Annual Report OVERSEAS COUNCIL

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Beatrix Wilcox
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1 17 Annual Report OVERSEAS COUNCIL 1

3 Mission Overseas Council equips Christian leaders by partnering with vital seminaries worldwide to advance God s kingdom.

4 Executive Director Update What a year it has been for us as we ve served more than 100 partner seminaries in 70 countries! Through our partners, we are equipping leaders for churches in Vietnam Cuba China Ukraine North Africa Overseas Council has experienced God s hand on us, with increasing focus, amazing opportunities, surprising fruitfulness and one major organizational change. I m pleased to announce we have now become a ministry of United World Mission (UWM), a like-minded organization which Scott Cunningham EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR shares our heart for leadership development through worldwide partnerships. Thanks to the merger, we are anticipating synergy in our ministry through the UWM network, in addition to the operational efficiencies we have already seen. Still guided by our mission statement Overseas Council equips Christian leaders by partnering with vital seminaries worldwide to advance God s kingdom our team is rallying around this message! And as before, your support for our ministry will continue to be stewarded by OC. Overseas Council continues to have strong, fruitful ministries in many countries where few others even have access. 2

A few highlights: OC scholarships open doors for training for thousands of emerging Christian leaders. Without these scholarships, this training would be beyond their reach.

Nearly two dozen Cuban teachers are earning degrees in biblical counseling for marriage and families through an OC project and are beginning to have a deeper impact on their communities.

graduates. Thanks to the dedicated work of Dr.

5 A few highlights: OC scholarships open doors for training for thousands of emerging Christian leaders. Without these scholarships, this training would be beyond their reach. In 2017, one of our partner schools in North Africa began its first-ever bachelor s level program for training Christian leaders in their country. Nearly two dozen Cuban teachers are earning degrees in biblical counseling for marriage and families through an OC project and are beginning to have a deeper impact on their communities. Through our Institute for Excellence, seminary leaders are gaining valuable assessment tools that enable them to critically evaluate the results of their programs, as seen in the ministries of their graduates. Thanks to the dedicated work of Dr. Ashish Chrispal, who had served as our Regional Director for Asia 12 years before his retirement in 2017, Hanoi Bible College in Vietnam will be celebrating their first cohort of bachelor s degree graduates this summer. This Bible college, now just five years old, is one of our newest seminary Partners. Ashish spent a considerable amount of time there, focusing on board development and faculty training. These ministry opportunities are only possible through God s gracious hand and because of your financial investment and faithful prayers. Thank you for your critical role in support of advancing God s kingdom through equipping leaders for His Church. 3

More leaders receiving theology degrees within Ukraine can support the 44 million people in this country with these religious affiliations: Ukraine Student Stories Evangelical Christians 2.

6 More leaders receiving theology degrees within Ukraine can support the 44 million people in this country with these religious affiliations: Ukraine Student Stories Evangelical Christians 2.7% Evangelical Annual 3.1% Growth Rate People Groups 33.3% Unreached Population in the 461k Unreached Groups Source: Pew Research Center and Joshua Project Ukraine Doctoral Program Celebrates Its First Graduate, Dr. Roman Soloviy The lack of opportunity to earn an accredited theological degree from inside Ukraine has been a major problem for Christian leaders. Because of your support, Ukraine s Dr. Roman Soloviy is the first graduate to earn his Doctorate of Theology within the borders of the country! Several years ago, Overseas Council began working with local Ukrainian church leaders and the government to allow for students to receive an official degree, recognized by the government and endorsed by evangelicals. Dr. Roman Soloviy teaching a class. OC s Regional Director for Euro-Asia, Taras Dyatlik, leads this project and has helped organize two cohorts of students now studying for their theology degrees. His goal was to empower the Ukrainian Church by providing a path for faculty members of evangelical Ukrainian seminaries to gain higher education credentials in their own country. It has been a success and now creates a capacity to train future Christian leaders in Ukraine that will impact thousands. 4

