Covenant News

Six Countries Represented at First Asia Youth Camp

TAIPEI, TAIWAN (August 17, 2004) - More than 120 youth from six countries attended the first annual Asia Covenant Church Youth Camp last week with pastor Ben Wong and youth pastor Andy Tilly serving as guest speakers along with Evangelical Covenant Church Department of World Mission representatives David Dolan and David Husby.

Attendees came from Taiwan, the United States, the Philippines, Japan, Thailand and India. A majority of the participants were youth who are considered leaders in their respective Covenant churches. Most stayed in an area college dormitory. Worship teams from area congregations led worship music. After the camp ended, many from outside the area attended one of the worship services at one of several nearby Covenant churches.

"This was the first Asia Covenant youth gathering and we were wondering how well these youth would do together," said Husby, the Asia regional coordinator for world mission. "We were amazed at how quickly and easily they bonded in spite of some pretty significant cultural and language differences. Lots of translation was going on and it seemed to go quite smoothly. A lot of people around the world were praying for this event and it was obvious that those prayers were answered. The event surpassed my highest expectations. I can't wait until we can do it again."

Wong, pastor of Shepherd Community Church in Hong Kong, challenged youth to consider cross-cultural missions as he mixed humor with an unrelenting passion for saving souls. "This is a new day in Asia," he said in discussing the changing face of mission work. "In the past, we relied on the western missionaries to bring the gospel here, but now it is our turn."

Tilly, who serves at Life Church in Edmond, Oklahoma, focused on two areas in his talks: "The Foundations of Youth Ministries" and "Communicate to Relate." After sharing basic principles of youth ministries that all cultures can understand, he discussed how leaders can more easily reach their audiences by understanding the unique needs of each culture, at the same time recognizing the similarities of youth in general.

The speakers' messages seemed to hit the target, said Husby, as several youth shared how they felt God speaking to them during the closing meeting of the camp. One woman from India - a recent medical school graduate - shared how she felt called to work as a medical missionary. A Filipino student related how she had been studying medicine to please her parents, but was inspired by the camp to rethink her motives and use her medical skills to serve the Lord in some way.

Husby gave special thanks to those who had helped support the camp financially and through prayer. Although the majority of the expenses were covered by the Asia Covenant churches themselves, nearly $10,000 was given by Covenant churches and individuals in North America to help cover expenses of the youth from the Philippines, India and Thailand. It is hoped that the next Asia Covenant Youth Conference will be held in the Philippines in August 2006.

To learn more about the recent camp, email Husby at davronna@yhb.att.ne.jp or Dolan at davejudy.dolan@comcast.net.

Printable version of this page.