Watch these thought-provoking videos and learn more about what people think of the role of women in the Bible, in the Church, in leadership, in marriage and more! Click on the link after each video to open up questions that help you engage with the topic and discuss with others.
Share the videos with your friends, in your church and beyond and share your thoughts on social media using the hashtag #WomenAndTheChurch!
Do you have any ideas, questions or suggestions for us? E-mail Amanda Jackson!
10 women who are tenacious, daring, faithful and influential
Discussion Questions:
Read about the women chosen in the video.
Abigail – 1 Samuel 25
Zelophehad’s five daughters – Numbers 27: 1-1
Ruth – see the Book of Ruth, especially Ch 1 and 3
Esther – see her book, especially Ch 4,5 and 7
Mary – Luke Ch 1: 26-56
All of the women are tenacious (firm, persistent, purposeful). How can you see that quality demonstrated in each passage? Do you see yourself as tenacious?
All of the women dare to speak up. Track what they say and how they say it. What impact do they have?
Can you describe a time when God has inspired you to speak up? What happened?
Who would you choose as your favourite woman/women?
Jesus and Women
There is a lot of intimacy, sympathy and practical love
Discussion Questions:
The video touches on five different stories in the gospels:
Jesus is anointed with tears and perfume by the woman Luke Ch 7:36-50
The women who supported Jesus Luke Ch 8: 1-3
The Samaritan woman John Ch 4
Jesus’s mother John 19: 25-27
Woman caught in adultery John 8: 1-11
Which perspective on women did you like most in these interviews? Why?
Did anything surprise you?
In your experience, does the Church follow Jesus’s example in the way it treats and values women?
Valuing Women
“God allows me to be who I am as a Christian woman – the gift of being me”
Discussion Questions:
What are some issues/barriers raised in the video faced by women in the church that might discourage them from knowing their true worth?
For women: Have you ever felt limited by your culture or the church’s expectations?
Can you say now that you are of ‘enormous value’?
How have you gained that confidence?
Feminism
Doesn’t God want us all to rise up to our destiny? Women and men?
Discussion Questions:
During the video, you will hear people say:
“God’s heart is for equality, regardless of gender.”
“We need to understand God’s imprint on our life – women and men”
“There are off the wall examples of feminist ideas – feminists can be abrasive”
“The idea of feminism can be complicated for Christians by the debate around abortion”
“The ‘feminist’ label can be difficult.”
Which of these points do you affirm? Do you find any of the statements difficult to accept? Should Christians be feminists? Are you?
All of the women are tenacious (firm, persistent, purposeful). How can you see that quality demonstrated in each passage? Do you see yourself as tenacious?
All of the women dare to speak up. Track what they say and how they say it. What impact do they have?
Can you describe a time when God has inspired you to speak up? What happened?
Who would you choose as your favourite woman/women?
Equality in Marriage
“Decision making is mutual, co-operative, sharing… and there might be some conflict.”
Discussion Questions:
What words leap out at you from what you saw on the video?
How could those words become tools for making good and equal decisions?
Words like ‘mutual’ and ‘co-operative’ sum up the discussion but there was also talk of conflict. Is conflict bad?
Gender and Leadership
If you’re gifted, you should lead
Discussion Questions:
Both men being interviewed said it is important that men be willing for women to lead and to encourage women leaders. Why did they stress this?
Do you think women lead differently to men? Is this positive or negative?
Do you ever get ‘frazzled’ by your roles in the home, community, church or work? What could God be saying about that?
Love and Submission
Love and submission is our model for doing every relationship
Discussion Questions:
A vital point for discussion and understanding behind views on love and submission is that we need to take scripture as our authority and we need to take context into account.
How do you understand Ephesians Ch 5 v22 in the light of that point?
How should we look at verses like I Corinthians Ch 11 v6? (it talks of a woman covering her head)
Tricky Bible Passages
What is Paul really talking about?
