The Story
In the Beginning ...
Undated, twenty-five years in the making – A “call” to“quietly” serve challenged, isolated, under resourced international Christian leaders.
Early 1990s – A growing conviction to serve particular leaders.
1992 – Roger Van Camp and Ron Lush took part in an assessment tour of the Former Soviet Union. The question was, how should the Church respond to the opportunities in the FSU? What would be the most effective strategy to touch these people?
1992 – The development of a “culturally useful” educational response to the needs of the people which would mobilize the Western Church and “earn the privilege of sharing our faith.”
1992 – The Phoenix Conference drawing thirty-five church and business leaders, and seven university and seminary presidents, to refine the strategy
1993 – The establishment of Global Initiatives as a non-profit corporation.
Early 1990s – A growing conviction to serve particular leaders.
1992 – Roger Van Camp and Ron Lush took part in an assessment tour of the Former Soviet Union. The question was, how should the Church respond to the opportunities in the FSU? What would be the most effective strategy to touch these people?
1992 – The development of a “culturally useful” educational response to the needs of the people which would mobilize the Western Church and “earn the privilege of sharing our faith.”
1992 – The Phoenix Conference drawing thirty-five church and business leaders, and seven university and seminary presidents, to refine the strategy
.
1993 – The establishment of Global Initiatives as a non-profit corporation.
Culminating in 1996 – The growing conviction of the “band of brothers” that God would be honored if Global Initiatives was formed to "Serve Leaders, Equip and Mobilize Leaders to Serve."
1996 – After 30 years in pastoral ministry and university administration, Ron and Kay Lush gave full-time to the vision of Global Initiatives.
1994 – The First Global Initiative
"The Big Building" Bucharest, Romania.
In 1994 Phoenix, Arizona USA businessmen, Monty Ortman, Mike Ingram, and founder and President of Project C.U.R.E., Jim Jackson, with Ron Lush traveled to Bucharest where they negotiate the purchase of a hospital building.
Returning home, Jim gathered medical supplies as a portion of the cost of the building. Monty led the effort to raise the balance of funds to purchase the building and establish the first “Christian Ministry Center.”
"The Big Building" would house the educational strategy developed in 1992, owned and managed by the Church of the Nazarene, with an inter-denominational advisory board. The educational and ministry strategy
became a model for ministry adapted to the needs and culture in St. Petersburg, Moscow and Volgograd, Russia, and in Kiev, Ukraine.
"The Big Building" Bucharest, Romania.
In 1994 Phoenix, Arizona USA businessmen, Monty Ortman, Mike Ingram, and founder and President of Project C.U.R.E., Jim Jackson, with Ron Lush traveled to Bucharest where they negotiate the purchase of a hospital building.
Returning home, Jim gathered medical supplies as a portion of the cost of the building. Monty led the effort to raise the balance of funds to purchase the building and establish the first “Christian Ministry Center.”
"The Big Building" would house the educational strategy developed in 1992, owned and managed by the Church of the Nazarene, with an inter-denominational advisory board. The educational and ministry strategy
Visit "Get a Glimpse of GI at Work" to view the story in pictures.