THIS PAST WEEKEND LARRY STOCKSTILL TOLD OUR METAIRIE CONGREGATION THAT AT LEAST 4.8 BILLION PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD DO NOT HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS, AND BECAUSE OF THAT THEY ARE MISSING OUT ON THE ABUNDANT AND ETERNAL LIFE HE OFFERS. Pastor Stockstill leads THE SURGE PROJECT, a missions initiative focused on planting churches around the world, particularly in unreached and anti-Christian nations of the world. Prior to assuming leadership of THE SURGE PROJECT, Pastor Larry was the Senior Pastor of Bethany World Prayer Center in Baton Rouge, a church that has helped start over 20,000 churches around the world.

Years ago I began to develop a friendship with Pastor Larry, as I attended Cell Church conferences at Bethany World Prayer Center. I’ve learned much from him over the years about reaching and discipling people through the Cell Church, and developing Christian leaders. One of the greatest things I’ve learned from him is that our world can be reached with the message and ministry of Jesus, if we are willing to focus our ministries and monies on starting churches in undeveloped or developing nations.

THINK FOR A MOMENT OF WHAT THE LORD IS DOING TO TOUCH AND TRANSFORM PEOPLE’S LIVES IN NATIONS AROUND THE WORLD. In African nations, 30,000/people a day are coming to faith in Jesus Christ through the efforts of Christian churches and ministries. Having been in several African countries and being connected with missionaries and ministers in a number of African countries, I can tell you that the hope for overcoming the problems of poverty, HIV-Aids, polluted water, joblessness, a lack of education and corruption is directly tied to the flourishing of Christianity in those nations.

In Latin America, 35,000/people a day are coming to faith in Jesus. Many of those new believers are rising up to become significant leaders in their communities and countries, and they are beginning to transform the cultures around them.

In China, 28,000/people a day are coming to faith in Jesus, even though the vast majority of Christians have to practice their faith underground in that Communist nation. Thousands of people a day are being reached for the Lord in India, the predominant Hindu nation in our world, and we’re even seeing Christianity make significant inroads into Buddhist and Muslim countries as well.

ACCORDING TO PASTOR LARRY, WE NEED 2 MILLION NEW CHRISTIAN CHURCHES RIGHT NOW JUST TO ASSIMILATE AND BEGIN TO DISCIPLE THOSE THAT ARE BEING WON TO FAITH IN CHRIST IN NATIONS AROUND THE WORLD. That’s why Pastor Larry has left his Lead Pastor role to head up THE SURGE PROJECT, and that’s why the planting of churches in countries around the world is a part of Celebration’s TRANSFORMING OUR WORLD Christmas Offering. Our TRANSFORMING OUR WORLD Offering is also going to be utilized to: 1) support Orphanages in Haiti, India and South America; 2) support our Celebration Hope Center, so that people can still receive affordable yet excellent Christian counseling; 3) Needy people throughout our region, and 4) the planting of a new Celebration Campus on the Northshore in 2012. However, because we want to TRANSFORM OUR WORLD as well as our region, we want to send a large portion of our Christmas offering to help start churches in unreached and anti-Christian nations that will be used of God to spread the message and ministry of Jesus in those countries and cultures.

SO, HAVE YOU YET MADE YOUR CONTRIBUTION TO THE TRANSFORMING OUR WORLD CHRISTMAS OFFERING? If not (or if you want to make a greater contribution than you’ve already made), get that contribution in quickly (http://www.celebrationchurch.org/give-online). The Lord wants you, me and all of us to be a part of bringing the message and ministry of Jesus to people around the world (Acts 1:8). And when we partner with Him, individually as well as corporately as a church, we will be used of God to make a positive and eternal difference in the lives of lost, hurting and needy people all around the world.

Pastor Dennis