Discussion Questions:
There are 2 aspects of ‘headship’ covered here (from a term that appears in I Corinthians 11:3) – in the family and in the church
Look at what Steve says about Ephesians 5: 21 and 22 What does he say about submission and headship in the family?
Look at what Steve says about I Timothy 2: 12-15 How can we see these verses as radical for women and men in the early church?
Shortly after the 2011 Christchurch earthquake, in recognition of the contribution of churches in providing hope and comfort as well as material assistance, NZ Christian Network’s board inaugurated a new award, known as the New Zealand Christian Network Unsung Heroes Awards.
The purpose of these awards is to honour the good work of individuals and groups which has gone largely unrecognised, to encourage others, and to give glory to God who inspired and empowered them.
In an age which has forgotten or never knew the significance of Christianity in our history, and which increasingly does not appreciate the importance of God in our country today, we are grateful for the privilege of being able to hold this event at Parliament and celebrate what God is doing in and through the lives of people. We are thankful also this year to Hon Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga who hosted the event.
The awards are presented in categories related to New Zealand Christian Network’s key projects – Secularism, Marriage & Family, Value of Life, and Missional Living. This year we were pleased to also make two special awards for Christian Publishing and Unity & Mission.
Special Categories for 2016
Christian Publishing
Our first award tonight is to a woman who received an MA Honours degree in German language and literature from Victoria University.
After spending 16 years in America with her husband Russell, she returned to New Zealand in 1986 and worked various jobs including three semesters teaching business communication at AUT.
In 1993 she was appointed editor of the New Zealand Baptist newspaper. She graduated from Carey Baptist College with a Bachelor of Theology in 1998.
She joined ARPA – the Australasian Religious Press Association, a network of editors of Christian publications, and in 2006 became ARPA’s New Zealand coordinator and vice-president.
In 2012 ARPA presented her with the prestigious Gutenberg Award for services to journalism.
She has served on the board of New Zealand Christian Network. From 2009 to 2014 she served as President of the Baptist Women’s Union of the South West Pacific. She is still involved with New Zealand Baptist Women’s Board.
In 2001 and for nine years she was the founding editor of DayStar newspaper which eventually became a monthly magazine.
She is a co-director of DayStar Books, an independent publishing company.
In recent years she has run workshops in India to encourage Christian writers. She currently writes a regular column for Press Service International, a Christian Media resource based in Australia.
Today freelance writing and editing occupy much of her time, along with leading conversation classes at her church for new immigrants. She and husband Russell live Auckland and they have two adult children and five grandchildren.
Please welcome the recipient of our first award tonight – Christian Publishing – Julie Belding.
Julie Belding
Unity and Mission
Our second award is for a man who was born in Australia and moved to New Zealand in 1972. Since then he has worked tirelessly to foster unity and collaboration in the church in line with the prayer of Jesus.
An accountant by trade, he has worked in a number of companies. He has served in various administration and pastoral roles within the New Life Churches in New Zealand at both the local Church and National level.
He served in leadership of the Association of Pentecostal Churches NZ and was a founding executive member of NZ Christian Network from 2002 to 2008.
He is currently the Executive Director of Life Resources and is responsible for developing the vision, leadership and networking of Life Resources. The vision of Life Resources is to evaluate, source and provide realistically priced resources for media, marriage, leadership, church health and growth and charitable support. They also provide administrative and accounting support for a number of trusts and ministries including CEC (Bible and Chaplaincy in Schools) and One to One Trust.
He is married to Sandra and they have three adult married daughters and 7 grandchildren.
Receiving this Unity and Mission award please welcome Max Palmer.
Max Palmer
Key Focus Categories for 2016
Secularism
The Secularism award this year goes to a man who has been the CEO and Managing Trustee of the Christian Broadcasting Association since it was re-founded in 1995.
For 21 years, he has developed radio programmes that have been broadcast on New Zealand’s top-rating commercial networks, and won awards nationally and internationally.
