November 29, 2007 - In 1991 Dr. Charles Cook, Ambrose Professor of Global Studies and Mission, saw the need to create a greater global ownership of evangelism. So along with a friend, Joel Van Hoogen, he formed Church Partnership Evangelism (CPE) a catalytic ministry that combines North American and international Christians in local church evangelistic outreach in various corners of the world.

CPE seeks to elicit a greater sense of ownership of the mission enterprise worldwide while encouraging North American churches in their development of evangelistic and missions programs at the local church level. The result is a mutual challenge to both sending and receiving churches in personal evangelism, a broadening worldview, and personal application of the deeper life and missions.

From October 26 to November 2, Dr Cook joined seven North American Christians including Ambrose seminary student Paulo Ho from Guatemala on a CPE mission trip to the Sao Paulo region of Brazil. The team was lead by Pastor Dan McIver, an Ambrose Seminary alumnus and the pastor of the Southside Community Church in Calgary. The team partnered in evangelism with two Alliance churches; one in Sao José de Dos Campos and the other in Taubaté.

The trip had a profound impact on Paulo. Upon returning Paulo acknowledged in a Seminary chapel time that he had struggled with going because he hadn't been all that intentional about making disciples (Mathew 28:19-20) since becoming a Christian seven years earlier. Paulo was also concerned with the fact that he did not speak Portuguese and wondered how this whole experience would work out. Feeling particularly inadequate about his own spiritual preparedness he began to wonder how God would use him. "I felt unworthy of the gift of Jesus' salvation," he commented. However, after the first training session, "... and with a little fear and trepidation," he accompanied three Brazilians Christians on their first visit. "The Holy Spirit used our obedience," Paulo observed, "and convicted the father of the family we visited through His word and he received Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior." "With that victory," Paulo noted, "God took away all my fears and gave me faith." Paulo, along with the rest of the group was able to praise God for the sixty-six new believers. "The Holy Spirit was there in Sao José de Dos Campos and Taubaté because the local church was committed to care, pray, and share the good news with friends and family. "I am convinced," writes Paulo "that the Holy Spirit will use the amazing love of these two congregations to nurture the new believers."

Dan who recently became the Executive Director of CPE Canada was similarly moved: "I must confess to a tinge of 'spiritual covetousness' as I made my way home from Brazil. The passion in our Brazilian Christian brothers and sisters to invest their lives in the spread of the Gospel is absolutely remarkable. They truly are a people who care." That is what happens to all who go with the Gospel and let Jesus live His life through them."

To connect with Dr Charles Cook and Church Partnership Evangelism check the website at www.cpeonline.org.

Contact: Charles Cook Professor of Global Studies
Phone: 403.410.2000 ext. 7901
Email: CCook@ambrose.edu