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On September 18th, we shared stories and opportunities around this initiative. ✨ Catch up by watching the recording below:

Stories of Those Living Out the Families on Mission Lifestyle
🎥 Watch the recording
Passcode: Vh%g3xG%

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1 July 2025 marked the beginning of the very first Asian LE. 19 participants hail from 10 different countries across Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Australia. The cohort is meeting online in preparation for the residential intensive, which will be held in Sri Lanka from 21 September – 17 October in Sri. Lanka.

Pray for the participants and facilitators as they prepare their hearts for the intensive, including trusting God’s provision for all needed funds. Pray that God would do a work of transformation in people’s lives that leads to innovative change in their nations and ministries for the sake of the next generation.

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Children and Family Ministry academic leaders gathered in Pennsylvania, USA for a week of Academic EQUIP.  These 18 leaders represented a variety of ministries and academic institutions but they were united by a passion to see serious thinking about children and families included in ministry training programs globally.  During the four days together, the group explored GCF’s Brokenness to Wholeness Curriculum as a tool for multiplying academic courses and programs around the world.  They also worked to gather and identify needed gaps in resources.  Next step events will include representation and advocacy at the Association of Biblical Higher Education in February and the International Council on Theological Education in March.

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A draft of the Theological Framework for Families on Mission has been created.

We’re also forming a review team to help refine and finalize this document. If you’re interested in joining, please let us know.

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Global Child Protection Alliance next steps

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Global Child Protection Alliance next steps

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The Global Child Protection Alliance has continued to develop over the last few months with a few working groups focusing on different areas such as alliance structure, theology of child protection, communications and child protection mapping.

A draft theological statement is expected to be prepared by September and will be circulated for review. This document will form the foundation of the alliance's identity.

The Global Child Protection Alliance now has a website: https://childprotectionalliance.global You can read more about the alliance's development and sign up to receive updates using the type form on the website.

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The Families on Mission (FoM) initiative empowers households to embody Jesus’ teachings and become "cities on a hill" that transform communities. Recent conversations have lead us to look at 4 needed strategies to drive its growth:

1. Collaboration: Networks like GCF, Lausanne, and WEA unite for shared ownership and action.

2. Resources: Developing audience-specific, locally adapted tools, integrating platforms like YouVersion, and using AI.

3. Social Media: Launching a website, social media presence, and progressive web apps for global engagement.

4. Regional Influencers: Strengthening networks via training, WhatsApp groups, and bi-monthly gatherings.

Next steps:

Share 1-2 pictures with the GCF community sharing how you have implemented this in your family. Together with regional influencers, let’s inspire, encourage, and support one another as we multiply these efforts within our spheres of influence.

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Welcome to an idea hub for sharing ideas, inspiration and practical tools for families to be on mission together. Every family is on a mission;

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GCF alongside other partners has been involved in establishing global alliance/network focusing on child safeguarding. This alliance will act as a catalyst for research and knowledge exchange, practice improvement, resource

sharing and signposting between those organisations that are already active in this area. Jesus' view of children and the vulnerable has been and will continue to be central to the alliance development.

The group spearheading this alliance development have met several times online this year and will be meeting in person in March 2025 to collaborate further.

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The AI Academy 2024 was a five-week global program empowering leaders from 120+ countries to use AI for culturally relevant and biblically grounded ministry. Through training videos, Zoom calls, and practical exercises, participants learned prompt-writing, AI-driven visuals, and resource creation. (Watch the training videos HERE)

Key outcomes included:

Tools like Bible story visuals, generative art, chatbots, worship media, and children's resources.

Emphasis on creativity, Bible-handling integrity, and cultural relevance.

Leaders experienced a mindset shift, recognizing AI as a valuable tool for discipleship, outreach, and innovation, extending its impact beyond the academy to ongoing ministry projects. To read more details click here to see a full report.

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Welcome to the Max7 Ai Academy resource library. Here you will find all of the amazing resources of the Max7 AI Academy.

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🌍 GCF Online Gatherings!

We’re excited to relaunch a fresh series of online gatherings that spotlight key initiatives from across the GCF family.

✨ Catch up on the last couple of sessions:

July 24 – How Child Protection Contributes to God’s Mission to See Every Child Walking with Jesus
🎥 Watch the recording

Passcode: Gd*9BeNS

September 18 – Stories of Those Living Out the Families on Mission Lifestyle
🎥 Watch the recording
Passcode: Vh%g3xG%

🚨 Don’t miss our final gathering of the year on November 20th!

📌 Pro Tip: The registration link automatically adjusts the event time to your local timezone—no guesswork needed.

👉 Register

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You're Invited: GCF Monthly Prayer Gatherings

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You're Invited: GCF Monthly Prayer Gatherings

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Join the GCF family every third Thursday of the month for a meaningful time of prayer and seeking God’s guidance together—for the children of the world and for one another.

