BANGKOK, THAILAND (November 2, 2007) \u2013 The sixth Asia Covenant Churches Consultation, tentatively scheduled for 2009, will take place in a location to be determined somewhere in the Philippines, according to David Husby, who with his wife, Ronna, serve as Covenant World Mission regional coordinators for Asia.<\/p>\n
That decision came at the conclusion of the recent Asia consultation in Bangkok. The leadership committee also discussed additional cooperative mission ventures in Asia.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/74\/2007\/11\/Asia.jpg\" "\\"Asia\\"")
\u201cWe had a greater variety of guests,\u201d Husby said, including first-time guests from Covenant-related ministries in Bangladesh, India; the Hindustani Covenant Church in Pune, as well as Denmark and Laos. Other regions – Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, the Philippines, India, Bangalore \u2013 also were represented, Husby noted.<\/p>\n
The consultation concluded with a traditional Thai worship service with all participants seated on straw mats. The worship service incorporated traditional Thai instruments, Thai worship music, and communion Thai style \u2013 sticky rice and wild berry juice for the elements. Scripture readings came from many of the represented languages, in addition to various prayers and the traditional Thai string tying ceremony \u2013 a rite in which participants tie strings on each other\u2019s wrists while giving a blessing.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have become more like a big family as our relationships have deepened,\u201d said Vernon Wu, chair of the Taiwan Covenant Church in reflecting on the meeting. Another participant, Paul Devakumar, leader of India For Christ Ministries Covenant Church in Bangalore, observed, \u201cFor the first time, we included youth leaders and they brought a lot of liveliness and energy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Different groups from the various countries represented led what Husby described as \u201clively worship sessions\u201d during the event, including a contingent of Thailand Covenant Church youth who came from various places around the country and performed music and dance representing their respective local cultures (accompanying photo).<\/p>\n
Numerous presentations were offered around the theme of developing tomorrow\u2019s leaders. Presenters included Vernon Wu; Mr. M, the leader of a large movement to Christ among Muslims in Bangladesh; Jim Gustafson, former Covenant missionary in Thailand who also led the Department of World Mission; Dr. Viggo Sogaard, retired professor at Fuller Theological Seminary and a member of the Denmark Covenant Church; and Curt Peterson, who serves as the executive minister of the Department of World Mission.<\/p>\n