By Sigit Triyono
"We will never forget the help of the Indonesian Bible Society when we had difficulty getting protective masks in the midst of the covid19 pandemic in mid-2020," said Damiao Cheng, deputy general secretary of the Hong Kong Bible Society.
"You know Sigit," Damiao continued, "Hong Kong was the earliest country to be hit by the covid19 attack because it is close to Chinese territory. At that time, the Hong Kong Bible Institute was trying to help partners who needed masks, because masks were already very difficult to obtain."
"Praise be to God that Indonesia is used by God to help Hong Kong," I said as I put my right hand to my left chest and bowed slightly to Damiao Cheng.
The above conversation was a moment of fellowshipamidst a packed agenda of meetings of Bible Institute leaders in the Asia Pacific region.
The meeting was held in the Terelj region of Mongolia from 14-17 August 2023. There were three major agendas that were carried out at this forum, namely: (1) Updating of ministry information in each of the Asia Pacific regional Bible Societies, (2) Submission of analyses of ministry conditions in the Asia Pacific region and recommendations to the UBS Board of executives. (3) Discussion of the six main topics for the UBS World Assembly to be held in the Netherlands 12-18 October 2023.
In attendance were the leaders of the Bible Societies: (1) Mongolia (General Secretary and Team as host), (2) Bangladesh (General Secretary), (3) Philippines (General Secretary via zoom), (4) Hong Kong (deputy General Secretary), (5) India (General Secretary), (6) Indonesia (President and General Secretary), (7) Cambodia (Director), (8) Korea (President and Deputy General Secretary), (9) Laos (Director), (10) Malaysia (General Secretary), (11) Myanmar (General Secretary), (12) Nepal (General Secretary), (13) Pakistan (General Secretary via Zoom), (14) New Zealand (General Secretary via Zoom), (15) Sri Lanka (General Secretary via Zoom), (16) Taiwan (General Secretary), (17) Thailand (General Secretary), and (18) Vietnam (Director).
Also present were Dirk Graves, General Secretary of the World Fellowship of Bible Societies (UBS) who has been in office for the past few months, Adrian White (COO of UBS), and seven members of the "UBS Global Mission Team" (Arun Shok Nhap, Julian Sundersings, Su Yan, Simon Wong, Daniel Loh, Joshua Pooh and Pearl).
Dirk Graves and Andrian White shared about the new UBS structure and the evolving dynamics in the global context. In essence, UBS must be ready to adapt to the various changes and challenges that exist. In the past, UBS leadership used the term Director General, then this term reverts to the position of General Secretarywhich emphasises the management of non-profit organisations and fellowship.
In addition to the global context, all participants also came to better understand the context of the challenges and opportunities faced by each Bible institute in the Asia Pacific region. Thus, there is more openness to help each other and strengthen synergy.
Analysing the ministry context of Bible institutes in Asia Pacific can result in recommendations for UBS leadership based on the spirit of love in fellowship. These recommendations are expected to make the fellowship of Bible institutes in the global context more effective and efficient in carrying out its mandate and mission.
Discussion of six main topics that are the focus of the upcoming UBS World Assembly, namely: (1) Bible Engagement, (2) Bible Translation, (3) Resilient Mission & Distribution, (4) Digital Transformation, (5) Climate Care, and (6) Diaspora Serving.
The discussion of the six topics above resulted in constructive input from the forum, for the basic direction and guidance of the UBS family ministry for the next five years.
The meeting concluded with Holy Communion co-chaired by the Chairperson of LAI (Rev. Dr Henriette T. Lebang) and the Secretary of Taiwan & Bible Society (Rev. Daniel Cheng). This moment of Holy Communion reinvigorated the mission to continue to bring the good news in its entirety to the ends of the earth.
After the three-day meeting, all participants were transferred to Ulaanbaatar, the capital city of Mongolia, for the 20th anniversary celebration of the Mongolian Bible Institute on 18 August 2023.
The morning before the anniversary event all participants visited the Mongolian Bible Institute office, and the Chinggis Khaan museum. During the visit to the Mongolian Bible Society office, Bajarjargal Garamtseren, Ph.D., senior translation consultant of the Mongolian Bible Society, presented the history of Christianity, which entered Mongolia in the seventh century but grew and disappeared. Also about the journey of Bible ministry in Mongolia.
This visit deepened the understanding of the historical context of Mongolia and the ministry of the Mongolian Bible Society, which began 30 years ago, although it was only officially registered 20 years ago.
The 20th anniversary celebration of the Mongolian Bible Institute required all attendees to wear traditional dress. The atmosphere was colourful as diverse cultures from Europe, Asia, to Africa were represented.
The 20th anniversary celebration of the Mongolian Bible Institute required all attendees to wear traditional dress.
In between the Mongolian cultural displays, information was presented about the history of the Mongolian Bible Institute and the three focuses it is working on: (1) updating the formal Mongolian Bible, (2) producing and distributing Braille Bibles, and (3) translating Sign Language Bibles.
The Mongolian Bible Society serves all Christians (Russian Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Protestant) who make up 2.1% of Mongolia's total 3.3 million population. Solidarity within the UBS family means a lot to the best ministries in the Asia Pacific region and especially in Mongolia.
Praise God, the most gracious and merciful. (ST.21.8.2023)
