Sallies-State of the Nation, Global Christianity, Marijuana and Dr Michael Brown Speaking
Good Morning and Welcome to this week’s Gospel and Culture update, by Alan Vink
Monday 17th February 2020
Last week the Salvation Army published its 13th annual State of the Nation report measuring the progress of people’s wellbeing. Written by their social policy and parliamentary unit, the 83-page report covers five key areas: children, work and incomes, crime and punishment, social hazards, and housing. The report shows mixed results but acknowledges improvement in increased welfare spending, decline in offending and imprisonment, and an increase in the number of social houses built. Areas for sustained action include youth suicide, household poverty, addictions, and personal debt.
Here Interest.co.nz do a short analysis on the social housing issue.
We know many churches and Christian faith based organisations are working in the housing1 space in NZ and that needs to be celebrated. But I wonder if we could do more? The Church in NZ owns Billions of dollars of real estate. Our Government also wants to solve the problem of homelessness and sub-standard housing and has a lot of resource allocated to this. How could churches and Government do more? Could there be some Joint Ventures for example?
1 For two of the larger organisations in NZ see Vision West and Habitat for Humanity.
Global Christianity
The World Christian Database provides comprehensive statistical information on world religions, Christian denominations, and people groups.
Extensive data is available on over 9,000 Christian denominations, 13,000 ethnolinguistic peoples, as well as data on 5,000 cities, 3,000 provinces and 234 countries.
By mid-2020 the world population will be 7.8 billion of which 56% will be urban dwellers up from 46% in 2000. It is expected that by 2050 the world’s population will be 9.7 billion of which 68% will live in urban cities.
By mid-2020 total Christians will be 2.5 billion or 32% of the world’s population. Unevangelised peoples will make up 2.2billion or 28%.
There is still much to be done especially in the Cities of the world.
Marijuana Briefing This Week
This week former New York Times Reporter, Alex Berenson and Bob McCroskrie (Family First) are travelling around NZ doing an important briefing on this subject at a venue near you.
Dr Michael Brown in NZ - Cultural Commentator
Michael is a Jewish believer in Jesus, teacher, evangelist and cultural commentator. He’s the author of over 35 books and host of a daily radio show across the United States where he’s known as your voice of moral, cultural and spiritual revolution. He also holds a Ph.D in Near Eastern Languages and Literature from New York University. Watch video He will be speaking at a mini-conference on Tuesday 25th February in Auckland. All details and registration here.
There are NO copyright restrictions on this email update. Got some feedback about this Update, or anything in the news? Would you like us to cover a story then drop me a note at alan.vink@leadershipworx.org.nz Alan is Executive Director of LeadershipWorx and blogs to pastors here.
Alan Vink is currently the Executive Director for LeadershipWorx. Prior to this role he has been the Executive Director of Willow Creek Association NZ (WillowNZ), a Baptist pastor (23 years), Bible College teacher, and church consultant.
