Mobilizing the Europe and Middle East Region for Missions in an Ever-Changing World

The 2022 AWF EMERALD (Europe and Middle East) Regional Conference was the first regional gathering since the 2019 conference in Germany. More than 70 delegates from the region, the wider AWF family and the ICTE (International Commission on Theological Education) attended, along with more than 30 from the hosting national Alliance church.

It was a great and joyful blessing to be physically together again after a three-year break, particularly for our Alliance brothers and sisters from Syria, Iraq, Lebanon and Egypt, who were able to attend due to the generosity of Alliance churches throughout the world. We are also grateful to the local team that looked after the delegates so well.

The theme of the conference was “Missions in an Ever-Changing World,” and the keynote speaker was Dr. Stanley John, Associate Professor of Intercultural Studies at the Alliance Theological Seminary. He presented a paper on “The Migration Factor in Shifting Centers of Christianity.” That was followed by an in-depth Bible study on how migrant workers spread the gospel through the process of forced and voluntary migration employing their vocational skills and trade in establishing a livelihood which provides the base for missions.

Dr. Peter Laughlin, Dean of Alliance Institute for Mission at the Australian College of Ministries and ICTE Chair, presented the Guayaquil Manifesto and facilitated workshops dealing with key questions related to it.

Several afternoon workshops dealt with topics such as Alliance Training, Arabic speaking ministries, Relief and Development, Diaspora Missions, and International Church Ministry. Language based groups were organized after presentations so that everyone could discuss the key questions raised in a language that they were comfortable with.

The highlight of the conference was the fellowship and brotherly love shown by the presidents of the national Alliance churches from two nations in conflict, as they came together to lead us in the celebration of the Lord’s Table and Jesus’ atoning sacrifice on the cross.

Testimonies from the mission fields in the Middle East and the diaspora in Europe accompanied presentations on how missions are evolving throughout the world. We were challenged by ideas on how we need to change our thinking and understanding of missions so that we can equip and mobilize lay and bi-vocational workers, particularly from diaspora backgrounds, for missions.

The business session saw lots of fruitful exchanges and discussions, and the election of Pastor Rocco Rausch to the Regional Coordinating Committee. A proposal from the Alliance Center for Leadership Development was approved to continue with the international test cohort program on the basis that it will satisfy educational requirements for licensure within the countries represented by the EMERALD region. The final day of the conference was spent visiting local historic sites from the Roman Empire and crusader history.

The next AWF EMERALD regional meeting will take place in France in June 2023.