Saturday, April 13, 2013

20 Schemes

20 Schemes

Gospel Churches for Scotland's Poorest

What is 20 Schemes?

20 Schemes is a sending network that seeks out missionaries and church planters willing to do the Lord's work in the ghettos or schemes as they are called in Scotland through Bible clubs, planting churches, and urban-lower income housing districts.

Why Scotland?

What do you think of when you hear the phrase "unreached people group-primitive tribes of people living in remote depths of the jungle, or perhaps some nomads in the far reaches of the world? 20 Schemes was founded with the sole purpose of preaching the Gospel to the unreached people who number in the millions, who live in modern housing, and who speak English living in Scotland. These people live in or near urban areas and are plagued by demoralizing poverty, unemployment, crime, explicit use of drugs and alcohol, and prostitution. Scotland which is historically known for its abundance of evangelical Gospel centered preachers has now fallen into ruin and depravity from Gods Holy Word. 20 Schemes believes that they must lead out with the saving message of forgiveness of sins through Jesus Christ as the answer to the staggering need among those living in the schemes. People do not change people, only the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ can change people.

20 Schemes was launched in the fall of 2012 with the purpose of planting and revitalizing Bible based, Jesus preaching, evangelical churches within twenty housing schemes over the next ten years. Their 5 points to doing so are as follows:

1. Identify 20 Schemes as priority areas
- They currently have seven planting opportunities within the first few months of existence, and five of them already have buildings/facilities for holding services.

2. Identify, where possible, church revitalization partners in those schemes
-They recognize that the work is hard, often discouraging, and sometimes even dangerous.

3. Recruit church planters, female outreach workers, interns, and ministry apprentices
-They realize the need for help and that it is urgent when fighting against Satan and the powers of the dark principalities he controls.

4. Develop church partners to support and resource our work in the shcemes
-They are called to faithfully proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ and they need support to achieve that purpose.

5. Raise up and invest in indigenous leaders
-Train up leaders amongst the schemes so that they may better relate to their impoverished kin.

I personally invite you to partner with and pray for my friends the Jackson family, specifically Jeff who is the father and husband, and the missionary being sent out by his church in Bardstown, Kentucky. Jeff has passion and zeal that I have only encountered in a few men to proclaim the Gospel akin to what Jim Elliot had when he gave his life up for the Gospel. I firmly believe in Jeff's calling and ministry and I urge you to pray for him and his family as they transition from living in the United States to moving to a scheme in Scotland and planting a church amongst the lost. If you would like to know more about Jeff and the entire Jackson family you can reach him here at jeff20schemes@gmail.com or jeffzanne1@gmail.com or at their blog at http://jackson4scotland.blogspot.com. For more information about 20 Schemes you can go to their website here or click on the link on the left hand side of my blog. www.20schemes.com

God bless,
James


 

1 comment:

  1. James,

    Thank you for your faithful work and ministry dear brother. And thank you for helping us spread the word about the wonderful opportunities God is opening to us among Scotland's poor.
    Many blessings,
    Jeff Jackson

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