He says, that “86 percent of this audience don’t regard religion or spirituality as important in their lives which is exactly why we’re there.”
The Easter programme on Newstalk ZB averages 300,000 listeners.
The “Real Life” programme which plays every Sunday night on Newstalk ZB and Radiosport is the most-listened to show in that timeslot across all NZ radio stations.
Past guests have included the late Sir Paul Holmes, Dave Dobbyn and Sir Graeme Henry who all shared about their life, passions, faith, spirituality, and “God-stuff”.
The list of his accomplishments is exhausting:
He founded ‘Media Prayer Day’ which has involved more than 1,000 churches in a nationwide day of Prayer for those working in NZ’s media.
He developed the ‘LoveIt’ media brand, New Zealand’s ‘go to’ provider of independent seasonal radio programming.
He established ‘Salt’ – a network of 200+ Christians working within mainstream media
He established a scholarship programme, attracting 30 excellent applicants annually.
And he conceived and co-founded ‘NewsLeads’ – a chaplaincy and consultancy service to New Zealand’s news media.
He is married to Annelies and they have two boys aged 13 and 9, and sadly he is overseas and unable to be with us tonight.
So to receive this award on his behalf, please welcome Phil Guyan’s Mum.
Phil Guyan
Marriage and Family
The Marriage and Family award goes to a Bible scholar and gifted teacher with a special pastor’s heart to see marriages and families be all that God wants them to be.
He pastored a Baptist church in England before PhD studies led to teaching as a missionary in Congo. He and his wife Barbara and their four children were evacuated from Kinshasa by French paratroopers, and spent a few days classed as refugees in South Africa.
From 1993-2012 he taught at Carey Baptist College and the University of Auckland where he received a Distinguished Teaching Award. He has experience teaching the Bible in four continents for three decades.
He prepared the first online hypertext Bible commentary and posts short teaching podcasts at 5-minute Bible.
He is a key member of the Network’s Marriage and Families focus group. He has spoken at our leadership forums along with his wife Barbara who is a highly qualified counsellor, and contributed a number of articles to the Network which continue to be the most accessed articles on our website.
He runs the website and Facebook page for Marriage Week which is held annually from 8 to 14 February. He is also working with NZCN to develop a video course on “Reading the Bible Faithfully”.
Please welcome Dr Tim Bulkeley.
Dr Tim Bulkeley
Value of Life
The Value of Life category award this year goes to a person whose commitment and work for social justice in New Zealand is hard to overstate.
In the 1970s, he started the Inter-Church Trade and Industry Mission providing chaplaincy services to industry and government departments.
He was part of developing the Salvation Army’s national network of Community Work Schemes, and supporting community services to the unemployed.
In the ‘80s, he founded the Community Service Operation of the Salvation Army in South Auckland, and in the 1990s managed the total re-organisation of the Salvation Army Social and Community Services throughout New Zealand.
He was the founder and Director of the Salvation Army’s Social Policy Research and Parliamentary Affairs Unit, and Director of the Salvation Army’s $100m social services in New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga.
The SPPU produces annual State of the Nation reports monitoring progress on key social indicators which are thoroughly researched, widely read, and acknowledged by government decision makers.
He has been an entrepreneur in developing the Salvation Army’s welfare and social policy initiatives in New Zealand, as well as being a leader in wider church and community initiatives on poverty and housing issues, and on prison reform.
In recent years, he helped establish the New Zealand Housing Foundation which is supporting innovative models of providing housing solutions for low-income people.
He co-founded the Rethinking Crime and Punishment Campaign which is working to create a wider change in public attitudes on the prison system.
He has been President of the New Zealand Council of Christian Social Services, and today leads its Poverty and Housing Task Force, attending regular meetings with Members of Parliament.
There is so much more we could say. But please join with us in welcoming Major Campbell Roberts.
Major Campbell Roberts
Missional Living
Our final award this evening is for the Missional Living category, previously known as All of Life Faith.