7 He Heals the Brokenhearted and Binds Up Their Wounds The tragic loss of a parent can greatly impact the path that a child chooses for their life. This was the case for Megono Zhimomi whose father was murdered when she was only five years of age. The Lord has proven that He can turn tragedy into good in Megono s life. I held onto horrendous anger and hatred towards those who had killed my father, remembers Megono. As a young adult, I was encouraged by a mentor to lean into God, rather than be absorbed with revenge. After 15 years of holding onto revenge and hatred, I made a life-changing decision to give my heart to the Lord and became a new person in Jesus Christ. Timor-Leste Australia Timor-Leste population 1.3 million Median age 17.5 years Population living in rural areas 68% Source: Worldometers As Megono began growing in her relationship with Jesus, she applied to Shalom Bible Seminary, an OC partner seminary in India. Since graduating in 2013, she has been impacting others as a teacher and chaplain. Currently, Megono serves as a missionary in Timor-Leste (a small country south of Indonesia) and has several responsibilities, including teaching English to adults and children, serving as the school secretary, singing on a local radio station, directing the community and children s choirs, and preaching for their women s services. Her students are predominantly non-christian. Jesus has given me a remarkable stage to share with others about the hope that Jesus brings, Megono shares. My prayer is that God will use my life to reach these precious souls living in darkness. May we all faithfully do our part to multiply God s kingdom. Megono Zhimomi works with many students in Timor-Leste. 5

Partner School Spotlight Kampala Evangelical School of Theology The movement of the Holy Spirit in Uganda has led to an explosion in the growth of indigenous believers!

8 Partner School Spotlight Kampala Evangelical School of Theology The movement of the Holy Spirit in Uganda has led to an explosion in the growth of indigenous believers! Incredibly, from those who are new to faith, many are being called to teach the Word of God. Dr. Ramesh Richard, of Ramesh Richard Evangelism and Church Health, estimates that 50,000 people accept Christ and are baptized every day in the Majority World, thereby creating a need for at least 1,000 new pastors daily shepherding 50 new converts. 6

9 However, according to the Pew Research Center, only 5% of the estimated 2.2 million pastoral leaders who are functioning as shepherds to these new converts have any training or preparation for pastoral ministry. Without any formal training, these new teachers are searching for education, nurturing and quality ministry training from a seminary. Additionally, there are a large number of rural pastors who lack the minimum, general education or academic qualifications (high school certificate) necessary to access pastoral training through traditional seminary programs. Responsively, Kampala Evangelical School of Theology (KEST), our partner school in Uganda, exists to meet these needs by training and equipping men and women for ministry in the Ugandan church and society. With your prayerful support, KEST is confronting these new challenges head on: Kampala, Uganda The KEST Curriculum has evolved in order to respond to the limitations of traditional seminary programs. KEST has made quality ministry training more accessible to reach more leaders who live in the rural part of the country. KEST has created Community Engagement Centers that will increase impact to the communities of Kampala and beyond. KEST is continuing development of the curriculum so that future Christian leaders better meet the needs of the Church in Uganda. Can you imagine what your support and prayers are doing to strengthen more than 50,000 new believers each day? Coming alongside Christian leaders in Uganda through seminaries like KEST is having a tremendous impact for His Kingdom. 7

10 Strategic Projects Nicaragua Nicaragua Institute for Excellence Leaders who are trained in local seminaries are more effective in developing ministries which bring the Gospel to their communities. These seminaries are shaping the next generation of church leaders! Over the last two years our Institute for Excellence has trained seminary leaders to assess how well they are equipping Christian leaders. OC has trained some 300 seminary leaders from more than 100 partner seminaries around the globe. Regional Directors continue to work alongside seminary leadership teams to assess and improve the training. Overseas Council has launched a new ministry initiative in Nicaragua to form a responsive and sustainable training program for 200 churches in the region of Esteli. We are partnering with First Presbyterian Church of Gainesville (Florida) to come alongside churches in Esteli to help shape and focus the training of nationals who have been called to serve. FIET, our partner seminary in Argentina, with their experience in church-based pastoral training, is supporting this effort. 8

11 Ukraine Ukraine The Ukrainian Doctoral Project is an unprecedented, critical and highly impactful faculty development program for evangelical seminaries in Ukraine. Leaders complete their studies better equipped to train others how to share Christ with the people of this war-torn land. Currently, we have 24 faculty members of Ukrainian evangelical seminaries studying in this program thanks to Overseas Council scholarships. In addition, nine faculty members study with state scholarships provided by the Minister of Education and Science. Algeria Algeria With an ever-growing number of people leaving Islam for Christ, the Church in Algeria recognizes that there is an urgent need for discipling new believers and equipping leaders and pastors for new congregations. In 2017, Overseas Council s partnership with the Christian Institute of Algeria (ICA) led to ICA offering its first class at the bachelor s level. This is the first time in the history of the Algerian Church that Algerians own and operate a Christian leadership degree-level program. In our ongoing partnership with ICA, we will assist with curriculum development, critical support of student scholarships, building up the library and providing coaching and training for the ICA leaders. 9

Finances Global Impact Allocation of Resources to the Kingdom $3,457,599 Student Scholarships & Faculty Development $804,970 (23%) Global Transformative Projects $940,040 (27%) Seminary Capacity

