In the upcoming Micah Network Asian Consultation, Christian leaders in North and East Asia are challenged to live the whole gospel by responding to world poverty.
The global evangelical anti-poverty movement Micah Network is organizing a North and East Asia regional consultation on Jan 9-13, 2006 at the Breakthrough Youth Village in Hong Kong. The Christian aid agency Cedar Fund will be acting as the local host agency, according to a statement from the Hong Kong-based evangelical organization.
Gathering under the theme "Integral Mission in the New Millennium," the conference aims to mobilize the Asian Christian leaders into actions against world poverty as part of the integral Christian mission.
According to the Micah Network declaration on Integral Mission 2001, it is stated, "Integral mission or holistic transformation is the proclamation and demonstration of the gospel. It is not simply that evangelism and social involvement are to be done alongside each other. Rather, in integral mission our proclamation has social consequences as we call people to love and repentance in all areas of life."
Therefore, through the conference, Christian leaders are called to study and go further into the meaning of integral mission, responding to the local and global poor and injustice, linking between global economics and poverty, the challenges and opportunities of globalization. Most importantly, it is to strengthen the cooperation among those churches or organizations in North and East Asia in the fighting against world poverty.
The Micah Network brings together more than 280 Christian organizations providing relief, development and justice ministries throughout the world. Most of them are evangelical based and the movement is backed by the World Evangelical Alliance. Dr. Tetsunao Yamamori, International Director of the Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization also highly recommends the Micah Network Asian Consultation in Hong Kong:
"Christians cannot be silent about the obscenity of poverty. The Micah Network is the result of a large number of ministries around the world banding together to fight global poverty. For Christians in Hong Kong and Asia committed to think globally, this is a good place to begin."
The main speakers for the Asian consultation include: Dr Melba Padilla Maggay, President of ISAAC (International Substance Abuse and Addiction Coaliation) Philippines and member of Micah Network’s International Panel of Reference; CB Samuel of India, a member of Micah Network’s International Panel of Reference and the former General Director of Evangelical Fellowship of India Commission on Relief (EFICOR) India; Doug Balfour, member of Micah Network’s global Coordinating Group and Executive Director of Integral Alliance.
Staff and board members of Christian relief, development, mission and justice organizations; church leaders and pastors; and other individuals from all over Asia are going to participate in the consultation.
