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Mission Team 19

  Mission
APFMMA General Council and Executive Committee 2005-08 Print E-mail

17th – 19th August 2005

The General Council and Executive Committee Meeting were held in 17th – 19th August 2005, in the T. K. Palace Hotel Bangkok, Thailand. Sixteen delegates and six observers from Asia Pacific Free Methodist General Conferences and Conferences of Canada, Hong Kong, India, Japan, North America, Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand and Tokyo attended the meeting :
Delegates:
1. Chairperson, Rev. Vallente Encarnado (Philippines)
2. Secretary / Treasurer, Mr. Kenneth Chan (Hong Kong)
3. Vice-Chairperson Rev. Timothy Lee (Taiwan)
4. Ex-officio Rev. David Yardy (Asia Area Director, FMWM NA)
5. Ex-Officio Dr. Art Brown (North America FMWM NA)
6. Rev. Polly HO Executive Director (APFMMA, without vote)
7. Rev. Raymond Wong Hong Kong FMC
8. Rev. Shirish Ahaley India FMC
9. Mr. Somasunderram Jyothi India FMC
10. Rev. Katsumi Shigetomi Japan FMC
11. Mrs. Norma Abrao Philippines FMC
12. Rev. Lo Shih Chun Taiwan FMC
13. Rev. Susumu Sugo Tokyo FMC
14. Mr. Kozo Ishikawa Tokyo FMC
Observers:
1. Rev. Art Chutong Thailand FMC
2. Rev. Pat Chutong Thailand FMC
3. Mrs. Sherrill Yardy North America
4. Mrs. Sylvia Brown North America
5. Rev. Dan Sheffield North America
6. Rev. Kevin Austin North America / Thailand
  1. The meeting was opened with the Chairman Rev. Vallente Encarnado reading of the letter of greeting from Bishop Keith Elford, President of Free Methodist World Conference.
  2. Before every session, Rev. Kevin Austin led the participants to start the meeting in praise and worship our Lord Jesus Christ.
  3. Then followed with devotional time led by different delegates :
    • The Chairperson, Rev Encarnado shared from Joshua 3:2-4,
    • Dr Art Brown, General Director of Free Methodist World Mission of North America shared on Matthew 9:37-38 - Harvest Prayer Notebook : pray for more workers, pray for open doors, pray for eyes of the heart will be enlightened to see Jesus, and the manifest of His power.
    • Rev Shirish Ahaley from India, read II Chronicles 7 and then led us to pray for Australia, the Executive Director; the church in India especially on their celebration of 125th anniversary; and for new ministries in Asia and God to send harvesters.
    • Rev Katsumi Shigetomi from Japan and the two Tokyo delegates presented a praise hymn. Rev. Shigetomi mentioned that Japan FM General Conference would be celebrating their 110th anniversary next year. He read from Romans 12:2-3. Then led us to pray for Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand and Japan.
  4. Theology of Missions : Rev Dan Sheffield, editor of “A Theology of Missions for Free Methodist World Mission”, gave a brief introduction which contained foundational Biblical statements of doing missions of the FM World Mission, and is totally written with Wesleyan background by our FM theologians and pastors. This book is used for new FM missionaries training and in world missions leadership training. We all agree that “An Asian Theology on Missions” may be needed.
  5. Finance report 2004: The Treasurer Mr. Kenneth Chan gave the finance report of 2004 with a surplus of US$5,191.18. And the finance report of the first six months of 2005 had a small deficit of US$887.18 as the majority of the annual shares had yet to be received.
  6. Budget 2005: The Treasurer Mr. Kenneth Chan presented the Budget for 2005 which includes new items in the income like: (a) Tithe & Gift, (b) Annual Fees from the five mission districts (each US$100.00). This was proposed to embrace these mission districts as a part of APFMMA but not a 'TAX' And it also served as a "mission education" for the new mission districts to get involved in missions from the formation of the church. New items in the expenditure include (a) expenses for annual Meeting & General Council / Mission Congress, (b) Executive Director Salary Reserve Fund (US$2,000.00). This was proposed in the view of the expansion of APFMMA that would need a full time Executive Director. At the present moment the Executive Director works only one-third time. In fact this had already decided in the meeting in December 2003.