12 Finances Global Impact Allocation of Resources to the Kingdom $3,457,599 Student Scholarships & Faculty Development $804,970 (23%) Global Transformative Projects $940,040 (27%) Seminary Capacity Growth $843,649 (24%) Supporting Activities $372,426 (11%) Institute for Excellence $496,514 (14%) Revenue Sources Grants/Foundations $1,009,510 (28%) Individuals $1,494,108 (41%) Churches $654,396 (18%) Charitable Trusts, Business, etc. $339,883 (9%) Other $129,581 (4%) 10

OC Served 125 Seminaries Worldwide Africa 32 South & Southeast Asia 20 China 23 Euro-Asia 18 Latin America & the Caribbean 19 Middle East & North Africa 13 $804,970 Awarded in Scholarships/Faculty

13 OC Served 125 Seminaries Worldwide Africa 32 South & Southeast Asia 20 China 23 Euro-Asia 18 Latin America & the Caribbean 19 Middle East & North Africa 13 $804,970 Awarded in Scholarships/Faculty Development $374,499 Invested in Key Strategic Projects Producing highly trained Church leaders through a cooperative doctoral program in Ukraine Increasing Cuba s capacity to train more church leaders through Masters program Assisting with the emergence of the first Algerian seminary 11

Greater Kingdom Impact Dr. Scott Cunningham EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, OVERSEAS COUNCIL In 2017, Overseas Council began a journey of selfdiscovery and refinement to reflect on our 43 years of ministry.

14 Greater Kingdom Impact Dr. Scott Cunningham EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, OVERSEAS COUNCIL In 2017, Overseas Council began a journey of selfdiscovery and refinement to reflect on our 43 years of ministry. Through this process we were both inspired and motivated about opportunities for greater Kingdom impact. Even with more than 100 seminary partners worldwide and more than 50,000 students actively engaged in learning Scripture, there are I believe this merger is a God-glorifying combination for the expansion of leadership development for the health of the global Church. We are accomplishing more together, by God s grace, than we ever could separately. We wouldn t be here today if it weren t for the amazing leadership that OC s Board Members have provided. For years, these men and women have tirelessly and faithfully led Overseas Council with grace. I can t express enough how much we have appreciated their humble spirits and servanthood. Dr. Scott Cunningham, Executive Director, Overseas Council many others outside of our current reach. We long to connect with and impact these communities that have yet to learn about God! We began asking: How can we expand our ministry to address the needs of the untrained and the unreached? Can we find like-minded organizations who share our passion for equipping Christian leaders around the world? Can we find another organization with a passion for living out the Great Commission on a global scale? Through God s grace and timing, our journey led us to United World Mission (UWM), an organization that exists to equip, train and establish churches and leaders. They share our deep, evangelical convictions and highly value equipping Christian leaders to 12

15 We believe that UWM and OC together make a great combination. Our goal is the same, and our ministry approaches are complementary. We are committed to sustaining the OC mission as a ministry of UWM, and we anticipate synergies that will lead to greater impact in formal and non-formal ministry training. Dr. John Bernard, President and CEO, United World Mission carry out ministry by partnering with members of the Global Church. For more than 70 years, UWM has served churches, donors and missionaries by helping them engage the world with trusted partners in strategic locations. Combining our efforts allows both organizations to: Have greater Kingdom impact Increase operational efficiencies Amplify synergies in our approach to the global community. As we continue growing together, four Overseas Council board members Norm Miller, Bill Blocker, Thomas Gabe and Todd Rankin will serve on the UWM board of directors. Together, Overseas Council and United World Mission will continue to strategically plant the seeds of spiritual formation and empower emerging Christian leaders in every community around the world. Dr. John Bernard There will be an effective and extensive partnership between Overseas Council and United World Mission for continuing and expanding the work currently done by Overseas Council. Dr. John Bernard, United World Mission s President and CEO, has a heart and mindset to advance leadership training. He sees the increased leverage and understands that the leadership training synergies between OC and UWM will expand exponentially. Norm Miller, past Chairman of Overseas Council & Chairman of Interstate Batteries PRESIDENT AND CEO, UNITED WORLD MISSION 13

Overseas Council 205 Regency Executive Park Dr Suite 430 Charlotte, NC 28217 USA Please

16 Overseas Council 205 Regency Executive Park Dr Suite 430 Charlotte, NC USA Please send donations to: Overseas Council PO Box Charlotte, NC USA overseas.org

YEAR IN REVIEW APRIL Breathing Life into Dry Bones

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