This update is designed to help churches that have embraced the Acts 1:8 Challenge be aware of resources from the North American Mission Board (NAMB). Use them as your church plans and implements its strategy to be involved in reaching North America for Christ. Previous editions of the Samaria Update are available here.

Featured Resource:                                                                            

People Groups Web Site Announced

An exciting new resource has been announced to help churches in North America connect with ethnic groups in their community.

A joint venture of the North American Mission Board’s Center for Missional Research and the International Mission Board’s Global Research Department, www.peoplegroups.info represents a significant new way for churches to identify and respond to the diverse needs of ethnic groups and share the love of Jesus Christ.

The Changing Face of North America

Perhaps never before has the need for the church to reach out to ethnic groups been greater than today. From 1970 to 2005, the foreign born population in the United States rose from 4.7 percent to 12 percent. By 2050, it is expected that half of the U.S. population will be of a different race than white, non-Hispanic. For example, as recently as 2004 more than half of the residents of the City of Toronto are now foreign born.

“Globalization and trans-nationalism have afforded North America with a unique opportunity in history. Just as Judea was a crossroads for the known world during the time of Jesus, North America has become a modern crossroads of peoples from around the globe,” said Philip Connor, NAMB research missiologist.

“If this opportunity were to be seized by the church through the power of the Holy Spirit, it is unimaginable how people groups all over the world could be impacted by the gospel,” said Connor. “Just as Philip in Acts 8 was sent by the Lord to the Ethiopian eunuch, the Lord is calling us to last frontier peoples within North America so that He might be known among all the peoples of the earth.”

Start Using People Groups Today

While www.peoplegroups.info is currently a pilot version of the North American People Groups Database Project, it is a resource that already offers a great amount of data and functionalities for users across the nation. Public users can search census information on place of birth, language groups, and ancestry by city, county, or Zip Code. Registered users can access other functionalities such as an online discussion form, make requests to NAMB and IMB missionaries for information on language resources and access a toolbox for those wishing to begin research on people groups in their area.

Register at www.peoplegroups.info today to discover ethnic groups living in your community and to access all this exciting new missions resource has to offer your church’s ministry and outreach efforts. More information is available by contacting Philip Connor at pconnor@namb.net  or by calling 770-410-6391.

Each Samaria Update highlights key Acts 1:8 Challenge Kingdom-growing responses to assist your church to fulfill its Acts 1:8 Challenge commitment. Today's featured responses are Learn, Go and Tell .

"Learn" - Acts 1:8 Web Site Features Updated Articles

Articles about missions and news about the Acts 1:8 Challenge are added regularly to the Acts 1:8 Web site. Be sure to read Ed Stetzer's article, Is Your Church Missional? Stetzer, director of research and missiologist at NAMB, discusses what is means to be a church "on mission" for Christ in the 21st century. We are always looking for ways to improve the Acts 1;8 Web site, so send your comments and suggesgtions to info@ActsOne8.com.

"Go" - 2007 World Changers Registration Starts August 1

Registration for 2007 World Changers projects starts August 1. From August 1-January 31 churches may register their group with no deposit at the time of registration. A $50 per person deposit for the number of participants (students and adults) registered must be postmarked by February 1, 2007 to secure spots and location. More information is available at www.world-changers.net or by calling 800-462-8657.

"Tell" - ICE: A Proven Evangelism Strategy for Your Church

ICE (Intentional Community Evangelism) is a comprehensive evangelism strategy that has been proven to work in hundreds of churches. What's better is the ICE strategy is a free download for your church. ICE can help equip your church to reach its community whether it is in the urban, suburban or rural context. ICE resources and presentation materails are available at www.namb.net/ice . More information is available by calling 770-410-6315.

NAMB Hispanic-language Web Site Debuts

The North American Mission Board recently debuted a new Hispanic-language Web site. NAMB En Espanol includes many of the same features as the regular NAMB site, with additional resources for Hispanic churches and missions.

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