The 9th Global Leadership Summit was held from February 9 to 11, 2016, in Jerusalem, Israel. The thirteen Divisions take turns hosting this event. This year, the Israel Mission Field which is attached to the General Conference (GC) hosted the 9th Global Leadership Summit in Jerusalem. Since this was the first meeting during the new quinquennium, 2015 to 2020, the three GC officers including Ted Wilson, GC president, and all six vice presidents attended the meeting.
The purpose of the Global Leadership Summit was to discuss and suggest how to develop leadership skills and enhance the mission spirit of church organization and institution leaders. From the Northern Asia-Pacific Division (NSD), NSD president Jairyong Lee and assistant to the president Joo Minho attended the summit.
In the opening devotional meeting, Elder Ted Wilson emphasized the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on leaders. Today, leaders face many challenges in leading. Experience and skills are not enough. The guidance of the Holy Spirit is absolutely needed. In his presentation entitled “Eschatological Leadership,” Dr. G. T. Ng, GC executive secretary, emphasized last-day events and leadership. He stressed that leaders should remain faithful to the truth and to God’s mission.
Each division representative reported what they had done the previous year and presented a professional paper related to a leadership issue. Dr. Joo Minho reported on the work of the Leadership Training Center as well as leadership activities and eventsby the NSD. Dr. Joo presented his professional paper, entitled “Leadership: the Key for Mission.”
With an assumption that everything rises and falls on leadership, Dr. Joo presented how total member involvement is made possible when leaders are standing in front by showing exemplary mission spirit. Even though lay members may be active and enthusiastic about winning souls, their service will be limited and will not last if church pastorsdo not support them wholeheartedly.
If leaders are transformed, the church members will want to take part in church activities and God’s mission. As a result, total member involvement will be possible. Church members will be motivated and involved in God’s mission as they see the transformation of church leaders.
Guillermo Biaggi, GC vice president, and Michael L. Ryan, GC assistant to the president, co-chaired the meeting and gave suggestions for the development of a leadership training program, especially for administrators.
In late afternoon, all representatives had the chance to walk in the footsteps of Jesus in Jerusalem. Divided into two groups, the firstgroup visited the city of David and the Wailing Wall in the old city of Jerusalem while the second group visited Via Dolorosa and the holy sepulcher of Jesus. On the second day, the two groups switched places. On the third day, the representatives toured the Jordan River, Galilee, and Nazareth. Walking inthe footsteps of Jesus gave the leaders deep inspiration in order to put servant leadership into practice.
On the way home, Dr. Lee and Dr. Joo dropped by MENA (Middle East and North Africa) Union Mission in Beirut, Lebanon. In MENA territory, the dominant religion is Islam, and Adventism encounters many challenges in terms of mission. In the face of difficulties and hardship, God’s mission is progressing inch by inch.
Four Korean pastors are serving in MENA: Chung ChanMin, communication director; Jung HyoSu, Turkey-Iran Field president; Park GyoRin, Gulf Field executive secretary; and ParkJinSung, PMM pastor in Turkey.
On Sabbath, Dr. Lee preached a sermon on the mission we have to fulfill in order to hasten Jesus’second coming and burned the hearts of the audience with the zeal to do God’s mission. On Monday, he addressed church leaders from different fields, asking them to be faithful to God by engaging in God’s business.
Article by Joo MinHo, NSD assistant to the president