Billion Soul Brings Harvest Initiative to Chicago

The global thrust of soul-winning opens another all-day summit with pastors, educators and evangelists recognizing that the commission to reach the world is a collective effort.

By Lillian Kwon, Christian Post Reporter Tuesday, June 20, 2006

The global thrust of soul-winning opens another all-day summit Tuesday in Chicago with pastors, educators and evangelists recognizing that the commission to reach the world is a collective effort.

The Chicago Area Billion Soul Summit is one of eight strategic regional communities in the nation where the Global Pastors Network and the dream to plant five million new churches and reach one billion souls will make themselves known to hundreds of church leaders.

One senior pastor, Larry Stockstill of Louisiana's Bethany World Prayer Center, reported 5,846 new church plants last year as a direct result of the efforts of his congregation, according to James O. Davis, president and CEO of Global Pastors Network.

The global campaign is about connecting the local church to lost communities.

As Global Pastors Network Chairman John C. Maxwell remarked, "This is the largest global thrust in Church history."

Also known as the Bill Bright Initiative, the vision had been cast by the late Bright, founder of Campus Crusade for Christ International, and picked up by the heads of major ministries and denominations. More than 80 denominations and ministries have synergized their efforts to do something that has never been done in history, as Bright had said.

It's a harvest too great for just one individual or leader. "It's a goal that's bigger than any of us," Maxwell had commented.

The expansive outreach vision was adopted in December 2004 by 65 world leaders following the passing of Bright in 2003.

The Chicago gathering will feature such speakers as Sunday Adelaja, Reinhard Bonnke, Jim Garlow, Doctor Ben Lerner, John Ed Mathison and others.

Along with pastors and church staff, entire church congregations will also have an extended invitation to receive the global vision that thousands of pastors have gained during a night session following the Chicago summit.

Regional summits following Chicago are gatherings in Dallas in October and Minneapolis in November.