Vistana Hotel Kuala Lumpur became the “happening hotel” on July 31, 2007 and again on August 27-29, 2007. On July 31, NECF conducted the National Pastors & Leaders Consultation on Nation Building. Over 200 participants attended from all over the country. The Consultation was part of NECF’s 25th Anniversary programme. The event started off with three plenary sessions – “Nation Building – Its Biblical Mandate” by Rev. Eu Hong Seng, “Building Hope into Social Structures” by Joni Eareckson, and “Nation Building – The Malaysian Church Agenda – Strategies & Plans” by Rev. Wong Kim Kong. In the afternoon, participants were divided into smaller discussion groups spanning seven specific areas i.e. Personal, Family, Church, Community, Marketplace,
Government and Global. They brainstormed areas of concern and ways to make a difference before coming together again to give their reports. This Consultation was just a preliminary one. Next year, further sessions would be held to give flesh to the ideas presented.
On August 27-29, 2007, delegates from eight Southeast Asian countries converged for a three-day Transform Southeast Asia Summit. In the same track as for the earlier Consultation, these key Christian leaders came together to share ideas on how the Church and Christians could be agents of transformation in the various countries. The delegates hailed from Brunei (2 persons), Cambodia (3), Indonesia (9), Myanmar (2), Philippines (8), Singapore (7), Thailand (7) and Malaysia (4, excluding Council and staff of NECF). Dr. Luis Bush, the International Facilitator of Transform World Connections based in Singapore, was the key speaker. He took two sessions on “Mission as Transformation (Inspirational, Vision, The Word)” and “Various Transformation Models: e.g. Norway, Korea, Mizoram”. Other major sessions were taken by Dr. David Lim from the Philippines, Rev. Wong Kim Kong, Bishop Moses Tay from Singapore, Dr. Iman Santoso from Indonesia and Rev. Eu Hong Seng who gave the closing message. In addition, delegates shared on the work being done and the great needs that still existed in their respective countries. There was also a group discussion session on how the same forum could be utilized for future networking and resource sharing. NECF Malaysia hosted the Summit and managed to get it sponsored. All delegates were given free 2-night stay at the hotel and food, yummy food. They were impressed with Malaysian hospitality and went away inspired and recharged to continue to give their best to God and their nations. |