A spiritual awakening led the person receiving this award to help create an organisation to enable those living with disabilities to realise their full potential.
In 1976, around 20 people attended the first official meeting for “Christians with Disabilities” in her family home in Auckland.
Margie Willers, a young woman with Cerebral Palsy, shared a vision that God had given her. Within two years, the numbers had grown to over 80 (20 of those being in wheelchairs).
The ministry grew quickly and people’s homes could not contain the numbers attending. In 1989 they rented a building as a drop in centre and place of work. Within five years, God opened the doors for them to purchase their own premises.
In 1981, the International Year of Disabled people, she and Margie were invited to speak all over Auckland and beyond and soon the word had spread around the country.
Now known as The Elevate Christian Disability Trust, there are 13 branches across New Zealand, and one in the Philippines, staffed primarily with volunteers, many of whom live with disabilities themselves.
They are involved at international disability conferences, running camps for more than 400 disabled people and publishing a free quarterly magazine.
Along with her husband Hugh, the Trust’s co-founder, treasurer and editor of its magazine The Encourager, she has lived her faith 24-7 since day one, helping people help themselves and others, and be all that God intends them to be.
She is a founding member of the NZ Christian Network and remains a member of our Advisory Group.
There is much debate and confusion about euthanasia. Examples of actions which are not euthanasia are often used to argue for law change which is euthanasia. This would be bad law. This short |Note aims to clarify some of the terms and issues in the hope that we can prevent this from happening.
What is euthanasia? An act which of itself and by intention causes the death of another person in order to eliminate their suffering.
What is assisted suicide? This happens when a person commits suicide with assistance from others, often by self-administering a lethal substance that has been obtained with the cooperation of a third party.
Withholding or withdrawing treatment is not euthanasia When a treatment is judged to be medically futile, or when it is judged that the benefits of a particular treatment are outweighed by the burdens for a particular person, it is a question of accepting the inevitability of death and allowing the person to return to their dying.
The New Zealand Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers’ Rights allows for any person to refuse services and to withdraw consent to services.
People have a right to be free of pain When a health professional administers medication with the sole intention of relieving a patient’s physical pain, that action is morally acceptable even if it foreseeably shortens the patient’s life. This is not an act of (slow) euthanasia as some claim.
Ethical and Theological Considerations
Supporters of euthanasia believe that decisions about end-of-life are essentially a matter of personal choice. Legalising such acts, it is argued, would simply provide those who wanted it with the choice about when and how to die and would not affect those who chose otherwise. This line of argument appeals to many but it fails to take into account the unintended consequences of a law change.
Acts of euthanasia and assisted suicide always involve others and affect others. They are never purely private matters. In addition, they have societal consequences; legalising euthanasia and assisted suicide will erode the general prohibition against killing in our society in a way that will over time lessen the respect for human life.
“Expanding one freedom often limits another. It does more than simply provide options … Expanding personal freedom to include assisted suicide undermines another right – to remain alive without having to justify one’s existence.”
– Mark Blocher, Author of ‘The Right to Die?’
In addition, the so-called ‘right to die’ could very quickly become a ‘duty to die’. People who feel neglected, undervalued and invisible will understandably see themselves as a burden and will want to do the ‘right thing’, especially with growing pressures on families involved in care as well as growing pressures on health care and aged care funding. Looked at like this, it is apparent that legalising euthanasia or assisted suicide will ultimately undermine real choices at the end of life.
“If euthanasia is legalised, premature death becomes a significant risk in a society which is already ambivalent about people who are perceived as having little or nothing to contribute while ‘swallowing up’ large amounts of health resources.”
– John Kleinsman
Overseas practices show that, once legalised, assisted suicide and euthanasia are inevitably made available to those who are suffering mental anguish, including persons with mental illness, even when they have not asked for it.
“Legalising euthanasia will create new pathways of abuse for the elderly and disabled.”
