The Institute World of Mission (IWM) hosted an intercultural workshop in Bangkok, Thailand, from August 7–16, to deepen the vision of the cross-cultural mission of the global Adventist church. The conference brought together 150 leaders and participants from around the world.
Participants engaged in in-depth discussions about the missionary experience. The conference repeatedly conveyed the phrase "United in sending, faithful in supporting." Participants said the phrase was a solemn promise made by the global church to every missionary sent out.
Erton Köhler, General Conference president, delivered a keynote address defining the "triple significance" of the gathering: bearing the responsibility of guidance, responding to a real burden, and practicing two-way missionary flow.
Workshop leaders said the gathering showed a shared responsibility of church leaders to lead the church as a whole to deeper levels of cross-cultural missions.
Participants said they came to the conference because they had a concern and burden for unreached people and the challenges missionaries experienced.
Köhler stated that the church is not only responsible for sending missionaries into the world but also for establishing sound mechanisms to welcome the return or conversion of new Adventists. He said missionary work should not be a one-way output or one-time task, but rather a "continuous commitment and two-way flow."
The intercultural workshop included a series of on-site cultural exchanges. The participants visited Asia-Pacific International University on Sabbath. Students dressed in their respective traditional ethnic attire greeted the delegation. Participants said the students' warm smiles and "Happy Sabbath" wishes demonstrated the beauty of unity in Christ despite language barriers.
Several evangelists shared their experiences of grace in cross-cultural workshops. Helen Hall planned on a short-term mission trip but ended up devoting herself to 43 years of mission work on the Thai-Myanmar border. Her years of service were dedicated to Karen refugee children.
A preaching missionary family described nurturing young people and cultivating students. In early July, the mother died due to an acute myocardial infarction. Her husband said the last words she shared with him were "Papa, continue the mission work that we enjoy together, because Christ is coming soon. Now I am going to sleep."
Participants said the testimonies helped them better appreciate the spirit of missionary work.
Participants also visited the Southeastern Asia Union Mission offices and the Hope Channel Southeast Asia filming site. Participants said the visits allowed them to witness the practical operation and impact of educational and media outreach in the local area.
The original article was published on the Chinese Union Mission news site.
