Church. Additionally, by the year 2030, GCN also aims to launch a global hub in every nation, complete Bible translation for the remaining unreached people groups, and plant churches where there has never been a church before.
“God is calling the church to enlarge itself, prepare for the greatest harvest in the world and finish the assignment,” said Davis. “There are more than two billion people that have never heard that Jesus saves, we must break down every barrier so they can hear the truth. We must share the harvest.”
For more information, visit Synergize.tv.
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EDITOR’S NOTE: For questions about the conference, livestream information or to arrange an interview, please contact Kristin Nill at knill@alarryross.com or 248-231-1766.
Global Church Network Leadership Meeting Brings Together Kingdom-Minded Individuals to Strategize for Finish 2030
Gathering of International Pastors and Leaders Kicks Off Synergize 2020 Conference
ORLANDO, January 28, 2020 – More than 100 Global Church Network (GCN) international core leaders assembled over the past two days in Orlando, Florida, for its annual Global Leadership Meeting to strategize God’s work in fulfilling the Great Commission worldwide.
The leadership meeting occurred prior to the start of Synergize 2020, the 10th biennial conference of GCN that will take place January 28-30, 2020, and be livestreamed and attended by more than 850 international church leaders representing more than 100 denominations and 60 countries – from Cape Town to Kathmandu.
GCN, formerly known as Billion Soul Network, was co-founded in 2001 by current GCN President James O. Davis and Dr. Bill Bright, founder of Campus Crusade (now Cru), with a mission to plant 5 million new churches around the world with the goal of saving 1 billion souls.
“Since then, we have remained faithful to our vision and last November 7, surpassed our initial goal,” Davis said. “Now, as we enter a new decade, we are racing to the finish line, and God is continuing to grow the network. What started as two individuals representing two denominations has expanded to include more than 660,000 churches worldwide representing over 2,600 denominations.
“But there is still much to be done, as there are more than 3,000 unreached people groups who have never heard the Gospel,” Davis added, emphasizing that can only be accomplished by continuing to work together. “Synergize means to add compounding value by affirming others, rather than seeking credit for oneself.”
During the leadership meeting, Davis recognized and honored four individuals who have modeled exemplary collaborative leadership. These included presentations of two annual Synergize Awards given to Dr. David Mohan, co-founder of New Life Assembly in Chennai, India, which averages more than 50,000 weekly attendance and whom Davis described as the “spiritual father of India,” and Dr. David Sobrepeña, senior pastor of Word of Hope Christian Church in Manilla, The Philippines, which averages 61,000 in attendance each weekend.
Rev. Edmund Chan, founder of the Global Alliance of Disciple-Making Churches received the Global Church Teacher Award, for being “an extraordinary leader, multiplier and disciple-maker.” The Global Church Ambassador Award was given to Dr. Glenn Burris, president of Foursquare Church, in recognition for his tireless efforts in representing the Church around the world.
As GCN looks to reaching its next goal through the initiative FINISH 2030, leaders gave special emphasis to focusing on two of the hardest places in the world to reach with the Gospel. These included more than 57 million people without a church living in 20,000 villages high in the Himalaya Mountains spanning 1,500 miles through the “Give Me This Mountain’ initiative.
“We want to begin with the highest villages,” Davis told three Nepalese church-panting pastors attending the conference. “If we start there, everything else is downhill.”
Rev. Lazarus Yeghnazar, a refugee Iranian pastor who is broadcasting the gospel into Iran and the Iranian global diaspora, gave an update on the religious landscape in that nation that has resulted in “an unprecedented hunger for the Gospel. As a result, the fastest growing church in the world is in Iran, as mosques are empty but churches are developing.”
The progress shared during the Global Leadership Meeting will carry over to Synergize 2020 which began Jan. 28. The conference allows pastors and influential leaders the opportunity to mobilize for the fulfillment of the Great Commission. Additionally, the groundwork for FINISH 2030 will begin at Synergize 2020. Speakers at this year’s event include James O. Davis, Kenneth Ulmer, Paul Daugherty and Luke Barnett. A full list of speakers, the conference schedule and livestream information can be found at synergize.tv.
About Global Church Network
As a part of the international Body of Christ representing different church organizations around the world, the Global Church Network (GCN) recognizes its role and responsibility in fulfilling the Great Commission, which leadership prays and aims to accomplish by the 2,000th anniversary of the Church in 2030.
Priorities include finding the remaining unreached people groups around the world and engaging them through denominational and organizational platforms for the purposes of cultural understanding, missional strategies, Bible translation, evangelism, church planting and discipleship, and challenging national churches to translate the Bible into every remaining language and place a missionary presence in the unreached communities.
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EDITOR’S NOTE: For questions about the conference, livestream information or to arrange an interview, please contact Kristin Nill at knill@alarryross.com or 248-231-1766.