Covenant News

Third Asia Consultation Looks at Future Ministry

BANGALORE, INDIA (January 22, 2003) - Thirty representatives of Evangelical Covenant churches from six countries participated in the third Asia Evangelical Covenant Church Consultation, which was held in Bangalore from January 14-19 at India For Christ Ministries Covenant Church (IFCM).

Representatives from Japan, Taiwan, the Philippines, Thailand, Laos and India participated in the sessions, which centered on mission ministries, according to David Husby, Asia regional coordinator for the Department of World Mission. The IFCM welcomed the representatives by singing songs from several language groups during the opening ceremony. A delegation from Thailand and Laos led worship that evening. The service ended with a string tying ceremony, which in the Thailand Covenant Church symbolizes love for one another and bonding in Jesus Christ.

There were several region reports given during the first two days of meetings as groups shared their dreams for future ministry. The Thailand and Laos delegations reported on the sending last summer of a missionary by the Thailand Covenant Church to work with the Covenant ministry in Laos. On January 16 and 17, the group divided into two teams and visited several Indian villages where IFCM has been doing mission work.

On January 18, much of the conversation focused on how to cooperate in mission throughout Asia, said Husby. Taiwan Covenant Church representatives reported that during the previous few days they had been in discussion with Covenant churches in the Philippines, Thailand and India about sending short-term teams beginning in 2004. The Japanese expressed their desire to send workers to nearby countries with growing populations of Japanese expatriates. Participants also considered creating a joint fund for fostering new cooperative mission ventures.

Pastor Masami Katsumoto, the chair of the Japan Covenant Church, said he was impressed with the week's events. "It is wonderful for us to be able to meet together like this because of the fellowship and sharing of information and ideas," Katsumoto said. "But the most important thing we can do is to take concrete steps to cooperate with each other in mission in Asia."

On Sunday as nearly 1,000 people gathered for worship at the IFCM facility, Husby said 40 people were baptized and several people shared stories about their experience during the week in India. Pastor Vernon Wu, national missions chair of the Taiwan Covenant Church, gave his support to future efforts, saying that his church is committed to working together in mission with the other Covenant churches in Asia.

The Asia Covenant Church's regional consultations began in October 1999 in Udon Thani, Thailand, as participants focused on church planting. A second consultation, held in Tokyo in 2001 to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the Japan Covenant Church, centered on training aspects of ministry.

Printable version of this page.