  7. Budget 2006: The Treasurer Mr. Kenneth Chan then presented the Budget for 2006 which includes (a) an increase of annual share of US$250.00 for Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan and Tokyo conferences; (b) an increase of US$100.00 for India and Philippines General Conference. The increase of annual share because: (a) to support the expenses of the annual meeting and the travel of the some of the delegates, (b) the increase in number of missionaries and mission fields, and therefore the Executive Director needs to do missionary care and support more; and that means more travel too; ( c) the plan to start International Childcare Ministry in Myanmar and new ministries in Vietnam.
    The Budget for 2006 was approved in principle. The delegates would present to their respective Conferences for discussion and agreement to the increase in annual fees.
  8. New APFMMA Logo: The new design for the APFMMA logo was discussed and various comments were received. A professional graphic designer would be engaged to refine the design for members’ final approval.
  9. Report on possibilities of ministries in Vietnam and Australia.
  10. Report of the Executive Director, Rev. Polly Ho gave an oral report of her activities in the last one and a half years.
  11. Report on Ministry in Myanmar (Mission District) :
    1. There are ministries among the Burmese, Chinese and Shin people.
    2. New ministries: Light and Life Bible College was opened on 9 July 2005 with 5 students for the first year, Light and Life Boarding School for high school students, and plan to start childcare ministry to sponsor the children in the kindergarten.
  12. Report on Ministry in Cambodia (Mission District) :
    1. Childcare Ministry: the third childcare center “House of Peace” would be set up in October 2005, and this was a joint venture of Hong Kong Conference and the Hong Kong Alliance Mission.
    2. Three young men in the university student hostels had graduated and one was working with the Mission for community development.
    3. Opportunities: At the present Cambodia is the only free and open country in South-East Asia. Christian schools would help the young people to have a better quality of education and was a good way to share the gospel. Young people were eager to learn computer, Mandarin and English thinking it would be a bit easier to find a job. Computer, Mandarin and English Teaching Center could be a good channel to reach the young people.
  13. Report on ministry in Thailand (Mission District): Rev. Art Chutong and Rev. Kevin Austin reported that there were one official church in Chiang Mai and three official churches in Bangkok.
  14. Report on ministry in Malaysia (Mission District) : A Cantonese speaking worship in the church was started recently because there were many Cantonese-speaking people in Iphoo. There was a need to find a Cantonese speaking pastor, and may be Hong Kong FMC could send a pastor.
  15. Report on ministry in Sri Lanka (Mission District) : Rev Dan Sheffield reported the ministries was under Canada FMC in 2003. In August 2004 Sri Lanka became a mission district with 8 churches 6 pastors. In Colombo ministry center there were 50-60 people in Sunday service. They took the opportunity to minister to the tsunami areas by getting a piece land to rebuild the communities. Now the Canadian FMC was playing the role of encouraging and facilitating the national leadership there.
  16. APFMMA Charter: Pursuant to the resolution of the Executive Committee meeting during 30th to 31st December 2003, Rev Polly Ho provided a revised draft. The Executive Committee was given the authority to re-polish the draft taking into consideration of the comments given by the delegates.
  17. Plan for the Next 5 Years: 1st August 2005 - 31st July 2010 – Knit the “N.E.T.S”. And will be discussed in more detail in the coming Executive Committee Meeting in 28th-30th December 2005.
  18. Election of new Officers and members for the next 5 years (August 2005 to July 2010):
    • Chairperson: Rev. Katsumi Shigetomi (Japan)
    • Vice Chairperson: Rev. Raymond Wong (Hong Kong)
    • Secretary: Rev. Vallente Encarnado (Philippines)
    • Treasurer: Mr. Kenneth Chan (Hong Kong)
    • Members: Rev. Timothy Lee (Taiwan)
      Rev. Shirish Ahaley (India)
      Rev. Susumo Sugo (Tokyo)
  19. Appointment of Executive Director for the next 5 years (August 2005 to July 2010): Rev. Polly Ho was re-appointed to be the Executive Director for the next 5 years (August 2005 to July 2010).
  20. Installation and Dedication : Rev. Vallente Encarnado, the former Chairperson conducted the installation of the new officers and members of the Executive Committee and the Executive Director. Dr. Art Brown offered the dedication prayer.