Ministries Without Borders
Ministries Without Borders (MWB) is an Evangelical neocharismatic Apostolic network of nearly 50 Christian churches, that forms part of the British New Church Movement.[1] It is led by Keri Jones, brother of the late Bryn Jones.[2]
History
Keri originally worked with his brother in Covenant Ministries,[3] which after Bryn's death devolved into five major components, of which MWB is one. According to the analysis of Andrew Walker, "a renowned and prominent commentator on neo-Pentecostalism in Britain,"[4] Keri and Bryn led the more conservative and radical group of the restorationist movement of the 70s and 80s, which Walker called R1.[5] This was to distinguish it from another similar group based in the South (led by, for example Gerald Coates) which had taken a different stance on a number of key issues.[6] MWB draws much from the legacy of Covenant Ministries, and the leadership of Arthur Wallis.
Today
The official description of MWB is:
Ministries Without Borders ... speaks of a people who are inwardly free and outwardly mobile to use their gifts, talents and abilities, to take the message of Hope, the Gospel of Good News, to a needy and dying world. Such people, from every age group, are aware that every mandate given by God can be achieved, and that there are no problems too difficult for His power of miracle.[7]
MWB recently planted churches in the UK cities of Salford,[8] Preston and Oldham;[9] there are 18 other churches in the UK, mainly in the North-West, the Midlands and Wales.[10] There are also three churches in the US and three in Canada; fifteen in Norway;[11] five in South Africa, and two each in the Philippines and India.[12]
In July 2006, Jones launched "Mission 193," in which members of the movement visited every nation of the world to pray and give copies of the Bible to representatives of that country.[13]
There is an annual Bible conference for its UK-based churches which has been in Stafford from 04 through to 07. They are similar in style to the Downs Bible Weeks run in the 1980s and feature ministry from a host of international speakers. [14]
See also
References
- ^ Harry Letson Catalysts of the Spirit: An Introduction to Pentecostal History (Bloomington: AuthorHouse, 2007) 110
- ^ A tribute to Bryn Jones [1]
- ^ Stanley M Burgess, Eduard M van der Maas (eds) New International Dictionary of Pentecostal and Charismatic Movements (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2002) 45
- ^ Steven J Hunt, “Review of Restoring the Kingdom: the Radical Christianity of the House Church Movement 4th Ed” (Guildford: Eagle, 1998) by Andrew Walker Pneuma 21 no 2 (Fall 1999) 339
- ^ Andrew Walker Restoring the Kingdom: the Radical Christianity of the House Church Movement 4th Ed (Guildford: Eagle, 1998)
- ^ Nigel Scotland Charismatics and the New Millennium 2nd Ed (Guildford: Eagle, 2000) 21-23
- ^ MWB
- ^ church planting in Salford
- ^ Oldham church plant [2]
- ^ Where we meet [3]
- ^ Norway [4]
- ^ Worldwide [5]
- ^ mission 193
- ^ Newfrontiers history of Bible weeks