CoMission Expands to Africa and Asia

After six years of teaching Christian ethics and morality to public-school educators in the former Soviet Union, CoMission is going global with new programs in Africa and East Asia.

Under the new name of CoMission International, the coalition of eight missions agencies is launching literacy training and English as a second language classes at the invitation of local missionaries. “Literacy is a tool to get people reading the Bible,” says Rex Johnson, a professor at Talbot School of Theology and a leader of CoMission International’s work in Africa. Mozambique, one of the new ministry areas, has a 75 percent illiteracy rate.

Evangelism and discipleship continue to be goals of the partnership, says Alan Nagel, director of global resources for Campus Crusade for Christ and chair of CoMission International’s leadership council. Language and literacy classes help build relationships and provide opportunities for Christian witness. “If that’s the open door, great—we’ll take it,” he says.

The coalition has relied on a volunteer corps of lay leaders, many of them second-career adults, to commit to one-year terms of service. Since its inception in 1992, CoMission has deployed more than 5,000 lay missionaries.

CoMission was founded as a five-year partnership between 85 Protestant organizations to teach Christian ethics in public schools in Russia and neighboring countries. During that time, CoMission held 136 weeklong convocations where trained lay leaders presented the Jesus film and an ethics curriculum to more than 44,000 educators in 116 cities.

Copyright © 1998 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Our Latest

The Black Women Missing from Our Pews

America’s most churched demographic is slipping from religious life. We must go after them.

The Still Small Voice in the Deer Stand

Since childhood, each hunting season out in God’s creation has healed wounds and deepened my faith.

Play Those Chocolate Sprinkles, Rend Collective!

The Irish band’s new album “FOLK!” proclaims joy after suffering.

News

Wall Street’s Most Famous Evangelical Sentenced in Unprecedented Fraud Case

Judge gives former billionaire Bill Hwang 18 years in prison for crimes that outweigh his “lifetime” of “charitable works.”

Public Theology Project

How a Dark Sense of Humor Can Save You from Cynicism

A bit of gallows humor can remind us that death does not have the final word.

News

Died: Rina Seixas, Iconic Surfer Pastor Who Faced Domestic Violence Charges

The Brazilian founder of Bola de Neve Church, which attracted celebrities and catalyzed 500 congregations on six continents, faced accusations from family members and a former colleague.

Review

The Quiet Faith Behind Little House on the Prairie

How a sincere but reserved Christianity influenced the life and literature of Laura Ingalls Wilder.

‘Bonhoeffer’ Bears Little Resemblance to Reality

The new biopic from Angel Studios twists the theologian’s life and thought to make a political point.

Apple PodcastsDown ArrowDown ArrowDown Arrowarrow_left_altLeft ArrowLeft ArrowRight ArrowRight ArrowRight Arrowarrow_up_altUp ArrowUp ArrowAvailable at Amazoncaret-downCloseCloseEmailEmailExpandExpandExternalExternalFacebookfacebook-squareGiftGiftGooglegoogleGoogle KeephamburgerInstagraminstagram-squareLinkLinklinkedin-squareListenListenListenChristianity TodayCT Creative Studio Logologo_orgMegaphoneMenuMenupausePinterestPlayPlayPocketPodcastRSSRSSSaveSaveSaveSearchSearchsearchSpotifyStitcherTelegramTable of ContentsTable of Contentstwitter-squareWhatsAppXYouTubeYouTube