– John Kleinsman
People who oppose euthanasia and assisted suicide and those who support it both want to prevent intolerable suffering. Research shows that persistent requests for physician assisted suicide or euthanasia mostly arise from deep fears and concerns about not wanting to be a burden or from a sense of isolation rather than from a fear of pain.
Pope Francis has recently compared abandoning the elderly and disabled as being like a form of euthanasia. The call to discipleship demands of Christians an active commitment to holistic care for those who are suffering, elderly or disabled. Palliative care focuses on the needs of the whole person; physical, emotional, cultural, social and spiritual needs. True ‘death with dignity’ occurs when these needs are met and the person is loved and cared for and feels included.
“Once you open the door to assisted suicide and euthanasia it always becomes wider and wider and wider, and before you know it what starts as an option for a few becomes what’s expected for the many.”
– Alex Schadenberg, director of Euthanasia Prevention Coalition
Resources
Book:
Death Talk: The Case against Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide by Margaret Somerville
In addition to bioethics, John has experience in the areas of disability support as well as the drug and alcohol rehabilitation sectors. He was previously a member of the Central Region Health Research Ethics committee and serves on a number of other ethics committees and advisory committees.
Evangelism does not seem to be widely practised in the church today. Perhaps this is because it’s not well understood. Perhaps poor teaching has left a residue of suspicion or even fear. This |Note explains what evangelism is, and challenges all of us to be involved.
The Christian gospel is a wonderful thing. Christ has come, sent from God, and shown us who God is with his life of sacrificial service. He died on a cross for our sins. He rose, overcoming death, and is Lord of all. He invites us to be a part of his great mission to renew this world. This good news about Jesus is to be shared by God’s people throughout the world. We call this evangelism; sharing the euangelion, the good news. All a person has to do in response to hearing this message is to believe that Jesus is saviour and Lord. When they do, they receive salvation as a gift, receive the Spirit, and are welcomed into God’s family to experience eternal life.
However, a person cannot know this extraordinary privilege unless someone tells them the good news so that they can respond. Consequently, one of our central purposes as a Christian to take up the challenge of sharing the message of Christ to others. Some Christians with a gift and call to share Christ do this as their vocation – these are the evangelists whose task it is to devote themselves to the ministry of sharing Christ, and to equip others for the task. All other Christians, as they go about their various vocational callings, are also called to take every opportunity to share Christ.
Verbally articulating the gospel is central to evangelism. This can happen in any situation, whether a formal gathering like a church service, or in a conversation at home, at work, or in a social situation. As we are called to give witness to Christ, so we must take the responsibility to be equipped – knowing the gospel and understanding how to go about it.
Evangelism cannot be limited to merely verbal communication. Sharing Christ is something we do with our whole lives. We are to embody the virtues of the gospel as we relate to others, whoever they may be; such things as holiness, kindness, goodness, patience, respect, gentleness, humility, and supremely, love. We are called to share Christ by continuing his ministry of compassionate service to others – caring for the poor and marginalized, healing, restoring, and being the friend of sinners.
Evangelism is about hospitality. Essential to evangelism is invitation. Jesus’ Great Banquet parable speaks of a God who invites the world to a great feast. A servant is sent out inviting all humanity to the feast. We are called to serve in this way, and invite people to join God in his great restoration project.
Evangelism is a team activity. Certainly, evangelism includes inviting people into a personal relationship with God. However, it is more. It is inviting people to be a part of a people, God’s family, the church. All humanity is invited – the gospel is a radical vision of people of every race, age, men and women, rich and poor, together as one. We become part of God’s vision of a world united in Christ.
Central to evangelism is the art of good conversation. Conversation is about sharing our lives with others not merely to convert them, but to genuinely know them and show them Christ’s love. We are to engage with others recognizing that they are made in the image of God and God created them for relationship with him. We are to make the most of every opportunity, and share Christ with wisdom and words that are full of grace and seasoned with salt.
