The Second Northern Asia-Pacific Division (NSD) Leadership Summit was heldin Bangkok, Thailand, from September 19 to 21, 2016. Around 130 leaders from various institutions within the NSD, such as food factories, hospitals, and academic institutions, gathered to rededicate themselves to God with the mission spirit.
The theme of the summit was “United and Involved in Mission,” focusing on the spirit of Mission First in all institutions as well as Total Member Involvement.
Division president Jairyong Lee addressed the leaders with the challenges NSD is facing and the possibility of reaching one million members in the NSD by 2020 if all the leaders are guided and prompted by the Holy Spirit in leading each institution. He emphasized the power of the Holy Spirit who could make the vision possible.
Two prominent keynote speakers were invited for the Leadership Summit: Lowell Cooper, former General Conference vicepresident, and Ron Clouzet, NSD ministerial secretary. In his two talks, Cooper stressed that the guidance of the Holy Spirit drew the new maps for the early church to expand the kingdom of God more widely and powerfully. He presented the role of the Holy Spirit and His lead on all fronts to develop the young churches and church leadership.
Dr. Clouzet presented the exemplar case of Moses’ leadership and stressed how leaders showed Christ-like characters through leadership to their flocks. He also talked about leadership development in the early church and its implications for God’s mission.
Two NSD directors also presented on two importantmission projects for this quinquennial period: Retention &Reclamation and Total Member Involvement for Vision One Million 2020. Richard Sabuin, NSD Sabbath School and Personal Ministries director, reemphasized how to help the church retain existing members and reclaim lost sheep through institutions.
KimSiYoung, NSD Adventist Mission director, presented Vision One Million 2020 and a viable strategy of having each member win one soul. He appealed to all the leaders to join this mission vision through each institution’s unique business and characteristic.
Two other people were invited to share their mission experiences: Pastor Cha MinKyung who works for campus ministries with her team and Dr. Kim NamHyuk, Eden Hospital president. Pastor Cha was shocked when she saw Adventist students hidingtheir identity as Adventists. She started campus ministries to help Adventist students have the conviction of Seventh-day Adventist beliefs and be proud of being Adventists.
Dr. Kim NamHyuk also contributed to the development of the mission spirit of hospital workers by providing various spiritual programs for them. Their testimony boosted the mission spirit of the leaders.
This time, 23 spouses also attended the Leadership Summit and had their own time on how to support leaders as spouses. Lisa Clouzet and Nilde Lust from NSD Shepherdess Ministries led the special program for spouses.
During the commitment service, president Jairyong Lee reemphasized the significance of Total Member Involvement to reach the goal of one million members by 2020 with the Mission First spirit. Theleaders showed their dedication to God’s mission by being good examples for mission as leaders in each institution.
Dr. Joo MinHo, NSD Assistant to the President