Come just as you are. Whether you want to listen, share, or simply submit a prayer request, everyone is welcome.

🕊️ Let’s grow together in faith and unity as we lift our hearts to God.

🗓️ Next dates in 2025 :
October 16 | November 20 | December 18

⏰ Time: 11 AM UTC (30–45 minutes)
🔗 Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/JZEAfPrRQHmRcwQ8_cTsDw#/registration

Note: The registration link automatically converts the meeting time to your local timezone!

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Welcome! You are invited to join a meeting: GCF monthly prayer. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the meeting.

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Welcome! You are invited to join a meeting: GCF monthly prayer. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the meeting.

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Global Child Protection Alliance Launch!

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Global Child Protection Alliance Launch!

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In March 2025, the first in person meeting of the GCPA steering group met in Orlando to plan the future steps of the Alliance.

Here is a description of what the GCPA is:

The Global Child Protection Alliance is a collaborative community of child-focused agencies committed to enabling the global church to take ownership of the Biblical mandate of child protection, so that children everywhere can be safe, flourish and contribute to their world.

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The AI Academy learning community continues in 2025 with our next zoom gathering on 20th March!

Join with the AI Academy team to hear about some of the latest AI developments, stories and creative ways to use AI. A wonderful part of the AI Academy is also learning how to harness the creativity the Lord has given you.

We welcome new people to join.

Register here for the call. You will receive the Zoom link by email. It will have 2 local times for you to join the call - YOU choose the local time that best suits you to attend: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEvceGtqz4qG9W2MJODRe7PPmCTlWHeM3CD

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🔥 Bring your ministry team to hear God’s call to us to use AI with His wisdom.
💡 Receive helpful tips to use AI well.
🌊 Take a deeper dive on using AI in education – an important topic to dig into as we encourage believers, and make disciples.

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REGISTRATION:
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If you were already Registered for the AI Academy in 2024, you do not need to register, you will receive the call times and the Zoom Link by email.

New Registrations - click on this link now to register and receive the Zoom meeting link and correct local times for you.

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NEW TO THE AI ACADEMY?
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The AI Academy was launched in October 2024 as a 5-week online learning academy with over 1300 people from 125 countries signed up. Over 70 training and example videos we shared as part of the learning. Participants generated over 300 new resources using AI.

It was decided to keep the AI Academy going as a learning community, with quarterly zoom calls, WhatsApp groups and sharing of new tools. Everything in the AI Academy is free to use and share to help ministries, churches and schools to benefit.

It is an entirely voluntary movement of leaders wanting to share their knowledge and learn from others.

1. Visit the AI Academy YouTube Channel for all the videos and AI tutorials: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8CCNSRGiAcHOlENpyEMnSw

2. Download the amazing AI Academy Manual here - https://ai-academy.max7.org/en/library/ai-academy/e3e0b2bd-b8c1-4413-9e26-92d29cde8b0d

3. To join the AI Academy Community via WhatsApp, use this link: https://chat.whatsapp.com/FInAULd3JMnI0gj4L98yfV

4. For more detailed information on the AI Academy, visit the GCF site: https://gcf.community/events/max7-ai-academy/

5. Watch the WELCOME VIDEO here from the start of the AI Academy (Oct 2024): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3F_9QiHMYUQ

We look forward to getting to know you!

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21 Children’s Ministry leaders from 10 Latin American countries gathered in Colombia to develop a strategic plan for the next four years.

The countries represented were: Paraguay, Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Guatemala, Venezuela, Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Colombia, and Brazil.

The delegates were encouraged by a recent study conducted by InCommon and began exploring how the results could be reported both collectively and at the national level once the final data is available.

📖 More details can be found here: AEL 12th General Assembly

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LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE SRI LANKA - APPLICATIONS OPEN 15 JAN 

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Next Leadership Experience is starting soon! 

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Next Leadership Experience is starting soon! 

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Who do you know that you believe should be part of this next cohert? Send them the link to register and see what LE is all about!

https://gcfleadership.org/

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Leadership Experience (LE) Latin America 2024

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Leadership Experience (LE) Latin America 2024

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The program successfully engaged 13 participants, 16 facilitators, 130 translated materials into Spanish/Portuguese and fostered Latin leadership growth.

Outcomes included deep community building, 13 incredible ministry projects, and 7 participants deepening contact with GCF through the Alongsiding mentorship.

Key challenges included fundraising, administrative burdens, and language barriers. Desired improvements: offering LE in Spanish/Portuguese in the next two years and connecting with alumni. Overall, the program achieved short-term goals, with lasting impact measured through participant testimonies, leadership growth, and ongoing community support. To see more details check out the video HERE.

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450 denominational and key leaders are participating the Disciple making Summit in Bogotá, March 25–28. 65 registered for the Children, Youth, and Family track.

44 (of the 65) met online on March 12th prior to the event to set expectations and begin building the community.

