Jakarta, Indonesia – The Asia Evangelical Alliance (AEA) successfully concluded its 11th General Assembly (GA) in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, from August 7-12, 2024. Hosted by the Mongolian Evangelical Alliance (MEA), the event marked a historic moment for the AEA and the Mongolian alliance as it coincided with the MEA’s 25th anniversary celebrations.
The Assembly brought together around 200 participants from 23 countries and 20 mission agencies under the theme Disciple or Die. This theme was chosen in light of the new landscape of the church in Asia as well as the decade of disciple-making as called by the WEA in GA 2019. The gathering served as a platform to reaffirm the shared commitment to accelerate the fulfilment of the Great Commission, with a focus on producing a collaborative strategy to significantly accelerate mission and disciple-making movements across Asia for the next decade.
The General Assembly started on the 7th August with a dinner commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Mongolian alliance at Chinggis Khan Hotel, Ulaanbaatar. This anniversary commemorates the story of unity of Mongolian Christians who networked, shared their lives and brainstormed together on how to bring the gospel to the land. More than 200 official Mongolian church leaders joined the international delegates in this celebration.
On the 8th and 9th August, the delegates met at Chinggis Khan Hotel for plenary sessions, interviews, table conversations, workshops and focus group discussions. Each day started with biblical reflections led by Rev. CB Samuel from India. Rev. CB Samuel shared from the 7 churches in Revelation 2. The plenary sessions sought to first tap on the momentum of existing relevant strategies before discerning how these strategies might apply to Asia. Speakers included Peter Hsu (Arise Asia), Young Cho (Billion Soul Harvest), Godfrey Yogarajah (AEA), Luvsangombo Gantumur (Union Bible Theological College), Jonas Kang (Korea World Missions Association), Menchit Wong (4/14 Window), Duane Frasier (Joshua Project), Reuban Skewes (CV Global), Vania Christian (AEA Youth Commission), Grace Hee (AEA Women Commission), Gwen De Rozario (AEA Family Commission), Rev. Samuel Chiang (WEA), Bishop Noel Pantoja (PCEC), Eu Hong Seng (National Evangelical Christian Fellowship Malaysia) and Dr. Bambang Budijanto (AEA).
Key themes that can significantly accelerate mission and disciple making movements as discussed in table conversations included the need to develop authentic relationships, with families as the bedrock of mission and discipleship. The opportunities for deeper youth engagement and intergenerational collaboration were also further highlighted. There was a robust engagement of minds in embracing tools such as research to inform strategy and wisely utilize technology and artificial intelligence for data-driven decision making in the changing mission landscape. During the table conversations, Asia leaders and invited international resource speakers engaged in deep and vibrant conversations about how each of the practical strategies can be implemented in their nations and contexts. Toward the end of the table discussions, there was a sense of unity and intentionality to apply the best of these mission strategies, and to come up with mission approaches that are locally owned, culturally sensitive and addresses the context of local church and communities.
A key highlight of the GA was the formal induction of three newly formed national alliances from Laos (Evangelical Fellowship of Laos), Hong Kong (Hong Kong Evangelical Alliance), and Taiwan (Taiwan Christian Evangelical Alliance Association) to AEA’s membership, reflecting the growing unity and expansion of the evangelical movement across the region. Three new Associate members were also welcomed at the 11th GA: Bahtraku, EnArche Institute, World Chinese Christianity Alliance.
During the Assembly, a new Executive Council was elected to serve the AEA for the next four years (2024-2028). The committee members include:
- Rev. Godfrey Yogarajah (Sri Lanka) – Chairman of the Council
- Dr. Takahito Timothy Iwagami (Japan) – Treasurer of the Council § Rev. Ezekiel Tan (Singapore) – Secretary of the Council
- Bishop Philip Adhikary (Bangladesh)
- Pastor Otgonbayar Biniye (Mongolia)
- Rev. Dr. Anton Tarigan (Indonesia)
- Rev. Barnabas Moon (South Korea)
- Bambang Budijanto, Ph.D. (General Secretary/CEO – Ex-Officio)
In the coming weeks, four more younger and women leaders will be appointed (added) as members at large of the AEA’s Executive Council.
Recognising the importance of developing friendships, delegates went for a tour together to key sights around Ulaanbaatar on the 10th August. They spent the afternoon in a Christian camp learning more about the Mongolian culture.
Hosted by MEA, the Church in modern day Mongolia (after the Soviet left in 1989), being the youngest in Asia, inspired participants with their extra-mile hospitality. They served with their great generosity, a spirit of humility and courage to host this historic event. On the 11th August, international delegates were dispatched into 15 teams to minister the Word of God to 15 different churches in Ulaanbaatar. This enabled delegates from the broader Asian church to encourage, to bless and to affirm the followers of Christ in Mongolia.
The shared commitment undertaken during the GA is set to guide Asian evangelical movements in accelerating missions and disciple making movements across the region over the next decade, with periodic progress reviews planned, commencing in 2025. AEA praises God for the unity fostered with the Asian church.
For more information, please contact:
Dr Bambang Budijanto
General Secretary
gs@asiaea.org