|
This Year's Conference in Phnom Penh |
|
We had a great conference in Phnom Penh, April 21-25, hosted by Pastor Graham Chipps of the International Christian Fellowship there and ably coordinated by Simonetta Tami. Warren Reeve opened the conference with an informative review of MICN's brief history and an inspiring challenge. Veteran international church pastor, Mark Kotchapaw from Jakarta International Christian Fellowship, gave four keynote addresses each morning revealing his own missional journey and that of JICF and their satellite ministry, The Gathering Place. Mark is an excellent and humorous communicator! He knows the issues and challenges of the international church landscape. Small group discussion time and case studies followed each session. MICN values the dynamic interplay among international church leaders representing different countries and ministry contexts. Each person's experience and voice was valued. We heard about the joys and the pains, the failures and the successes of some fellow international church leaders and missionaries as we all seek to incarnate the gospel. We also got to hear and see some of the wonderful missional work being done in Jesus' name in the still-traumatized nation of Cambodia. Disturbing and unforgettable, however, were the visits to the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (a former high school turned prison by the Khmer Rouge) and the killing fields to which those prisoners were taken just outside of Phnom Penh. Returning favourite Michael Cusick addressed the subject of "Soul Care". Jacob Bloemberg delivered a practical seminar entitled, "Basic How To's in the International Church". And Graham Chipps facilitated a meaningful and therapeutic seminar entitled "When the How To's Don't Work". We hope you'll make plans to join us for our next conference in late April 2009. Lord willing, we'll be back in the Middle East. More details will follow as soon as they're confirmed, but you could start budgeting now for the air tickets.
|
|
|
MICN is a growing network of expatriate international church leaders who desire to be missional. MiSSIONAL is our journey. From sending a few, to all sent together. From distant consumers of culture, to incarnational and critical participants in culture. From church for the churched, to church as an active Kingdom presence in each culture. From formulaic and institutionalized programs to servant relationships of word, deed, sign and prayer. INTERNATIONAL is our composition. We intend to facilitate creative thinking in leaders who are needed to enable International Churches (IC’s) to be active participants in God’s mission in multicultural, national, and expatriate contexts. There are IC’s from fourteen different nations represented among us this year. There are planters of IC's and leaders of IC’s of over 1200 members, and everything in-between. Each person brings varying perspectives and unique ministry contexts. |
|
Read more...
|
|
We started out in Jakarta four years ago. Then we moved to the United Arab Emirates. In 2006 we met in Bangkok, while 2007 brought us back to Indonesia and onto the beautiful island of Bali. Phnom Penh was our host city in April 2008. Gathering international church leaders is like trying to stack marbles. But when we get together the dynamic is electric! We enjoy the conferences and meeting new people. The last two years we've had over 50 attendees each time and guests that have come from about 15 different countries. There are planters of international churches and leaders of congregations over 1200 in attendance, and everything in between. Please browse our web site to find out who we are and why we do the things we do. Plan on joining us for the next conference. We look forward to meeting you in late April 2009 for the sixth MICN conference, back in the Middle East, God willing. Come check us out! Start budgeting now. Click here for details on the 2008 conference in Phnom Penh. |
|
|
Acts chapters 11 and 13 tell the story of the church at Antioch. That church reached Jews (expats in Antioch), Greek-speaking Syrians (locals in the city), plus Europeans and Asians (unreached peoples in those days).
It was missional. It was international. It was a model church.
Today, international churches are uniquely positioned to impact the most unreached countries of the world.
MICN is dedicated to catalyzing international churches to become missional. |
|
|