The 2nd Educational Leadership Conference of the Northern Asia-Pacific Division (NSD) was held in the beautiful Celebrity City Hotel in Nanjing, Jiansu Province, China, from April 27 to 30, 2015. A total of 75 delegates attended―34 from Korean Union Conference, 2 from Japan Union Conference, 7 from Chinese Union Mission, 1 from Mongolia Mission, 6 from Taiwan Adventist Conference, 10 from the Division office, guest presenters and their spouses and also a few local leaders.Dr. Jairyong Lee, NSD president, gave the opening address, reminding the participants that they are first called to be “spiritual leaders” and that without being so, they could notbe effective leaders for the church.
Two presenters came from the General Conference (GC): Dr.Ella Simmons, GC vice president, who is also the chair of the International Board of Education (BOE) and vicechair of the International Board of Ministerial Theological Education (IBMTE), and Dr. Mike Lekic, GC associate education director, who is the executive secretary of the Accrediting Association of Seventh-day Adventist Schools, Colleges and Universities (AAA). Dr. Simmons talked about effective boardmanship that would impact challenges in the future. Dr. Lekic talked about the commitment of individuals to Adventist education and the work of the AAA.
Three presenters come from other Divisions―Dr.Mario Martinelli, president of Safelix Publishing in Spain; Sung Kwon, the executive director of community services from the North America Division; and Ms. Joanne Kim, principal of Guam Adventist Academy.Dr. Martinelli shared the new science and religion textbooks for primary and secondary schools. Dr. Kwon talked about “hybrid” educational leadership for effective ministries, and Ms. Joanne Kim shared her personal journey in Adventist education and what she is now doing at Guam Adventist Academy.
The other presenters came from the NSD. Pastor Kim NakHyung talked about public campus ministry. Dr. Sally Lam-Phoon talked about the human bonding process and shared vital information that should be presented to students and young people in our churches.
Dr. Barbara Choi shared a brief history of our health institutions and the role they play in training health workers for our institutions. Dr. David Ripley and Pastor Lynn Ripley talked about their experiences as they worked with churches that ran schools, and Dr. Kim SiYoung shared exciting stories about the work of the Pioneer Mission Movement in relation to mission and education.
Two sessions were set aside for the participants to discuss the challenges ahead and to work on possibilities of facing these challenges. The participants enjoyed lively exchanges with colleagues from other institutions and fields, receiving suggestions and support from each other.
On the final day, the group visited the location of the old San Yu School in Qiao Tao Zhen, the Sun Yat Sen Mausoleum in Nanjing, the museum оf massacre during the Second World War, and the Nanjing Adventist Church.