Evangelism Group Gives Boost to Global Multiplication

By Lillian Kwon, Christian Post Reporter Wednesday, December 06, 2006

Evangelism Explosion International announced Tuesday their new partnership with the Christian Community Foundation of South Florida to establish the D. James and Anne Kennedy Foundation for World Evangelism.

As a leap forward in the vision of D. James Kennedy, the new foundation will support the development of up to 12 international training centers for long-term leadership training and the equipping of every people group to witness to every person.

"If just 100 people are trained each year and return to their churches to assist 20 other churches in the implementation of EE training, 2,000 new churches will be implementing EE," explained Gerry Kumpf, Vice President for Ministry Advancement at Evangelism Explosion International, in a statement. "If each church equips 40 people, then 80,000 new people will be trained leaders and witnesses each year. That represents tremendous growth in God’s great army of lay people who can lead people to Christ."

Evangelism Explosion’s partnership with CCFSF serves to provide expertise in accepting cash and non-cash and Christian-giving guidance services to the Kennedy Foundation and its donors.

EE International was born in 1962 when Kennedy realized the vision of changing the world through multiplication – training witnesses to train witnesses – which would "explode" the growth patterns of churches, according to the ministry's Multiply publication.

After spreading overseas, Evangelism Explosion reportedly planted the Gospel in every country in the world – 211 nations – by 1996, and soon in every territory by 2000.

The international ministry then established a youth component along with other specific ministries included Prison EE, Kids' EE, and EE for seniors, intercultural groups and the deaf.

Today, Kennedy International Training Centers are underway with the first one under construction in Fiji. Other locations include Indonesia, Ukraine, India, Malaysia, Kenya, Finland/Germany, Mexico/Colombia/Brazil, Jordan, China, South Africa, and the United States.

The Kennedy Foundation will support top quality EE teachers, trainers and witnesses, establish an effective EE ministry in local churches, supply core EE materials in every principle language and win and disciple hundreds of thousands of people to Christ.

Each training center is estimated to cost $500,000 to construct. Donations are being accepted to support the foundation.