March 20, 2008

Spring forward, fall back

In October 2007, delegates from Southeast Asian countries gathered to talk about mission evangelism. Key members of the Council for World Mission organized these four days of meetings, which were hosted by the Sapan Luang church in Bangkok, Thailand. The delegates worshiped and prayed together, listened to lectures on mission, and shared their approach to ministry in their respective countries. In this follow-up to a meeting held in Hong Kong, the number of countries sending delegates doubled from five to ten countries: Singapore (6); Indonesia (2); Malaysia (4); Korea (2); Taiwan (5); Hong Kong ( 2); Cambodia (2);  Myanmar ( 3); Vietnam ( 2); United States (1); Thailand ( 11); and the UK (1).

Dr. Warren Beattie, a researcher from the Overseas Missionary Fellowship in the United Kingdom, addressed the group twice. He surveyed mission trends, identified topics of concern, and critiqued three models for mission used by OMF, Council for World Mission, and the Presbyterian Church of Singapore. A wide range of topics were introduced: incarnational ministry; ministry and professional experiences; social activities; contextualization in multi-faith environments; Asian Christian identity; salvation, humankind, and God’s love; the missionary congregation; and leadership development.

As a way to learn about and from each other, delegates were allotted 30 minutes to introduce their country, church, and ministry. Further opportunities for interaction came through small group sessions. The first session focused on mission and evangelism issues particular to each country. Participants suggested various projects that could be initiated. Resources and facilities needed for ministry were identified, then we discussed the effectiveness of specific approaches.

The second session focused on globalization, modernization, and secularism. Everyone was concerned about gender inequality, migrant workers, refugees, and how to hold onto our youth in the midst of modernization. It is estimated that about three million Burmese have crossed into Thailand and other countries in recent months. Cooperation between countries on migrant workers is already taking place in Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Highlights and impressions

I’d been hoping to see a consultation like this, so when I learned that the Presbyterian Church of Singapore was planning one, I was delighted. Getting everyone together was no small task. The three Myanmar delegates left their country via India but while in Thailand they remained quiet about their present political situation. The two delegates from Cambodia experienced difficulty in obtaining passports and visa. This is the first either of them had ever left their country or flown on an airplane. By allowing opportunity for everyone to present their country, all the delegates were able to learn from each other. A sense of common identity, common commitment, and common purpose was fostered out of a desire to cooperate and partner in ministry. I look forward to seeing more involvement and engagement across borders.

Issues related to keeping the youth in church are of primary concern to everyone. The representative from Hong Kong suggested a regional youth consultation to be led, directed, and attended by youth who were not family members of pastors.

Our Thai colleagues reported that migrant workers from Thailand working in Singapore have become Christian. Migrant workers from northern Vietnam working in Malaysia are now going back to their villages and families with their newfound faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior. Leaders from both countries are now tracking the situation together.

Spring forward

Since this consultation I have been in contact with Richard Chong, general secretary of the English speaking Presbyterian church of Singapore. He wants to arrange a trip to Cambodia and Vietnam with delegates from each of the Southeast Asian countries in order to find ways to partner with the Presbyterian church in Vietnam and Cambodia. Originally, plans were in the works to travel at the end of May, but now we are considering a two-week period in August.

Pray that God would grant us wisdom, as the Presbyterian churches of Southeast Asia look for ways to work together. Pray that strategic partnership would emerge from the consultation and that we identify ways to engage in effective ministry. Pray that the Khmer Presbyterian Fellowship and the Presbyterian Church of Vietnam would be strengthened through ties to fellow Presbyterians in neighboring countries.

Paul Friesen
Regional Liaison for Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam

The 2008 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 213