We are assured by Jesus that as we share his gospel with others, he is present empowering the words, seeking to draw people to him. We cannot guarantee another person’s response. That is up to them. Our call is to be faithful to our call to share Jesus.
Evangelism then is a central task for all Christians. It is a supreme challenge, especially where Christianity is maligned and resisted. We may be persecuted. We may suffer. Yet, our reward is great. It is also a privilege to be honoured by the God of the universe to be called to be his ambassadors to the world. May we do it well.
I commend this media release to all ministers, pastors, and Christian leaders in NZ.
It summarises the main outcomes from the World Evangelical Alliance International Leadership Forum just concluded in Korea, which will shape our work program leading up to the General Assembly in 2018. Please share this with everyone you know in any area leadership.
Glyn Carpenter National Director New Zealand Christian Network
The World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) has concluded its International Leadership Forum (ILF) 2016 in Seoul, Korea. The annual gathering brought together some 90 leaders from 40 countries to strengthen partnership across organizational and geographical boundaries in key issues facing the Church today. ILF participants also shared meals with hundreds of Korean church leaders, visited and prayed at the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) between North and South Korea, and issued a statement on the situation of the divided nation.
Hosted from February 29 to March 4 by the Christian Council of Korea (CCK), WEA’s national member body, the ILF2016 consisted of WEA’s International Council, Executive Leadership, heads of Regional Evangelical Alliances, heads of select National Evangelical Alliances, Commission and Initiative Directors, and leaders of global partner organizations.
Bishop Efraim Tendero, Secretary General of the WEA, says: “This year’s ILF was very strategic for us at the WEA for various reasons. Besides the gathering’s importance in bringing together the various parts of WEA’s family to strengthen the personal and professional relationships among us, being in Korea allowed us to strengthen our relationships with the vibrant Christian community of this country. We are grateful that we received an overwhelming positive response from both, the participants from all over the world and the churches in Korea.”
90 ILF participants from 40 countries together with leaders from the Christian Council of Korea that served as generous host.
Partners in the Gospel: Building His Church
The theme of the ILF2016, ‘Partners in the Gospel: Building His Church’, focused on the Bible passage in Paul’s letter to the Philippians, where he writes: “In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Chapter 4, verses 4-6, NIV)
The theme was applied to WEA’s threefold strategy of ‘connecting for common action, equipping for global impact, and representing with a global voice’ in order to more effectively advance the Good News of Jesus Christ and effect personal and community transformation for God’s glory.
Morning presentations introduced existing partnership models practiced by regional and national Evangelical Alliances, global WEA networks and others. Table discussions after each presentation helped participants apply these models in their own contexts and explore further opportunities for collaboration.
Connie Kivuti, General Secretary of the Evangelical Alliance in Kenya (EAK), speaks on the partnerships she developed to resource the work of the EAK.
Strategic Responses to Global Issues
In the afternoons, ILF participants gathered in issue-based groups:
Bible engagement – A 2014 survey by the WEA showed that Christian leaders in every region are deeply concerned about Bible illiteracy and a resulting lack of understanding of the relevance of God’s Word for everyday life. WEA has been in conversation with Bible Agencies, national Evangelical Alliances, church networks and others who have launched initiatives to address the issue. ILF participants discussed how to encourage further strategic collaborative efforts to help churches at grass roots to focus on Bible engagement.
Evangelism, discipleship, healthy churches and missional lifestyles – Three groups focused on different needs and challenges related to the fulfillment of the Great Commission, including: strategic approaches, sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ individually, discipling new believers to stand firm in faith and pursue a life of holiness, the need of healthy pastors for healthy churches for healthy societies, the pastoring of pastors and the use of healthy church models. They developed a range of action steps that aim to eventually strengthen local churches in their call to share the Gospel and be Good News people in every sphere of society.
