Source: Global Partners, July 1, 2024
[In May], Wesleyan church leaders and pastors from more than 20 countries gathered in Chiang Mai, Thailand for the first ever Asia-Pacific International Conference of the Wesleyan Church.
The conference was centered around the theme “Stronger Together,” igniting a vision for these leaders to work together in the efforts of extend God’s Kingdom across the least-reached, most densely populated continent in the world.
Fiji-born Rev. Atu Lagi said that learning how other countries have been pursuing global missions was a helpful experience for him. In fact, after meeting and getting to know pastors from Indonesia, he hopes to stay in touch and begin sending short-term teams their way within the next year.
Rev. Lex Akers, district superintendent of the New South Wales district in Australia, also enjoyed making new connections. One exciting connection he made was with a couple from India who is interested in planting a satellite church in Australia, to reach the growing number of Indians there.
On the last day, a leader from the Philippines stood to share what the Lord had placed on his heart during the week spent together. Earlier in the week, he shared about the success the Wesleyan Church has had with expanding and church planting [in the Philippines] but took this moment to confess to the delegates from South Asia that he hadn’t considered beyond the Philippines. Then, he asked for forgiveness.
Read the full story. Praise God for using Christians from many nations to challenge and encourage one another.