In the Old Testament, the shofar was a ram’s horn that was used for two purposes: for calling people to worship and for calling them into battle. These two concepts are related. Christ-followers are called not only into communion with God but also into battle with the devil. The greatest battle of our time is the spiritual battle for the minds and hearts of people whom God loves. Students at Christian Institutions of higher learning need to be equipped for the fight of faith. Sadly, far too many evangelicals today are inadequately prepared to articulate and defend their own faith.

The Consultation theme: Rooted in the Word : Engaged in the World, seeks to capture the double purpose of the Cape Town Commitment: a) to provide a fresh articulation of our biblical faith in such a way as to show that all mission has its roots in the Bible (Part 1 “The Cape Town Confession of Faith”), and b) to reflect the range of issues, challenges and contexts with which the Third Lausanne Congress in Cape Town 2010 sought to engage (Part 2 “The Cape Town Call to Action”).

Fundraising gets a bad rap with some Christian leaders who are uncomfortable with the idea of asking for money. They cite George Muller and Hudson Taylor as examples of great men of God who told their needs to no one but God. Some modify that approach and are willing to share “full information” with donors, “but no solicitation.” Others go so far as to suggest that personal solicitation is an unbiblical method that Christian organizations have adopted from the world.