AWF Global Mission Leaders Meeting: A Gathering of Missional Cooperation

The Global Network of Mission Leaders of the Alliance World Fellowship (AWF) brought together 34 leaders and pastors from four world regions to report on new projects, discuss service initiatives, and do interregional cooperation.

To continue advancing with evangelization in the world, the AWF Global Network of Mission Leaders prepared workshops about the existing networks in the different countries and regions of the world, and the results obtained for the advancement of the gospel. The meeting was held September 26-28, 2022 in Armenia, Colombia.

Jura Yanagihara, the president of AWF, opened the meeting by welcoming the participants. He informed them of the objectives of the meeting and showed the advancement of the gospel in the world through the Christian and Missionary Alliance. Jura stressed the need to evangelize in the least reached countries of the sixth region, where the AWF networks play a key role.

Brother Eoghan Cosgrave, mission mobilizer of the EMERALD (Europe and the Middle East) region, presented the “Dynamics of Networks,” answering the question what networks are and what their biblical foundation is. Ken Graham, coordinator of the APAC (Asia Pacific) region, used the network found in the Gospel of Luke and the interconnection with different groups and individuals such as Luke and Theophilus, Martha and Mary, the Pharisees and the doctors of the law, to highlight their importance as a current model for reference.

To advance the gospel, Eoghan and Ken emphasized, networks seek to build relationships, learn from and encourage one another, and challenge us to think outside our contexts. Both agreed that the AWF networks are a missional and church planting movement, based on cooperative relationships.

Eoghan said the AWF Diaspora Missions team focuses on immigrants and displaced people and the importance of spreading the Word of God. To give a biblical example of the diaspora missions network, Eoghan quoted Acts 11:20, 21: “Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.”

Eoghan challenged participants to plant multicultural international churches, welcoming those from the diaspora into the body of Christ. He also encouraged receiving, discipling and equipping people from all tribes, languages, ethnic groups and nations, for the advancement of the gospel. Eoghan said, “God keeps scattering people around the world, bringing nations into our cities, into our neighborhoods, and into our doorsteps.” He stressed that the diaspora is the future of the church.

Mark Jones, a member of the AWF Relief and Development team, reflected on the Compassion and Missions network, quoting verses from the Bible. Among the highlights he mentioned: “The poor will always be present and represent an opportunity to help them (Mark 14:7); service and compassion is a practical faith (James 2:14-19); and God will hold us accountable for our service to others in need (Matthew 25:31-46).”

Mark added, “Alleviating poverty is the ministry of reconciliation, leading people and ourselves to glorify God through right relationship and living before God, oneself, one’s neighbor and the rest of creation.” In addition, he emphasized that God is above religious, economic, political and social systems, and we must present the gospel message in word and deed.

“The policy that drove the C&MA in 1893, established by A.B. Simpson, was to guide church members to Christian service that connects with local missions and the evangelization of the less evangelized fields of the world, maintaining a simultaneously and strengthened work on both fronts of the mission, based on a deep spiritual life.” recalled Jorge Barra, a member of the AWF Business as Mission team.

Jorge mentioned that in the Bible there is no separation between the sacred and the secular, there are only consecrated or unconsecrated lives. He emphasized that a consecrated life implies having a deep life in God that leads us to develop “more passionate efforts for the evangelization of the world, beyond our borders.” as Simpson mentioned.

Jura concluded the meeting with the presentation of cooperation projects and new interregional initiatives. The task now is to give continuity to each agreed cooperation, so that new candidates in the transcultural field can reach the destination of their call.

Throughout the event we enjoyed the Colombian coffee and cuisine, with great friendship and fellowship. Our gratitude to the A.B. Simpson Training Center team for their dedication and service to the meeting participants. We praise God for this blessed time.