3.8 - worldwide church

• the church in the world

  christianity is the world's largest religion

  every country in the world has at least a few christians
• the church and reconciliation

  bringing people in conflict together because:

  • forgiveness of sins by jesus' death has allowed reconciliation between god and humans
  • jesus said that if people don't forgive those who have sinned against them, god won't forgive their sins
  • st paul said that christians should try to live in peace with everyone
  • christianity is based on concept of forgiveness
• problems faced by the persecuted church

  • imprisonment - north korea
  • illegal - somalia
  • pay punitive tax - iraq
  • totured
  • executed
  • forced to convert
  • demolished churches
  • abduction
  • enemy of state

  have to worship secretly
• problems the world faces

  • poverty - give resources, volunteering, intercessionary prayer
  • climate change - recycle, litter-picking, charities
  • diseases - church as vaccination centre, online sermons
  • war - intercessionary prayers, welcome refugees
  • abuse of power - protests, boycotts
  • discrimination - protests, events
• christian aid

  • campaigns to cancel debt owned by world's poorest countries
  • educates people on the need and benefit of helping developing countries
  • promotes fairtrade to ensure better prices, improved working conditions, local sustainability and fair terms of trade
  • helps in times of natural disasters and provides aid to refugees by sending water, food, antibiotics and shelters