Awana, GCF and OneHope are working together to engage key Latin voices to the collaboration community around children. The objectives include identifying the most pressing needs, challenging denominational leaders to incorporate these needs into their national summits, and forming three actionable teams to develop solutions for the issues raised.

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The regions of the World Evangelical Alliance are coordinating a series of summits leading up to the main gathering in September/October. Below are the dates we are aware of. Please join us in praying for the teams as they plan and build into the ongoing collaborative community focus on reaching children in each of these gatherings.

Latin America – March 25-28 | Bogotá, Colombia (Co-led by Valerie Abreu and Miguel Perez, focusing on children, family, and youth)

Asia – May 16-17 (Gwenn Rosario coordinating the children and family team). Event will be in several countries at the same time.

Africa – May (Sam, Thomas, Lensa, Rachael, and Joshua working on the strategy plan to engage the 7 regions across the continent.)

Europe – September 1-3 | Lisbon, Portugal (Jo Haaijer leading the REC network strategy gathering.)

Your prayers and support are greatly appreciated as these teams work to strengthen collaboration and impact for children worldwide.

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Leadership Experience (LE) Africa Update

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Leadership Experience (LE) Africa Update

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The East Africa regional LE began on 1 November 2024 and will end on 31 August 2025. 19 participants from 7 nations of Africa and Asia attended the residential intensive training in Uganda from 3-28 February and are working to integrate their learning as they complete ministry projects in their contexts. In their words, “LE was a mind-blowing experience.”

Ethiopia has launched the very first national LE, which will begin September 2025.

West African LE alumni are in the planning stages of the first West Africa LE in 2025-2026, with the residential intensive training planned in Togo. Be watching for registration details on www.gcfleadership.org

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A selected group of leaders will meet November 12–13, 2025 in Dallas, TX to discern next action steps for this movement. If you’d like to learn more or apply, please contact Menchit or Val.

Details:

Location: Dallas, Texas (USA)

Venue: Crossroads Church

Who: Catalytic leaders committed to reaching and discipling the next generation

Purpose: To pray, plan, and collaborate toward a united strategy for the 4/14 global movement

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Movements, Networks and Pastors met with founders to:

ALIGN: Seek the Lord’s direction together for the next season of the 4/14 Movement.

ASSESS: Analyze the evolving mission landscape and establish a strategic direction within a collaborative ecosystem focused on children, families, and youth.

ACTIVATE: Develop a roadmap aligned with the InCommon framework and form an intergenerational global leadership team to advance the Movement’s mandate worldwide.

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The Next Gen Global Collab is composed of organizations, networks and movements committed to, God willing, changing the trajectory of Christianity among the next generation. Together we create a leadership community who collaborate on key gatherings, projects & research, and find synergy in activities in order to mitigate duplication of efforts. Our heart is to make every network better and accelerate the cause of Christ among the youth of the world.

Our Common Goal:
Everyone in the next generation having an opportunity to follow Jesus by 2033!

Together we inspire collaboration and partnership to accelerate the impact of each entity involved; and gather to collaborate, build relationships, innovate together and create synergy. We do this through annual research, learning communities and model cities, shared event planning, capacity building and strategic convening.

A 2027 kick off event (Everyone Next Gen 2027) forms part of the 2033 initiative. This will be a collaborative event for key leaders from 30+ organizations who embrace the shared vision of every young person having an opportunity to follow Jesus by 2033. Provisional plans are for September 21-24, 2027 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

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Global Child Protection Alliance Charter Ratification

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Global Child Protection Alliance Charter Ratification

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The Alliance's steering committee met online at the end of November 2025 to ratify their Charter. The charter outlines the operation model and strategic focus of the Alliance.

This charter will be made available on the Alliance's website in due course.

The Structure and Form, Theology, and Communication working groups are continuing to work together. This month saw the addition of a new working group which is exploring grant funding to support the aims of the Alliance.

The group are currently exploring the possibility of an in person meeting in 2026.

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Join us for a global conversation on building trust, sharing stories of change, and strengthening partnerships for children.

✨ Part of a global bi-monthly WEA webinar series, this month featuring leaders from Reaching Europe’s Children.

🗓 May 19

⏰ 12:00 UTC

💻 Online (Zoom)

👉 Register to receive your Zoom link

https://worldea.org/webinar-together-for-the-next-generation/

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Together for the Next Generation Panel Discussion

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God's Heart for Child Protection and Safeguarding Webinars

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God's Heart for Child Protection and Safeguarding Webinars

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The Global Child Protection Alliance (which includes GCF) and Viva will be facilitating three webinars following the release of the book God's Heart for Child Protection and Safeguarding.

More details about these webinars will be published soon. However, for now you can read more about the book here: https://www.christiandaily.com/news/new-book-calls-churches-to-make-child-protection-a-gospel-priority