Report on the APAC Conference 2006
Asia-Pacific Alliance Conference 2006
Mandaluyong City, Manila, Philippines
August 22-25, 2006
It is my joy to report to you from Manila. Your prayers for the success of the APAC Conference have been abundantly answered in two significant ways.
First, the theme of the conference, "Creating Transforming Communities", has provoked Alliance leaders to grapple with the relevance of compassionate ministries in their ministry contexts. CAMACOP Alliance Women's President for Metro Manila, Mrs. Cecile Quisquirin put it this way, "It inspired me all the more to get involved in the transformational ministry especially among the marginalised women."
Secondly, APAC national church Presidents agreed, following a special post-conference consultation, to remain in closer communication with each other for the purpose of making a difference for the sake of the least reached in our region.
Forty-four official delegates from nine nations and more than fifty corresponding delegates from CAMACOP including six Alliance Women representatives, met August 22-25 at the Legend Villas Hotel, Mandaluyong City, Manila. They appreciated the warm welcome and generous hospitality of the host church, the Christian and Missionary Alliance of the Philippines (CAMACOP). Under the strong leadership of CAMACOP President, Rev. Reniel Nebab, the efficient and joyful APAC Conference Committee members worked hard to make this a blessed and memorable event.
The conference was facilitated by Disciple Nations Alliance (DNA) speakers, Pastor Ben Wong from Hong Kong and Rev David Collins from Canada.
Both speakers challenged delegates to identify and deal with the lies in our cultures that can seriously inhibit our lives and ministries. They encouraged us to walk about our communities asking the Lord to help us see what He sees and to feel what He feels. Delegates expressed warm appreciation for the wholistic emphasis with many feeling they were being challenged for the first time to think about their ministries in new ways. Rev. Paul Christian, Alliance Churches Association of India, Secretary said, "I received new insight by attending the APAC Regional Conference, especially in the areas of 'lies' that exist in the C&MA of India. I will work on this matter and encourage full-time workers and pastors to prayerfully shun the lies we are living with. I was challenged to do hard work in bringing transformation in our churches that we may transform our communities."
International Network of Thai Overseas (INTO) Facilitator, Rev. Roland Lumawag, updated delegates who four years ago in Bangkok had given birth to this innovative mission's partnership. We thrilled to the report of hundreds of Overseas Thai Contract Workers coming to faith in Taiwan and Korea. We rejoiced at the presence of Rev and Mrs. Ekarin, the first Gospel Church of Thailand (GCT) missionaries, soon to be sent to Taiwan. We were in awe that through this humble project a Mission Department is now established in the GCT.
Evening speakers included Dr. Roger Lang, APAC Regional Co-ordinator, Dr. Ben De Jesus, former Alliance World Fellowship Executive Director, Attorney Ranier Chu, Director, Mission Ministries Philippines (MMP) and Rev. Reniel Nebab, CAMACOP President. Each speaker challenged their listeners to reexamine their ministries in the light of Jesus' purpose found in Isaiah 61:1, "The sovereign Lord has filled me with his Spirit. He has chosen and sent me to bring good news to the poor, to heal the broken-hearted, to announce release to the captives and freedom to those in prison." CAMACOP Pastor, Rev. Benji De Jesus of the Community of Christ Alliance Church, expressed his response this way, "The APAC speakers, with their respective messages, challenged and gave me the inspiration to rethink about doing the ministry in a radical way."
At the second evening public service Rev. Rick Bell told of the establishment of two community projects reaching the marginalised from the Cells Alive Church. These were the Bright Lights School for disadvantaged children and the Threads of Hope ministry empowering poor women to establish business enterprises. The Bright Lights children presented colorful songs and dances.
The conference theme was reinforced as small groups of delegates visited various community development projects ministering to the urban poor and the marginalised. The next day delegates were ably led through a follow-up workshop by Australian missionary Rev. Rick Bell, in which they were encouraged to reflect on the personal impact of these visits.
The conference theme was highlighted on the final night with powerful testimonies from a converted Manila street kid and former prostitute, both of whom had been reached through compassionate ministries. Dr. Rodrigo Tano led a moving Communion Service after which Dr. Lang expressed appreciation to him for his many years of service on the APAC Regional Committee. Dr. Lang then formally welcomed Rev. Reniel Nebab as the new CAMACOP representative on the committee.
Summing up the conference, Rev. Larry Paul B. Gusto, Senior Pastor of Capital City Alliance Church said, "APAC reminded me again that ministry is not just within the walls of the church but this time to really do something about it. Also it is exciting to know what God is doing and the concerns of the other members of the C&MA family in the Asia-Pacific Region."
For some, the theology of wholism was a new challenge to their thinking. Like the Bareans of old, many will return home to study the Word again, "to see if what... said was really true." Acts 17:11. C&MA of Australia President, Rev. Rod Russell-Brown put it like this, "I was deeply challenged by the recent APAC conference. It has driven me back to the Scriptures to ask again what is the place of wholistic ministry in the Kingdom of God on earth."
Many delegates expressed the hope that APAC '06 will see the dawning of a new day as Alliance Churches in the region increasingly take up the challenge to minister in compassionate ways that will create communities transformed by the good news of Jesus Christ.
Roger Lang
APAC Regional Coordinator
September 1, 2006