Author - colin

Every three years, Micah Global members from around the world gather for a consultation that is hosted in turn by one of our regions. This year, Africa is our host. The African organising team would like to invite you to gather on-line during the month of September 2021 for worship, conversation, learning and networking. The theme of the consultation is KUSHAMIRI, which is the beautiful Kiswahili word for ‘flourish’. We will gather to reflect on how we as individuals, organisations and congregations flourish so that we may be catalysts for the flourishing of the communities we serve. And to explore how this is a flourishing for all seasons, and in difficult situations.

The flourishing we are seeking is described in the invitation and the promise of Jesus Christ to his followers: “I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). It is this active abiding, us in Christ and Christ in us, that we will consider during the consultation. We will also reflect on the fruit which such abiding produces, in our lives and in the communities where we are located. Considering flourishing from a biblical perspective, we are reminded also of the text in Revelation 22:2 where the tree of life has twelve kinds of fruit and produces fruit every month. And the leaves of this tree are for the healing of the nations. As the Body of Christ, participating in God’s mission of holistic redemption, we are the instrument of current flourishing and the foretaste of future flourishing through our abiding and fruitfulness in Christ.

Here are a few details about the consultation, so you can begin to pray, think, discuss and plan. Registration will be open from 1 June 2021 and is open to members of Micah Global and non-members. The consultation will take place during the month of September 2021 and will consist of two elements. Firstly, KUSHAMIRI BROADCAST – a live, time-specific programme running online from 5 - 10 September. Secondly, KUSHAMIRI COMMUNITY – an online interaction space that will run from 1 - 30 September, where attendees engage in their own time. We welcome contributions from all Micah Global members for the KUSHAMIRI COMMUNITY space.

May this word KUSHAMIRI | FLOURISH take root in our hearts and minds as we hear the invitation and the promise from the Lord to flourish and be agents of flourishing in our communities. And may we be inspired to bring our experiences of flourishing to the consultation, to share with each other.

Christine MacMillan - Chairperson of Micah Global Board and Deborah Hancox - International Coordinator