Claringin (Bogor) Declaration
Asia-Pacific Alliance Conference 1993
Kinasih, Caringin, West Java, Indonesia
We, the assembled delegates representing 10 national churches of the Christian and Missionary Alliance from the Asia-Pacific region:
- rejoice in our being able to meet again five years after the last gathering in Hong Kong in 1988;
- celebrate the rich mosaic of cultures represented here; and
- recognize the tremendous missionary challenge to the churches of the Asia-Pacific region that this presents to us.
We praise God for:
- the greater representation of national churches at this conference;
- the attention being paid to the various ministries and special areas of concern of the Alliance churches;
- the opportunities for fellowship;
- the stimulation and challenges of the speakers and times of discussion; and
- the appointment of a regional coordinator and a prayer coordinator.
We looked at:
- partnership in building the Asia-Pacific Alliance for Christ;
- leadership and the need for trained competent leaders;
- holistic ministries as a true demonstration of the gospel and God's love;
- theological education and its crucial role in preparing Christian leaders and cross-cultural missionaries;
- missions and the need to send properly trained missionaries;
- prayer and revival; and
- church growth and evangelism.
We express our concern that:
- delegates from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam were not able to attend the conference;
- given the minority status of Christianity in Asia, we have not been able to adequately explore more effective ways of evangelizing those who do not know Christ; and
- we have not worked together more closely in sharing resources, information, and in the training of cross-cultural missionaries.
We believe that the following are vital in building an Asia-Pacific Alliance for Christ:
- concerted prayer not only for renewal in our churches but for those people who have not yet heard of Christ, and the Unreached People Groups of our region;
- moving from words to action in implementing partnership in missions in the Asia-Pacific region;
- godly leaders, following the example of our Lord Jesus Christ and living a life of love, humility, patience and faithfulness;
- developing holistic ministries that meet the needs of the whole person;
- providing proper missionary training for missionaries from Asian countries encompassing not only sound biblical and theological training but practical training in all aspects of crossing cultures;
- reviewing current methods and developing new strategies of educating our national constituencies on the urgent need for and support of missions; and
- sharing resources, ideas, strategies and methods for a greater impact for Christ in our region.