Women and girls and the Church – Women and girls make up half of the population of the world, yet the Church is at times still more influenced by cultural rather than Biblical views on the the role of women. The focus group will now ‘create and promote a practical guide for the WEA and its constituency to engage, equip, encourage and mobilize men and women to be champions of women and girls in the Church, so that the WEA reflects a vision for how women can equally contribute to Church and society for the sake of the Gospel.’
A Christ-like response to persecution – Persecution of Christians is on the rise in many parts of the world, yet the response of Christians to persecution varies greatly. The group focused on assessing the varieties of evangelical responses to persecution and existing initiatives in standing with and equipping churches facing persecution. The group committed to helping national Evangelical Alliances with advocacy training, research and documenting of religious liberty violations, strengthening legal services, expanding partnerships with civil society, promoting prayer for the persecuted Church, sharing of persecution stories to raise awareness, and more.
Intra-faith and inter-faith relations – The WEA, as one of the three world church bodies, serving some 600 million evangelicals, is uniquely positioned to engage with others within the wider Christian community as well as other faith groups. For many years, the WEA has held dialogues, seeking to build bridges of understanding while recognizing the differences of faith and values of the various faith bodies. The group focused on developing language that is understood in the widely differing contexts around the world as well as addressing specific issues concerning the relationship of the Church with people of other or no faith.
Further groups were formed spontaneously among participants focusing on refugees, family, creation care, female genital mutilation, and other issues.
The Korean Context
On several occasions, the ILF provided space for interaction with local church leaders in Korea. It began with an Opening Ceremony, welcoming some 700 Korean church leaders and other guests. Many denominational leaders as well as representatives of the Korean government gave welcome greetings to participants.
On Thursday, a delegation of the WEA leadership was invited to attend the Korean National Prayer Breakfast with President Geun-hye Park where Bp Tendero offered a prayer on behalf of WEA. And on the final day, the Korean hosts again invited several hundred pastors for a farewell service and luncheon.
Bp Efraim Tendero, Secretary General of the WEA, introduces WEA’s vision and mission. During the ILF2016, he gave greetings to Korean church leaders during the Opening Ceremony and Farewell Service, and offered a prayer on behalf of the WEA at the Korean National Prayer Breakfast.
“After the cancellation of the General Assembly in 2014 that was to be hosted in Seoul, our coming to Korea allowed us to connect again with our member CCK and church leaders,” Bp Tendero said. “We have strengthened our relationship with the people of a nation that has been richly blessed by God and in response has sent out over 20,000 missionaries into the whole world. We were overwhelmed by their generosity and hospitality and are looking forward to continuing to work together in the Great Commission.”
ILF participants also had the opportunity to visit and pray at the DMZ where they witnessed first-hand the tension that has existed in the country for many decades. Rev. Ndaba Mazabane, Chairman of the International Council, led participants in a prayer for peace on the Korean peninsula and for reunification of the one nation.
He commented that “Korea is the only nation that is still divided and the pain felt by its people and the separated families on both sides are difficult to describe in words alone. It is our hope that God will make possible what seems impossible to man: to grant peace and an end to the division of the Korean peninsula.”
ILF participants at the DMZ pray for peace and the reunification of Korea.
On the last day of the ILF, participants released a statement called ‘A Message of Goodwill from the WEA to All the People of Korea.’ It reads in part:
In the spirit of reconciliation that Jesus entrusted to us, we pray for all the Korean people and the leaders of both governments that throughout this peninsula there will be peace and harmony.
All our nations bear the scars of history and strife of previous generations, which we all regret and none of us would have chosen. We want to be those who heal the wounds of the past and leave a lasting legacy of peace for our children and future generations.
We pray that the governments both in and outside the peninsula may be guided by God to undertake peacemaking initiatives in a spirit of mutual respect, not of condemnation. We commit ourselves to pray that the God of peace will be with all those who undertake these difficult tasks, which appear to be impossible in our own strength but with God’s help we can achieve lasting peace.
